1 Topic by wahada

  • wahada
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Topic: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Hi All,

I built a drill powered pelletizer similar to Ian's design and it worked well enough.
( Search Youtube for " Plastic Filament Pelletizer Powered By Drill ")

However, I was concerned about the metal to metal contact of cutting surfaces and
metal filing contamination. Here is the new design in action on Youtube:
(Search Youtube for " Plastic Filament Pelletizer v2 Powered By Drill)
It uses a standard 1" Forstner wood boring bit with a 3/8" shaft. It is supported
by two ball bearing bushings. No metal to metal contact on the cutting surfaces.

Bill

2 Reply by bteeter

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Here is the direct link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh2YFbkoN-A

Bob

3 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

You got lucky on the shank of that wood bit.  My experience from trying out several is that they are 3/8ish.  One fit the bearing perfectly, another was 1mm too wide, and a third was loose enough that it didn't do much to improve alignment.  Two of those were same brand, same packaging.

4 Reply by wahada

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Hi,
Here is the exact Forstner bit that I used :
" Freud PB-007 Precision Shear 1-Inch by 3/8-Inch Shank Serrated Edge Forstner Drill Bit"
I knew that Freud makes quality tools so that is what I ordered. The shaft is exactly 0.375 " O.D..
If you have one that is under diameter and you have a lathe you could  machine a bushing to fill
up the space between the shaft and the bearing.

Bill

5 Reply by Ralphxyz

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Here is the bit on Amazon.

6 Reply by fredaxe

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Hi. Wahada
Could you post. Your stl. File to make this nice pelletizer v2,please?
Thanks a lot
Fredaxe

7 Reply by wahada

  • wahada
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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Hello,

Right now I am working on drawing up a plan sketch of the pelletizer
metal frame. I will post the stl of the motor support bracket along with it
soon when I am done with the frame plan.

8 Reply by wahada

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Hi,

Attached to this post is a pdf document that contains a drawing with dimensions and
a description of the Pelletizer v2 build. I have also attached a stl file of the printed motor
bracket.

I have made a recent improvement in its performance. I cut off one of the two blades of the Forstner
bit so that it cuts with only one blade. This can be done with a grinder cut off wheel.
With only one blade the chopped pellets are now a better size ( longer)  and the filament feeds in easier.

Post's attachments

Motor Bracket Assembly.stl 1000.96 kb, 9 downloads since 2014-03-27 

Pelletizer v2 Info.pdf 3.11 mb, 31 downloads since 2014-03-27 

You don't have the permssions to download the attachments of this post.

9 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Cool! Vibration is manageable with a unbalanced bit?

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

10 Reply by wahada

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

Hi,

I don't notice much of a difference in vibration levels at all between one
and two cutting blades. The unbalance does not seem to matter at all.

11 Reply by wahada

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Re: Filament Pelletizer Version 2

I finally put the Filament Pelletizer v2 to good use today. I have three almost full
2 lb reels of 3mm ABS that I can't use on my new 1.75 mm printer.
Now that I have the Filastruder I can chop up the 3mm then make usable 1.75mm
filament out of it.
I took some video and measured the chopping rate on one of the 3mm reels.
It was chopping at a rate of 2.5 pounds of 3mm ABS filament per hour. It was
taking up 10 feet of filament per minute. So it chopped up the 1.65 pound
reel of 3mm filament in 40 minutes.
Cutting off one of the Forstner bit blades has definitely improved its performance
and not made vibration noticeably worse.
Here is the new Youtube video of it chopping up the 3mm filament:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjR08zJ8yDU