SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

Re: Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

2017-03-06T22:57:17Z

For my $0.02, I've printed TPU up to 30mm/s with this printed extruder through a ~18 inch bowden tube: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1679553

The is the only extruder I use on my main printer. It *can* still jam, but it's rare.

Really soft filaments like PVA can be more problematic, though I've successfully used them up to 20mm/s.

Re: Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

2017-03-05T07:47:52Z

Finally getting to experiment with the TPU...the first attempt revealed that 20mm/s is twice as fast as it should be, so hopefully I'll have a full 3DBenchy done by noon.

Re: Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

2017-03-02T19:35:32Z

I should have mentioned that a spool of TPU was scheduled to arrive the next day. I current have a spool of Hatchbox Black TPU right in front of me, and I plan on doing a 3DBenchy print this afternoon.
I'll upload an image if I can.
I got carried away with my abs prints yesterday, but I'll definitely have the spare time to work with TPU today.

Re: Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

2017-02-28T23:24:42Z

Here's the one I use:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1318849
While I don't have actual experience with flexible material yet, the contact point for the gear/pulley is completely closed (it even has a "nub" to pull the filament away from the gear and into the tube), and with the gap-free bowden setup I have, I can actually feed individual scrap pieces of filament, given that the nozzle's intake is chamfered (sloped) enough to guide the flat ends.

Re: Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

2017-02-28T19:37:47Z

knucklbustr wrote:

One mentioned the requirement to have the tube entrance with a V cut, very close to the extruder gear.

That's definitely the key to printing with flexi filaments, minimising any gap above and below the gear.
It's tricky enough to achieve with a direct drive extruder !
Here's mine, it prints TPU and Ninjaflex at 25mm/s with no trouble.
Direct drive, but without the ptfe tubing right up to the gear, it's practically impossible to print flexi .....

Re: Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

2017-02-27T16:14:56Z

I was aware of this, until I viewed and read some people were able to print semiflex thru a bowden.
Cant figure how they did it.
One mentioned the requirement to have the tube entrance with a V cut, very close to the extruder gear.
And also slower than normal print speeds.

Re: Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

2017-02-26T01:09:14Z

Bowdens are not advised for any type of flexible or semi flexible filaments. The flex creates havoc with the retraction as well. If you have a Bowden setup you just need to accept the fact you are some what limited to the filaments you can use.

Print SemiFlex Thru a Bowden Extruder ?

2017-02-26T00:21:58Z

Anyone successfully run semi-flex thru a bowden extruder ?

I have a modded DAV 1.0, E3DV6 hot end, bowden tube is about 12".
The filament will print about 5mins then will loop out the extruder tube.
Tried printing slow about 20mm/s.