<![CDATA[SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/topic/3510/dual-extruder-in-space-of-single-or-quad-in-space-of-two/ Mon, 12 Aug 2013 19:55:43 +0000 PunBB <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32706/#p32706 I wonder if the gearing can be used with a nozzle merge similar to thingiverse thing 23775 so that you can avoid the loss of print space?

Sorry folks, I can't post links.

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2013 19:55:43 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32706/#p32706 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32698/#p32698 They could make it always retract a certain amount when reversing/switching.... that way you could still run it as a normal extruder with retraction capabilities(to a certain extent), this would have to be in the hardware design though.

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:59:54 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32698/#p32698 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32658/#p32658 Even I've already had that idea, but couldn't think of a simple way (without an extra motor/solenoid) to make it work fully. which then needs extra control which will probably drive a change of the main board.

Anyway, how do you extract the filament?
When you go to retract the filament from one side it just drives the other??

Interesting if they can get it into production, but without a way to pull back the filament you could get stuck.

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:06:31 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32658/#p32658 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32628/#p32628 I'm not sure you understand how patents work. Only one claim of the patent needs to be infringed in order to have infringement of the entire patent.

Stratasys Patent wrote:

1. An extrusion head comprising: at least one drive wheel; and an assembly positionable between at least a first state and a second state, the assembly comprising: a first extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the first state; and a second extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the second state.

That sounds a whole lot like what D3D is attempting to do.

Moving on...

Their system can't do retraction (at least not in a software controlled fashion), it doesn't lift the head that's not in use - this will mar the surface of each layer, and it has not been demonstrated actually printing. I'm not sure what there is to get excited over.

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2013 02:51:35 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32628/#p32628 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32625/#p32625 Looking at the patents they are totally different. the only thing that kickstarter uses to change which head is extruding is the direciton of the motor spin. nothing else is used to actuate it. nothing is pushed on no switches are flipped.  the stratasys system uses more then one extrudre on the patent app, and has electro mechanical switching on the as built machines.

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2013 01:55:19 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32625/#p32625 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32607/#p32607 I mean, the title of the patent is "single motor extrusion head". It has one servo motor. No steppers. No solenoid. It has a bistable spring that gets pushed on by a rod on the side of the case when switching extruders is needed.

So, lets recap:

Kickstarter version:                    Stratasys patent:
One drive motor                         One drive motor
Passive extruder switching          Passive extruder switching
No money for patent attorneys   Lots of money for patent attorneys
]]> Sun, 11 Aug 2013 22:50:40 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32607/#p32607 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32606/#p32606 what are you talking about. those patents from stratasys show 2 motors for feed and the other servo to move one extruder up and down, out of the way.

Now the machine pictures in your second picture does have one feed motor.  and some sort of mechanism to tilt back and forth between the extruders.

]]> Sun, 11 Aug 2013 22:40:47 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32606/#p32606 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32567/#p32567 nlancaster wrote:

Stratasys uses 2 different steppers.

They use one servo, no steppers. Its a lot like what these guys (D3D) called their "early prototype".

Here's a Stratasys machine using the system:

http://kisslicer.com/forum/index.php?topic=375.0

In the patent game, it doesnt matter how similar your widget is. All that matters is who has more money. Look at Formlabs for a recent example.

Here's another, even more general patent:

http://www.google.com/patents/EP2003954 … CD0Q6AEwAQ

]]> Sun, 11 Aug 2013 13:11:59 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32567/#p32567 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32556/#p32556 Saw that. It is awesome.

Stratasys uses 2 different steppers. and a selonoid to rock the heads back and forth for which ever one is printing.  Nothing like what these guys have done. This device is even simpler and only uses the stepper going in oposite directions.

There are videos of the device in operation. just no video of it printing.

The price they want for it is pretty revolting.  $173 on the kickstarter.

]]> Sun, 11 Aug 2013 06:29:08 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32556/#p32556 <![CDATA[Re: Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32527/#p32527 Stratasys has been doing it that way for ages, this is nothing new. I'm surprised there isnt a patent on it.

Edit: there is: http://www.google.com/patents/US7625200

No video of it actually working. Kickstarter is starting to leave a sour taste in my mouth. There's really no vetting or accountability.

]]> Sat, 10 Aug 2013 19:29:29 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32527/#p32527 <![CDATA[Dual Extruder in space of single or Quad in space of two.]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/32526/#p32526 http://hackaday.com/2013/08/10/dual-ext … per-motor/

Ok, I need somebody to make this work on a SD! smile

]]> Sat, 10 Aug 2013 19:07:39 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/32526/#p32526