SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

null@example.com (laird) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 15:18:41 +0000

2n2r5 wrote:

I like to douse mine with gasoline while smoking a cigarette and eating paint chips before I let it run over night. Just kidding, I quit smoking in January.

So, do you recommend the "classic" lead paint chips, or the newer vinyl? :-)

Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

null@example.com (elmoret) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:50:13 +0000

Ralphxyz wrote:

elmoret wrote:
You need to let the heat soak into the plastic to melt it before starting the motor. I wait 10-15 minutes after the nozzle has reached desired temperature.
You should not leave it running overnight unattended - treat it like a toaster oven or a stove. Okay to leave the room, but not fall asleep or leave the house. Really you should treat a 3D printer the same way.
So one does not have to empty the filastruder just heat up in the morning before turning the auger on, that makes sense.
Just wondering if there is any compromise to the initial reheated plastic?
Ralph

The only possible problem is humidity. Definitely not an issue with ABS, definitely an issue with PLA. Heat cycling is no problem if that's what you're asking.

Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

null@example.com (cckens) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:33:27 +0000

I would guess that so long as you don't keep heating, cooling, heating, [repeat] without extruding you should be fine. I've yet to have to have issues with the printer hot end by not cleaning it out after every time I shut it down, so this should be the same.

Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

null@example.com (Ralphxyz) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:22:51 +0000

elmoret wrote:

You need to let the heat soak into the plastic to melt it before starting the motor. I wait 10-15 minutes after the nozzle has reached desired temperature.
You should not leave it running overnight unattended - treat it like a toaster oven or a stove. Okay to leave the room, but not fall asleep or leave the house. Really you should treat a 3D printer the same way.

So one does not have to empty the filastruder just heat up in the morning before turning the auger on, that makes sense.

Just wondering if there is any compromise to the initial reheated plastic?

Ralph

Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

null@example.com (2n2r5) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:59:05 +0000

I like to douse mine with gasoline while smoking a cigarette and eating paint chips before I let it run over night. Just kidding, I quit smoking in January.

Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

null@example.com (elmoret) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:47:39 +0000

You need to let the heat soak into the plastic to melt it before starting the motor. I wait 10-15 minutes after the nozzle has reached desired temperature.

You should not leave it running overnight unattended - treat it like a toaster oven or a stove. Okay to leave the room, but not fall asleep or leave the house. Really you should treat a 3D printer the same way.

Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

null@example.com (laird) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:16:48 +0000

I've been turning the Filastruder off at night, since I don't trust running it unattended yet. :-) But as it had plastic in it, which of course solidified, the motor had to work pretty hard to get started again. Which makes me wonder - is it "OK" to stop the Filastruder "full" and resume later? Is it "OK" to leave the Filastruder running overnight unattended? Or should we always run it to empty then stop it? That seems preferable, but requires some planning...

What do you recommend?