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Topic: Hopper Shaker

Sorry if this has been answered before but I was unsuccessful with a search.  For those of you who are using a hopper shaker, what is it - where did you get it  - and how is it controlled?

If you build it they will come. Then they will make fun of it, tell you it's not worth doing and go home and try to copy you.
If a picture is worth a thousand words then being there is worth a thousand pictures.

(2) Stock Makerbot Z18s, Filastruder w/Melt Filter, Filawinder, Autodesk Inventor Design Suite 2014 .........so far.

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Re: Hopper Shaker

Usually its a vibratory motor, like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-3-12V-20000R … 4875913b5e

Just connected straight to 12v power.

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Re: Hopper Shaker

So it would run constantly or pulse?

If you build it they will come. Then they will make fun of it, tell you it's not worth doing and go home and try to copy you.
If a picture is worth a thousand words then being there is worth a thousand pictures.

(2) Stock Makerbot Z18s, Filastruder w/Melt Filter, Filawinder, Autodesk Inventor Design Suite 2014 .........so far.

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Re: Hopper Shaker

Run constantly, if the motor is rated for it. I guess you could hook it up to a 555 timer to go on and off in order to conserve motor life. I prefer to just use properly designed hoppers. big_smile

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Re: Hopper Shaker

Well yeah there's always that option but where's the fun in that?   Oh and for all of you Makerbot haters out there my second Z18 should arrive tomorrow for a total of two of these beasts.  Whoop.

If you build it they will come. Then they will make fun of it, tell you it's not worth doing and go home and try to copy you.
If a picture is worth a thousand words then being there is worth a thousand pictures.

(2) Stock Makerbot Z18s, Filastruder w/Melt Filter, Filawinder, Autodesk Inventor Design Suite 2014 .........so far.

6 (edited by wahada 2015-08-08 22:01:21)

Re: Hopper Shaker

Hi.

I built and use a hopper shaker which I posted to Thingiverse.
You can control both the shake duration and off time with the controller
circuit. I usually have it set so that it shakes for about five seconds every
five minutes. It works great and never had a pellet jam since I started using it.
I think you need to have it pulse in intervals because the vibrator motor gets
quite warm and if run continuously would probably soon burn out.
Here is the Thingiverse link:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:394971

7 (edited by Superdave 2015-08-09 02:38:55)

Re: Hopper Shaker

Thanks very cool

If you build it they will come. Then they will make fun of it, tell you it's not worth doing and go home and try to copy you.
If a picture is worth a thousand words then being there is worth a thousand pictures.

(2) Stock Makerbot Z18s, Filastruder w/Melt Filter, Filawinder, Autodesk Inventor Design Suite 2014 .........so far.

8 (edited by pricecg44 2015-09-18 07:10:26)

Re: Hopper Shaker

Instead of a shaker why not make a poker?  Elmoret's extruder arger and feed opening is small and so requires smallish granulate. If you are shredding stuff like I am you get pieces that are 3mm x 6mm which can hold up at the opening of the barrel.
So an idea is to have a poker moving back and forth here. Just cut a hole in the hopper and attach the poker on a rotating disc.

9 (edited by wahada 2015-09-19 23:07:52)

Re: Hopper Shaker

Pricecg44,

Are you saying that you are now currently using a shaker on your hopper and still getting material hanging up in the hopper?