1 Topic by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-12-19 14:20:18)

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Topic: E3D and flexible filament

Any E3D users managing to print flexible filament such as Ninjaflex ?
I'm trying a sample of Fillamentum Flexfill but finding it really tricky to print.
Can't even get it to extrude for more than a few seconds using the load function without it swelling and wedging in the hotend.
Tried 200-240°C but no luck.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

2 Reply by scobo

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

Ok, finally managed to finish a small print with this stuff.
220°C, extrusion multiplier at 1.2 and speed at 20mm/s
Slowing the print speed down a touch seemed to make the difference.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

3 Reply by evanalmighty

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

20 is about the max you can go in term of speed.  Also set retraction to 0.  Any hotend can print flex filaments.  The problem is with the extruder.

4 Reply by mark.burton

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

I have printed with tpu which is a lot like ninja flex. I can print at 30. faster then that and it will sometimes spit out to the side.

With flexible filament you need as little gap between the extruder gears and the rest of the hot end as possible.

You also have to be carful with retraction. I have mine set at 2 and it works but you have to find what works for your set up.

5 Reply by scobo

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

Still having some trouble with the Flexfill.
After a couple of minutes, it buckles between the extruder drive gear and the idler then stops feeding.
I discovered that if I pull the filament release lever and let the buckle straighten out, it continues to print fine. Of course, it's not practical to have to that every couple of minutes.
So as evanalmighty said, the stock extruder gear just doesn't seem up to the job with this stuff.
I've ordered a sample of Ninjaflex to see if I have better luck with that.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

6 Reply by mark.burton

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

true that is why I printed different carriage and extruder setup. the set up I have has practically no gap between the gear and the filament guide.  however it has issues with being able to set the pressure on the filament just right so....

7 Reply by TickTock

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

It it tricky.  Since it is so stretchy, you need to hand feed it so you always have the same tension coming off the spool (don't let the printer pull it off the spool or you will get thin spots).  Or, you can automate it with a device like in the following thread:

nijaflex success

8 Reply by TickTock

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

scobo wrote:

Still having some trouble with the Flexfill.
After a couple of minutes, it buckles between the extruder drive gear and the idler then stops feeding.

Yeah.  First thing to do is to insert a longer Teflon tube and cut it to a point so it supports the filament all the way from the drive gear out.  Mine actually rubs the drive gear a little.  I found that this stopped the buckling, but still resulted in poor print quality unless I also ensure the printer never tugged on the filament to get it off the spool.

9 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-12-23 08:29:58)

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

I have a piece of tubing attached to the metal spout which feeds the filament to a fraction above the gear.
And there is very little gap between the gear and the top of the E3D so I'm not sure I can improve on this much.
Hopefully, I'll get better results with the Ninjaflex. I'll post my results once I've tried it.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/scobodon/b4c5f79f6dee23207ff6e75397fe52f4_zpsspdpfoqe.jpg

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

10 Reply by scobo

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

Well, the Ninjaflex came in like the post today and I spent over an hour trying various settings but no luck. In fact, if anything, the buckling is happening more often than with the Flexfill.
I even added a piece of PTFE tubing to extend the feed tube. It's now touching the extruder gear so there's only a tiny gap above and below.
Running out of ideas and patience with this stuff !
Really frustrating, every other type of filament I've thrown at the E3D prints great.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
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11 Reply by evanalmighty

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

You can extend the feed the further by cutting its tip into a V shape (upside down). That'll allow you to slide the tube right up to the radius of the extruder gear.

12 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-12-23 20:52:20)

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

Yeah, I did think about cutting a v into the tubing but wasn't sure if it would be worth the bother given how close I've got the tubing already.
I'd need to fit a whole new PTFE liner to the E3D to get any closer below the extruder gear.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/scobodon/5246c64a81c1b69ef133921c21ebe565_zpsohi1ubfe.jpg

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

13 Reply by mark.burton

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

its not the feed tube you need to modify. its the part after the gear. The bottom tube you want to have it come up to a point.
for example see this  extruder.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:148358

14 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-12-24 11:57:52)

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

Ok, I've finally realised what the problem was with my setup.
The metal bracket above the extruder gear which I attached a feed tube to was at a very slight angle pointing outwards.
That was helping the filament slip out from inbetween the gear and the idler.
So the solution was to simply bend the metal bracket down slightly so that the tube is now flush.
Just ran off a couple of nice looking prints with no problem and completely unattended.
Can't believe I didn't spot that sooner, doh !
Thanks for all the advice guys.

Edit : Now have retraction turned on too at 2mm and all is well. Happy days !

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

15 Reply by TickTock (edited by TickTock 2015-12-24 14:26:57)

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Re: E3D and flexible filament

I found that occasionally the V would still bend over and allow the filament to buckle (Teflon wasn't strong enough to withstand the buckling forces).  So I printed a reinforcing tube with ABS  (upside down V with hole large enough for Teflon Tube).  It is almost touching the extruder and I have had no problems since.  Here'e a pic:
http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=9460

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