1 Topic by robertf

  • robertf
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Topic: is 1.75mm flexible filament possible?

Haven't been on here in a while, but the machine in question is a da vinci 1.0 that I've had for a year that has had the board replaced with RAMPS and has been running a variety of different extruders and hot ends

I've had tried the da vinci extruder, the mk8 extruder, and now an all aluminum mk9 extruder with grooved roller
I've had the da vinci hot end, a generic j head hot end from microcenter, a pico b3, and now a v6

I was able to do 1 successful print with the generic hot end and mk8, but the filament would walk.  i tried an insert between the 2 to fill the gap and it would now cause the extruder to click.   230 degree C is what I've been using.  This is also the microcenter brand flex filament, but I've also tried shaxon with the same problems.

Now with the v6 and mk9 there is 0 room for the filament to wander.  It loads up into the hot end great, but then jams and the extruder clicks

The machine in question is barely a da vinci anymore, so this is more of a generic 3d printer question, but has anyone been able to reliably and repeatably print 1.75mm diameter flex filament?  With every iteration of temp, extruder, and hot end I've tried and failed, I'm starting to doubt it is possible and am tempted to throw everything out and switch to 3mm

What is my problem?  Am I right that 1.75mm flex filament just isn't possible?  I'm using simplify3d if that matters, but I don't think it does since I can't even get past loading filament.

2 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: is 1.75mm flexible filament possible?

robertf wrote:

Haven't been on here in a while, but the machine in question is a da vinci 1.0 that I've had for a year that has had the board replaced with RAMPS and has been running a variety of different extruders and hot ends

I've had tried the da vinci extruder, the mk8 extruder, and now an all aluminum mk9 extruder with grooved roller
I've had the da vinci hot end, a generic j head hot end from microcenter, a pico b3, and now a v6

I was able to do 1 successful print with the generic hot end and mk8, but the filament would walk.  i tried an insert between the 2 to fill the gap and it would now cause the extruder to click.   230 degree C is what I've been using.  This is also the microcenter brand flex filament, but I've also tried shaxon with the same problems.

Now with the v6 and mk9 there is 0 room for the filament to wander.  It loads up into the hot end great, but then jams and the extruder clicks

The machine in question is barely a da vinci anymore, so this is more of a generic 3d printer question, but has anyone been able to reliably and repeatably print 1.75mm diameter flex filament?  With every iteration of temp, extruder, and hot end I've tried and failed, I'm starting to doubt it is possible and am tempted to throw everything out and switch to 3mm

What is my problem?  Am I right that 1.75mm flex filament just isn't possible?  I'm using simplify3d if that matters, but I don't think it does since I can't even get past loading filament.


Talk to Scobo or check out his threads. He has a 1.0 and has printed wood, flexible, and many other filament. he can walk you through the needed mods.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
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Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

3 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2016-01-11 08:17:34)

  • scobo
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Re: is 1.75mm flexible filament possible?

Actually, I've moved on to an E3D V6 Lite now.
I did get the stock hotend to print PLA and various other types by adding extra heatsinks to the extruder but never got round to trying flexible.
But the E3D prints flexible very well. The key is to reduce the print speed right down.
I can print Ninjaflex at around 8mm/s print speed. Any faster and problems arise.
You won't be able to load it with the normal load option as it extrudes too fast.
Just use a bigger purge line to get it flowing initially.

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

4 Reply by knucklbustr (edited by knucklbustr 2016-01-12 15:30:45)

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Re: is 1.75mm flexible filament possible?

Ive printed 3 timing belts using Ninja SemiFlex w/ E3D Lite, stock extruder, Non-OEM heat plate.

Awhile ago I ground down something, for the idler spring lever.
Maybe I enlarged the small slot that the lever slide over, whatever, it makes the idler tighter against the filament.
This was done before any mods so PLA would print w/out clicks.

Also, the PTFE tube that comes out the top of the E3D nozzle has a V cut almost against the idler and drive gear.

My settings in Repitier/Cura are ckd Enable Retraction, Retraction Speed-1, Retract Dist - .8, Min Travel Before Retract -1
Temp -230/65
I think the speeds were about around 15.

DaV1.0  10/13
Repetier FW 0.92, Solidify3D

5 Reply by scobo

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Re: is 1.75mm flexible filament possible?

knucklbustr wrote:

Also, the PTFE tube that comes out the top of the E3D nozzle has a V cut almost against the idler and drive gear.

My settings in Repitier/Cura are ckd Enable Retraction, Retraction Speed-1, Retract Dist - .8, Min Travel Before Retract -1
Temp -230/65
I think the speeds were about around 15.

Yeah, that all helps too.
Must admit, I prefer the semiflex to the full-blown ninjaflex.
It seems easier to print and I find more uses for it. It's still flexible enough but just a bit more rigid and holds it's shape better for things like phone cases.

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 knucklbustr

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Re: is 1.75mm flexible filament possible?

scobo wrote:
knucklbustr wrote:

Also, the PTFE tube that comes out the top of the E3D nozzle has a V cut almost against the idler and drive gear.

My settings in Repitier/Cura are ckd Enable Retraction, Retraction Speed-1, Retract Dist - .8, Min Travel Before Retract -1
Temp -230/65
I think the speeds were about around 15.

Yeah, that all helps too.
Must admit, I prefer the semiflex to the full-blown ninjaflex.
It seems easier to print and I find more uses for it. It's still flexible enough but just a bit more rigid and holds it's shape better for things like phone cases.

The 1st print didnt fuse together. Lower speed is key.
Yes, its cool stuff. The belt was too slippery over a PLA pulley, doesnt have that surface texture like rubber.
The PLA pulley teeth edges were rounded, that didnt help.
When the belt was tighten it later stretched loose. So, I dont think SemiFlex is good for belts.

DaV1.0  10/13
Repetier FW 0.92, Solidify3D

7 Reply by mark.burton

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Re: is 1.75mm flexible filament possible?

yup slow speed is necessary with flexible filaments like tpu and ninja flex.

I am using the sainsmart tpu with good success and I can print at 30 mms  the stuff is super flexible I don't know how it compares to ninja flex as I haven't printed with that but the tpu is fun stuff. Has awesome inter layer adhesion and is super flexible

8 Reply by robertf (edited by robertf 2016-01-17 23:55:38)

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Re: is 1.75mm flexible filament possible?

slowed it down to 30mm/s and .3mm layer height and turned off ooze control.  225 extruder, 80 bed.  100% infill   gp3d flex filament


this extruder setup http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1275543

For a test part I needed 4 bumpers/footings for a fixture table.  For this application they can be ugly and not so level so I did 1 with good results, and then nested 3 together and had not so good results.

http://soliforum.com/i/?9Agzjy1.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?kD3fX1e.jpg

I haven't had time to dig through the g code, but I think maybe simplify is retracting between parts?  either that or something really odd is happening.

It was around a 3 hour print time for the 3.  Towards the end the extruder clicked but I was able to sort of save it by removing the filament and refeeding during the print.  I'd throw any other part out, but for this it doesn't matter.

I'm trying a real part now at 20mm/s and .2mm layer height