1 Topic by infonetkraft

  • infonetkraft
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Topic: Filawinder problem

Good day,

I have finally finished assembling the winder (I had to wait to print the parts) and now I am trying to use my filastruder and filawinder together.. but I have a few problems, so I will attach pictures with my setup.

1. In auto mode, when I press left button and turn the potentiometer, there is really nothing happening. Same with right or center, so basically I cannot use at all the guide. Any advices ? I am sure that everything is connected correctly, the wiring is at basic level and we cannot mistake something so simple. Also our level of soldering is very good i doubt there is any problem. Maybe I should measure the potentiometer to check if it is fine ?

2. The guides made of teflone are not good - much too short so I made longer guides using some wood and straws, what we had in the house in that moment but still I believe I need one more set of guides or even two more sets on the way to laser, one of the guides should be just nearby extruder nozzle after the fan. What is causing the exacerbated moving to the right of the filament from the output of nozzle ?

Just as a side information, the light of the laser is not fitting perfectly in the sensor (it is oblique, if I align it then it will not work correctly without calibration) and I have not yet calibrated yet the filawinder motor speed in manual mode, it will start the motor and move the filament up approximately 10mm, maybe this is too much and sudden which is causing filament to bounce around and change its direction.

Other problem is that the ABS printed piece of extruder will be a little loose when the barrel of filastruder is hot and the bottle with ABS pellets is moved a little which changed the center of weight and made it spill on the ground but this is not so big problem and it can be fixed. The barel has a very little jerk sometimes as pellets will be caught at the entrance of the barrel.


Thank you for taking the time to read this and advise.

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2 Reply by Smow

  • Smow
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Re: Filawinder problem

Here are a few tips for your setup.

I would bring the two desks closer together and lower the laser, which will give a better 'drop' to the filaament and stop the bounce you experience when the winder runs. this will also fix the twist of the filament, which is caused by the spin of the auger. The filament needs some weight to really work properly.

I ended up using cheap teflon tape to wrap before and after the main barrel cut where the pellets feed into, this made the ABS printed piece hold nicely and the bottle doesn't tip.

I always calibrate my filament with the laser during the extruding process. Sometimes more than once. You really need to have the sensors as illuminated as possible with the laser.

I could be wrong, but I don't think there is a calibration for the spin on the motor. When the shadow of the filament falls on the second from the bottom sensor the filawinder turns the spindle. If the shaddow get to the first from the bottom it spin it even faster. I have never seen a calibration for the spin of the spindle.

My Pot's range was between 0K and 48K ohm. You could check your buttons, and the pot. If you have a computer then run the serial comms window with a jumper on the arduino and see if its reporting the correct pins. Trust me on this, you want the servo moving the filament, its no good if you can't properly wrap the filament on the spindle.

3 Reply by infonetkraft

  • infonetkraft
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Re: Filawinder problem

Thank you a lot. Very informative. I will do my best to do as you advise and at the same time I will make also closer guides at the exit to see how it goes.
It's a pain to put the first filament through the teflon tube and then connect it to the spool, there is a big chance that there will be a sudden pull at the nozzle and create a 1cm bent of filament that will block the teflon tube. This setup is worth if there is a more powerful extruder and the possibility to roll the filament in a 5 kilograms roll. Of course it needs everything rebuilt and with a bigger electric motor to be able to spin such a big spool.
I am wondering where is the support of manufacturer regarding the non-working function of the stepper. I have e-mailed [email protected] but no answer, it probably takes few days though.

Have a nice day.

4 Reply by Smow

  • Smow
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Re: Filawinder problem

Don't loose hope. I have found it takes awhile to get the filament to load and wind properly. Just practice (I have been very frustrated at first).I build my spools from 40mm diameter paper towel rolls and 200mm diameter cardboard walls. I can load 2KG onto a single spool, more than a couple of days of extruding.

The heavier the roll the more difficult it will be for the 3d printer to pull the filament. 5kG would be too much unless everything was perfect.

5 Reply by JeremyLGSiegfried

  • JeremyLGSiegfried
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Re: Filawinder problem

Smow wrote:

5kG would be too much unless everything was perfect.

Or if you have a really good, low friction spool holder.

Filastruder 2607 w/ Filawinder @1.75mm.
Dual-extruder MaxMicron Prusa Mendel: RAMPS 1.4 w/ Repetier Firmware+Full Graphic LCD Controller, stock hotends, 3Dator extruders w/ MK8 gears, insulated enclosure w/ 2 heat lamps, RPi 2B w/ Repetier Server.
0.1-0.2mm layer height, heated bed w/ PEI surface, inductive-sensor autolevel, 0.5mm to 0.2mm nozzle diameters.