1 Topic by PrecisionWorks (edited by PrecisionWorks 2013-05-26 23:21:58)

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Topic: Inexpensive Filament

Hello all,
Precision Works LLC has recently manufactured our first filament extruder. We have been surprised by how well the device works and are looking to begin selling filament as soon as possible.

Our purpose is to provide a less expensive source of high quality filament to the consumer. We intend to keep our price low by marketing the filament alone without a spool.

The question posed to all the filament consumers out there is this: Would 1-2kg bundles of filament at a cost well under competition (lets say $20 per kg bundle) interest anyone?

Precision Works also wants to market a tool in the near future to transfer the loose filament bundle to empty spools the consumer already has. These tools would be very simple and sold at cost to encourage more consumers to purchase filament bundles instead of spooled.

Any thoughts/feedback would be much appriciated. Thanks,

-The Precision Works Team-

2 Reply by 2n2r5

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

Where are you located? Quality filament at good prices would always interest us. Can you post some close up pictures of items printed with your filament. I personally wouldn't mind a bulk reel or bulk bundle that I could repopulate my spent reels. I have a system for this already but I am sure others would be interested.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website

3 Reply by dkeeling728

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

would we be interested? i dont know... is water wet?

give us a link to your kickstarter!

would also be interested to hear about your extruder, as i am currently in the design and spec phases of my own inexpensive unit. but would be more than happy to support a company willing to provide the filament at a reasonable cost.

4 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/833 … t-extruder

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:81662

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

5 Reply by PrecisionWorks

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

All,
Precision Works is located in Essex Jct. Vermont. We are a small start-up company and have just recently decided to enter the 3D printing industry. Our filament extruder is in test stage and is initially showing promise. It has been able to produce consistent filament at 1.75 mm and 3.0 mm at rates exceeding ten feet/min. Currently we are working on quality control measures and a winding system. Once these are in place we intend to start production for retail, projected within the next month. During the next few weeks we will be testing our filament on several printers to ensure we have a quality product to offer.

Precision Works does not have a Kickstarter. Our website is currently under construction and will be up soon. More to follow.
Thanks,

-The Precision Works Team-

6 Reply by Jared

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

Pellets-

Like many, I decided to build my own extruder - mostly for the fun of it.  I think the best approach for many of us here is to build a store that would function the way Filastruder documented a cost of extruding 1Kg at about $5 bucks - looks like they partnered up with OSPrinting which doesn't even come close to that price target.  Recommendation - corner the market on volume - 18lbs natural + 40oz color concentrate (4 different colors) should be about $50 shipped in flat rate box.

We can already get this stuff very easily at about 2.80/lb shipped - nobody has linked the colorant yet but they will.  If you are building a business - kick out all the companies trying to mark up pellets! Corner that market, then make me feel bad about going to all this trouble by shooting out filament at $15/kg

7 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

Have a look at Faberdashery in the UK.  They have great colors and effects that are unique, and sell by the meter.  They are also extremely expensive.   You can set yourself apart by offering colors that aren't the same as what all the resellers of Chinese filament have, and offer custom or smaller quantities do we can collect a variety of specialty colors withouth buying 1kg of each one. 


After that start looking into alternative materials.

8 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

Jared wrote:

We can already get this stuff very easily at about 2.80/lb shipped - nobody has linked the colorant yet but they will.

$2.80/lb shipped? Where? Carlsievering? That's surplus, and not sustainable pricing. $5/kg is doable before shipping depending on the resin- the prices I quoted on kickstarter did not include shipping.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

9 Reply by Jared

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

elmoret wrote:
Jared wrote:

We can already get this stuff very easily at about 2.80/lb shipped - nobody has linked the colorant yet but they will.

$2.80/lb shipped? Where? Carlsievering? That's surplus, and not sustainable pricing. $5/kg is doable before shipping depending on the resin- the prices I quoted on kickstarter did not include shipping.

Didn't even see that one - just bought 18lbs for $50, but I beg to differ - it is very sustainable. Virgin ABS is about $0.80/lb although we're talking about buying by the ton.  That isn't all that difficult to swallow for a small business.  The shipping in prepaid boxes makes this very lucrative at a sub $3/lb

10 Reply by elmoret (edited by elmoret 2013-06-01 21:55:34)

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Re: Inexpensive Filament

Jared wrote:

Virgin ABS is about $0.80/lb although we're talking about buying by the ton.  That isn't all that difficult to swallow for a small business.  The shipping in prepaid boxes makes this very lucrative at a sub $3/lb

Not the good stuff. I'm telling you man, since I just bought 1100 lbs it was in my best interest to do it as inexpensively as possible.  I have multiple accounts with suppliers buying direct from the factory, no distributor, and you can't quality stuff delivered that cheaply. Half of that $0.80/lb number you quote gets eaten up just in freight costs in getting the ton of pellets to the distributor (me, OS Printing, or whoever).

You could probably get ABS pellets delivered to your door sustainably for $2.50/lb if they were low grade resin and the distributor didn't make a dime of profit. Or, you can get quality resin for about $4.50/lb delivered, and it be quality resin - like Sabic's MG94, which is what I bought 1100 lbs of to include with Filastruders. To me, the extra $2/lb is worth it to be able to print faster and with less ooze, etc.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend