1 Topic by CornGolem

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Topic: Methods to collect the extruded filament as ready for printing

Since we don't have yet a device to roll up the filament on a spool as it is extruded, to use it in a 3D printer we have to wait for it to be all extruded and then manually/mechanically roll it up.
The problem I see is that after extrusion the filament falls down as messy    circles and if you pull on one end you get some kinds of knots, one circle crossing another or a loop twisted at its base.
I thought that placing a big cone or a tripod would make the filament fall in an ordered fashion, but I'm not sure.

What solutions have you found ?

2 Reply by supraflyer

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Re: Methods to collect the extruded filament as ready for printing

I stand near the pile and hold the filament in one hand and wind it on a variable speed drill like Tim recommends. If I go slow enough and hold the filament straight above the pile it uncoils in a manageable fashion as it winds up on the spool. It works good. You need to keep a steady tension on the spool to insure it does not uncoil when printing(minor issue)

3 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Methods to collect the extruded filament as ready for printing

supraflyer wrote:

I stand near the pile and hold the filament in one hand and wind it on a variable speed drill like Tim recommends. If I go slow enough and hold the filament straight above the pile it uncoils in a manageable fashion as it winds up on the spool. It works good. You need to keep a steady tension on the spool to insure it does not uncoil when printing(minor issue)

Bingo. Just like the Kickstarter video. Start with the end still attached to the Filastruder.

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

4 Reply by CornGolem (edited by CornGolem 2013-08-14 13:09:24)

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Re: Methods to collect the extruded filament as ready for printing

Which video was that ? I only see a glimpse on the main page's video.

Would a tripod help ?
What about clearing dust ?

5 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Methods to collect the extruded filament as ready for printing

CornGolem wrote:

Which video was that ? I only see a glimpse on the main page's video.

Would a tripod help ?
What about clearing dust ?

Yeah, there's just a glimpse. I could record a video if you like, but it'd just be more of what was in the main video. Not sure why you'd need a tripod.

You can hold a microfiber cloth in the hand guiding the filament if you want, or just use a filament wiper like this on your printer:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44781

You should already be using something like that anyway.

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

6 Reply by Ralphxyz

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Re: Methods to collect the extruded filament as ready for printing

elmoret wrote:

You can hold a microfiber cloth in the hand guiding the filament if you want, or just use a filament wiper like this on your printer:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44781

You should already be using something like that anyway.

Has this been said before??

I think I remember something "suggesting" a wiper but never so definitively expressed.

Ralph

7 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Methods to collect the extruded filament as ready for printing

Ralphxyz wrote:

Has this been said before??

I think I remember something "suggesting" a wiper but never so definitively expressed.

Ralph

Not said by me. It is not filastruder specific advice, it is general 3D printing advice.

http://www.soliforum.com/post/32713/#p32713

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

8 Reply by CraigRK

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Re: Methods to collect the extruded filament as ready for printing

elmoret wrote:
Ralphxyz wrote:

Has this been said before??

I think I remember something "suggesting" a wiper but never so definitively expressed.

Ralph

Not said by me. It is not filastruder specific advice, it is general 3D printing advice.

http://www.soliforum.com/post/32713/#p32713

It's also recommended by others in the broader RepRap community.  for example nophead has included a variation on his Mendel90 design.  - http://hydraraptor.blogspot.co.uk/

Masterbatch, ABS and PLA Pellets available for UK and Europe.
http://www.emakershop.com/Seller=1324

CraigRK's Website