1 Topic by laird

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Topic: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

I've been turning the Filastruder off at night, since I don't trust running it unattended yet. :-) But as it had plastic in it, which of course solidified, the motor had to work pretty hard to get started again. Which makes me wonder - is it "OK" to stop the Filastruder "full" and resume later? Is it "OK" to leave the Filastruder running overnight unattended? Or should we always run it to empty then stop it? That seems preferable, but requires some planning...

What do you recommend?

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

You need to let the heat soak into the plastic to melt it before starting the motor. I wait 10-15 minutes after the nozzle has reached desired temperature.

You should not leave it running overnight unattended - treat it like a toaster oven or a stove. Okay to leave the room, but not fall asleep or leave the house. Really you should treat a 3D printer the same way.

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

3 Reply by 2n2r5

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Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

I like to douse mine with gasoline while smoking a cigarette and eating paint chips before I let it run over night. Just kidding, I quit smoking in January.

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4 Reply by Ralphxyz

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Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

elmoret wrote:

You need to let the heat soak into the plastic to melt it before starting the motor. I wait 10-15 minutes after the nozzle has reached desired temperature.

You should not leave it running overnight unattended - treat it like a toaster oven or a stove. Okay to leave the room, but not fall asleep or leave the house. Really you should treat a 3D printer the same way.

So one does not have to empty the filastruder just heat up in the morning before turning the auger on, that makes sense.

Just wondering if there is any compromise to the initial reheated plastic?

Ralph

5 Reply by cckens

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Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

I would guess that so long as you don't keep heating, cooling, heating, [repeat] without extruding you should be fine.  I've yet to have to have issues with the printer hot end by not cleaning it out after every time I shut it down, so this should be the same.

6 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

Ralphxyz wrote:
elmoret wrote:

You need to let the heat soak into the plastic to melt it before starting the motor. I wait 10-15 minutes after the nozzle has reached desired temperature.

You should not leave it running overnight unattended - treat it like a toaster oven or a stove. Okay to leave the room, but not fall asleep or leave the house. Really you should treat a 3D printer the same way.

So one does not have to empty the filastruder just heat up in the morning before turning the auger on, that makes sense.

Just wondering if there is any compromise to the initial reheated plastic?

Ralph

The only possible problem is humidity. Definitely not an issue with ABS, definitely an issue with PLA. Heat cycling is no problem if that's what you're asking.

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

7 Reply by laird

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Re: Is it better to empty the Filastruder before stopping?

2n2r5 wrote:

I like to douse mine with gasoline while smoking a cigarette and eating paint chips before I let it run over night. Just kidding, I quit smoking in January.

So, do you recommend the "classic" lead paint chips, or the newer vinyl? :-)