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Topic: Metal flakes in filament

Hi!
After running my filastruder for about 5 hours, I am still seeing metal flakes in the output.  Has anyone else had this problem?

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

It has been addressed.  I recommend you get one of these.

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/3887/mel … available/

SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
Filastruder
NYLON (taulman): http://www.soliforum.com/topic/466/nylon/

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

They should disappear after 8 hours or so. If they do not, you probably have a bent barrel or it was not prepared properly (grinding lips, etc).

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

I wonder how hard it would be to make a little metal detector to flag shavings in the filament? A powerful hard drive magnet might serve to deflect the filament enough to make a visible bend in the output.  Or go the fancy electronics route, like the hobby detectors only much smaller. (keep it away from the nipple of course)

...Like I don't have enough problems to solve in my life....

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

Why? Just get a melt filter, you can catch both ferrous and non-ferrous contaminants.

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

I've got a fully assembled unit and I've been running for well over 8 hours (but haven't used the complete first pound of material).  I'm still seeing metal flakes.  Is it safe to presume that, if I'm seeing flakes after the full bag of material is gone, I should reach out to someone.  If so, who.  OS Printing or Tim?

Boots Industries v2.5 Delta
Robo 3D with Pico Hot End, ViKi LCD, OctoPi, EZStruder, Precision Rods, Extended Z Height

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

Yes, you should reach out to OS Printing. You can also PM me if needed.

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

I'm close to being through the bag of material now and It seems that, in the last little bit, the metal flakes have stopped.

Boots Industries v2.5 Delta
Robo 3D with Pico Hot End, ViKi LCD, OctoPi, EZStruder, Precision Rods, Extended Z Height

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

Scratch that.  I'm still getting flakes.  I pushed a safety pin into the nozzle and got even more out.  I'll Update when I know more.

Boots Industries v2.5 Delta
Robo 3D with Pico Hot End, ViKi LCD, OctoPi, EZStruder, Precision Rods, Extended Z Height

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

It sounds like maybe you didn't get a good purge cycle because there was debris caught in the nozzle. Check here:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/3592/filastruder-jams/

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

I've been extruding fine the whole time.  I've even been having to extrude at 170C instead of 180 to keep the diameter up.

Given that I'm getting 6" per minute extrusion rate, what's my best step here?  Disassembly, Drill, more safety pin poking or just let it run and hope it clears out?

Boots Industries v2.5 Delta
Robo 3D with Pico Hot End, ViKi LCD, OctoPi, EZStruder, Precision Rods, Extended Z Height

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

6" per minute is slow, but 170C is cold. I still think there could be clogging. Since you're running so slow and cold there isn't much turbulence in the flow to carry debris out.

It's up to you whether you want to try to drill it (1/16" bit) to break up any debris, or take the nozzle off. I'd try drilling first.

13 (edited by leonmf 2013-09-30 04:08:25)

Re: Metal flakes in filament

OK, I've started my second bag at 185C and I'm extruding at 8" per minute in an attempt to let the faster flow flush things.  If that doesn't work, I'll try to track down a drill bit tomorrow.

FWIW, the reason I was way down at 170C was because my diameter at 180 was in the 1.6 range.  Right now, I'm getting 1.6 - 1.65 ish at 185.

Boots Industries v2.5 Delta
Robo 3D with Pico Hot End, ViKi LCD, OctoPi, EZStruder, Precision Rods, Extended Z Height

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

datasmasher wrote:

Hi!
After running my filastruder for about 5 hours, I am still seeing metal flakes in the output.  Has anyone else had this problem?

If you are still having issues with this, please contact me at [email protected]. Also, what FA# is your machine?

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Re: Metal flakes in filament

leonmf wrote:

FWIW, the reason I was way down at 170C was because my diameter at 180 was in the 1.6 range.  Right now, I'm getting 1.6 - 1.65 ish at 185.

1.6mm filament should still feed fine. The reason the die/nozzle is drilled on the smaller side is to prevent jamming in the printer's hotend if it does swing up to the higher end of the range - some hotends jam with 1.8mm filament, so if I targeted 1.75mm users might experience a jam.