1 Topic by DDevine (edited by DDevine 2013-10-04 00:12:53)

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Topic: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

Greetings,

I just ordered my Filastruder. I don't have any experience with extrusion (though, I've read up) or with 3D printing (I don't own a 3D printer, though I'm reading up to make a RepRAP Morgan) so if this is a stupid idea, please be nice tongue

Since many of us don't have a properly transparent filament material, we are likely to be using natural or white coloured filament.

After the first 500g/1lb of extrusion where we *know* there will be metal contaminates, we are starting to wonder if the filament is usable... What if we put a couple of meters of this good looking filament in a microwave? Wouldn't the sparks caused by metal contaminates cause black-ish burn marks which should be easy to spot even in a more opaque/cloudy type of filament?

We can either wait a month or two until I get my extruder, or one of you can try it out sooner for me wink

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

What I recommend at this point is as follows:

- If you have a 0.6mm or larger nozzle on your printer: Anything after the first pound of extrusion should be fine.
- If you have a 0.4mm of smaller nozzle on your printer: Pick up a melt filter nozzle. It will screen all contaminants, including once you introduce yourself accidentally.

If your nozzle is between those numbers, you're in a grey area.

I wouldn't bother putting filament in microwaves because the inside of the Filastruder is not the only place contaminants can be introduced. Some "surplus" ABS sold on eBay has contaminants in it, you may contaminate it yourself accidentally with sawdust or human hairs, etc. If you have a nozzle <0.6mm diameter, is it probably a good idea to use a melt filter regardless.

Having said all that, you can get clear ABS pellets to check, or run PLA through first.

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

3 Reply by DDevine

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

I was thinking of using this just as a once-off check rather than something that is done all the time, because microwaving the filament is likely to cause other contaminates (oil from contact with hands or machinery) to heat up/burn and degrade the plastic. I am betting only metal would leave the really distinctive burn marks though. If the metal contaminates come from the source material... Well that'd be unfortunate.

I ordered a melt filter nozzle for 3.0mm filament so I should be fine for 3.0mm extrusion.

I'll try to find an affordable source of clear material in Australia in the long run.

4 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

Talk to the guys at My 3D Media. smile

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

5 Reply by DDevine

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

elmoret wrote:

Talk to the guys at My 3D Media. smile

Last night they got a reasonably large order from me (well, large by a poor student's standards).
I will poke them about PLA as they currently only have ABS.

6 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

Here is a source for clear ABS in the US -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plastic-Pellets … 43c02ff176

I liked using that as the first run of filament, because it is very easy to spot contaminants.  I'd like to try out masterbatch with clear, and experiment with mixing clear and titanium dioxide to make white.  I expect that would make a more brilliant white than mixing it with natural.

7 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

DDevine - I have some clear ABS I can throw in your box, but you're running out of room with your "requests". wink

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

8 Reply by DDevine

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

If there's room after the good stuff, sure wink I only really need enough to test with. That much could probably be packed inside the hopper right? Hopefully we don't blow the weight envelope - but if it's only by a small amount I can deal with that.
Thanks.

9 Reply by Tomek

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

Is clear ABS actually ABS? I've heard it's more like AS- because the butadiene reduced clarity. Just to consider

10 Reply by DDevine

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

Yeah that's something I have been unclear (excuse the pun) about.
I know natural PLA is basically "close enough" to clear.

11 Reply by Tomek

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Re: Checking after the first 500g of extrusion

Have you had natural PLA? it's great for getting colors through, but it's definitively opaque and not the most transparent.