1 Topic by pistar

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Topic: metal filaments.

a few metal filaments have been coming out recently.   I've personally used the copper and the bronze filament and I've seen theres also an aluminum one out now too. do you think the filastruder can handle any percent of powdered metal added to the pellet mix? I'm dying to get my hands on some silver filament but i feel like making it myself will be the only way I'm going to get it. what dod you think? powdered silver + abs pellets + filastruder = awesome silver (Ag) filament or dead filastruder ?

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: metal filaments.

It shouldn't damage the Filastruder (it may increase wear over the long term), but the bigger concern is how it is going to be extraordinarily expensive. Have you priced silver? A kilogram is well over $500, and that's before it is powdered.

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3 Reply by pistar

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Re: metal filaments.

i don't need a kilogram,  the percentage of metal to plastic in the metal filament coming out is low. $100 in powdered silver will go a long way.

4 Reply by pistar

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Re: metal filaments.

also, im not printing large things.

5 Reply by elmoret

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Re: metal filaments.

pistar wrote:

i don't need a kilogram,  the percentage of metal to plastic in the metal filament coming out is low. $100 in powdered silver will go a long way.

Bronzefill is 80% bronze by weight.

I wouldn't call that "low".

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6 Reply by pistar

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Re: metal filaments.

low might be a little of a stench but its 80% by weight meaning it might only be 5% by volume. I'm curious to know the volume of bronze to PLA in the bronzefill.

7 Reply by elmoret

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Re: metal filaments.

pistar wrote:

low might be a little of a stench but its 80% by weight meaning it might only be 5% by volume. I'm curious to know the volume of bronze to PLA in the bronzefill.

Volume doesn't matter, mass does.

1000 grams of bronzefill is 800 grams of bronze.

That's $400 of silver assuming you can get it at spot prices, and that's before you've paid to have it powdered.

The powdering isn't cheap either, here's 100 grams for $320:

http://www.saltlakemetals.com/Silver_Powder.htm

But don't let my shallow pockets dissuade you.

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

8 Reply by pistar

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Re: metal filaments.

saltlakemetals  sells powered metals, relatively affordable. its a pricy project: lets hope it works.

9 Reply by frozensoda (edited by frozensoda 2014-11-09 02:46:33)

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Re: metal filaments.

I work for a steel and aluminium company, I have access to powdered aluminium and iron oxide for free(in small quantities, and yes it's allowed I'm no thief tongue) if anyone is interested in trying aluminium or iron oxide, let me know and I'll work out shipping some to you. Also, elmoret, we spoke briefly before about me purchasing a filastruder for a discount if I test new materials, would this count? In feburary I'm expecting a tidy sum from my tax refund so I will definitely be buying one either way but I'd love to get the discount.

I edit my posts a lot.

10 Reply by elmoret

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Re: metal filaments.

The store credit for filament reviews policy is stickied in the DIY filament forum.

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11 Reply by frozensoda

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Re: metal filaments.

elmoret wrote:

The store credit for filament reviews policy is stickied in the DIY filament forum.

sorry

I edit my posts a lot.

12 Reply by grob

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Re: metal filaments.

frozensoda wrote:

I work for a steel and aluminium company, I have access to powdered aluminium and iron oxide for free(in small quantities, and yes it's allowed I'm no thief tongue) if anyone is interested in trying aluminium or iron oxide, let me know and I'll work out shipping some to you.

Careful not to mix those two... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

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13 Reply by AndersE

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Re: metal filaments.

Proto-pasta is releasing stainless steel/pla and magnetic iron/pla soon.