1 Topic by redbarret (edited by redbarret 2015-01-07 21:34:11)

  • redbarret
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Topic: some filawinder questions

I watched the videos by Ian when assemblying my Filawinder and some things were left unanswered.

The plywood piece holding the ptfe tubes is suggested to be attached horizontally if the Filawinder will be used horizontally. How do I use it if I attach it so?
And there's this extra plywood piece not mentioned. No idea what its for. Found someone using it like this
http://i.imgur.com/KIdcVVO.jpg

BTW, whats the purpose of ptfe tubes and the magnet?

Also, what's a good horizontal setup of filastruder and filawinder? (distances of extruder, laser sensor and winder from each other and maybe their relative height). Not looking for exact numbers obviously, just something practical.

Thank you.

Solidoodle 4

2 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: some filawinder questions

The extra wood piece is an extender, so if you are making 3mm filament which is extra stiff, you can get more distance between the tubes and guide.  The extra distance will keep the guide from needing to work so hard since it doesn't have to bend the filament as sharply to reach the edges of the spool.  It isn't really needed for 1.75 filament.

Running the filament through the tube adds just enough drag that it will pull tight to the spool.  You can control the amount of tension by making the ptfe loop larger or smaller.  There is 2mm ID tube for 1.75 filament and 4mm ID tube for 3mm filament.  You can cut some pieces of the 2mm tube to use as guides on the laser.

The magnet triggers a hall sensor on the PCB each time the spool rotates to tell the guide when to move.

When extruding horizontally, it's possible that the filament will twist as it's extruded and tend to go sideways rather than down.  The melt filter seems to help prevent this, so it will take some experimentation to see if there is any twisting, and how much filament needs to hang to counteract it.  a 10" drop with 20" between would be a good starting point.

3 Reply by redbarret (edited by redbarret 2015-01-08 09:40:10)

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Re: some filawinder questions

Thank you very much for the explanation.

You didn't answer one thing though: if I mount the plywood piece where the PTFE tubes go, how can I mount the ptfe tubes if I mount the plywood piece horizontally as you suggested in the video?

And when you said 10" drop with 20" between, you mean the laser sensor piece should be somehwere in the "between" part, right?
And 10'' drop means filastruder should be higher by 10'', right?
Thanks.

Solidoodle 4

4 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: some filawinder questions

The PTFE tubes loop through the holes in the plate the same way whether the setup is vertical or horizontal.  If the winder is horizontal the outgoing end of the tube will make a 90 degree bend toward the guide.  If the winder is vertical, the tube will be pointing straight at the guide.  It works the same as in the picture you posted showing the extender.

The laser should be about halfway between the Filastruder and the beginning of the tube on the winder.  Ideally the filament would make a half-circle with the filastruder nozzle and the winder at the same level, but it doesn't have to be perfect.

5 Reply by redbarret

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Re: some filawinder questions

Thanks Ian.

So both filastruder and filawinder have to be on a platform then, not on flat table? Is that what you meant by 10'' "drop"?

Solidoodle 4

6 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: some filawinder questions

Yes, the filament needs to drop into a loop and make a U shape.  Then any pulling from the winder either raises the bottom of the U, or pushes it back and forth with none of that pulling force getting transmitted to the nozzle.  If the filastruder runs slower or faster, it will just make the bottom of the U raise or lower without affecting the diameter.   If you place the filastruder lower so the U becomes more like an L, then the pull from the winder can pull the filament from the nozzle, stretching it and ruining the tolerance.