1 Topic by Doxster

  • Doxster
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Topic: PLA and PETG?

Hello experts!

I am thinking about getting a Filastruder, but before I pull the trigger and pay VAT and shipping to Sweden I thought I'd ask a few questions, hopefully you guys can help a fellow out.

1. I've heard that PLA can be hard to extrude with this one, are there lots of modifications that needs to be done before getting 1.75mm PLA filament out of it?

2. Is it possible to extrude PETG with the Filastruder?

3. How reliable is it?

4. If care is taken when setting it up, will the filament that's extruded hold it's own against brand names? If using good raw material of course.

Thanks in advance!

2 Reply by elmoret

  • elmoret
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Re: PLA and PETG?

Answers to your questions can be found in the material writeups folks have posted in the DIY Filament Materials section. Notably:

PETG:
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/16076/pe … -colorant/
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/15657/co … -colorant/

PLA:
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/7470/pla-4043d/
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/8529/pla-4043d/
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/8530/pla-100-regrind/

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

3 Reply by Doxster

  • Doxster
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Re: PLA and PETG?

Thanks elmoret!

I see alot of people are mounting the Filastruder vertically. What's the benefit to that compared to horizontally?

Someone mentioned that a cooling fan is needed to keep the roundness of the filament, any suggestions to a good cooling system?

It seems like when adding master batches to the raw material that the diameter changes, does that mean that I have to have different dies to be able to extrude both clear filament and colored filament at 1.75mm?

It seems like I need another set of dies for PETG as well, if I want to keep it at 1.75mm?

Thanks in advance.

4 Reply by elmoret

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Re: PLA and PETG?

Vertical is better particularly if you're using a Filawinder, because it means fewer turns in the filament path. But it requires more complicated mounting.

There's a cooling fan already included, but you're welcome to add more cooling if you like.

Generally you would change temperature a few degrees to make up for the difference in something like colorant vs no colorant. Or multiple nozzles, up to you.

Different polymers have different amounts of die swell.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_swell

There are many ways to change diameter, nozzle internal diameter, extrusion temperature, amount of cooling, loop height (or distance to floor). You can choose which one you adjust, or you can just set the slicer on your printer for each spool's diameter. For example 1.6mm filament prints fine, as long as your printer knows it is 1.6mm.

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

5 Reply by Doxster

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Re: PLA and PETG?

Thanks again elmoret, you're a wealth of knowledge.

Do you find that the included fan is sufficient? My trigger finger is itching to buy one now smile