Extruder development
collaboration page for ideas on new extruder development, started for the Atlanta area hackerspace freesideatl.
Contents
Ongoing discussion
I'd be honored if you guys join the technical-but-friendly dev list, since you guys are devs. :D http://reprap.org/pipermail/reprap-dev/ --Sebastien Bailard 04:13, 4 January 2011 (UTC)
Major Models For Comparison
Mendel Stepper Extruder
Wades Geared NEMA 17 Extruder
Guiding Principals
- Cheap
- Easy to reproduce
- Follows in reprap principles
Current issues
Filament Drive
idea bucket
- Try different material for gripping filament such as sugru / oogoo
- Make the filament visible until it enters the hot end.
- Add a rotary encoder to the idler wheel to detect if the filament is advancing. http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9117
- hinge the idler idler block and add the tension on the outside of the block instead of through it so it can be easily removed.
- make it easier to replace the hot end.
- make the mounting to the printer easier, try a gravity mount, or hold in place with paper clamps
Hot End
idea bucket
- make it easier to remove from filament drive.
- remove PTFE, don't use any parts that break down at typical extruding temperatures like ABS
- try make a combo heater block/nozzle
- try various cheap and off the shelf heatsinks like the copper pipe cap.
- off the shelf nozzles, mechanical pencils, misting nozzles, airbrush nozzles
- compare resistance wire to resistor and other options,
- wind your own resistor to make it as hot as possible?