Extruder development

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collaboration page for ideas on new extruder development, started for the Atlanta area hackerspace freesideatl.

Ongoing discussion

I'd be honored if you guys join the technical-but-friendly dev list, since you guys are technical-but-friendly devs.  :D
http://reprap.org/pipermail/reprap-dev/
--Sebastien Bailard 04:13, 4 January 2011 (UTC)


Major Models For Comparison

ExtruderComparison.jpg

Mendel Stepper Extruder

Wades Geared NEMA 17 Extruder

  • Simple Design, easy to modify
  • Simple print.
  • Common
  • cannot see the filament
  • Labor intensive to do any type of maintenance.

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
  • Look into granule extruders like the BFB3000 uses.
  • Look into a filament cleaning step.
  • What about a modular extruder system? Some sort of mounting bracket that holds the extruder and hot end. The filament drive and hot end could snap off using a clip system and molex connectors this would help with adoption as well as give us (and many others an easy upgrade path) Want a dremel cnc? Snap it on. Laser cutter? Snap it on.

Hot End

idea bucket

External References