I've been away from 3D printing for a while and now want to do some upgrades for my DIY 3D printer. I'm going to replace the fixed buildtak surface with a spring steel magnet system as the surface has tears, holes and it's very bumpy. That's part of the reason I've been away from 3D printing for a while. It's based on 3.00/2.85mm diameter filament. I still use my DIY printed cold end bowden fishbone extruder and I'm looking to replace it with something a little bit more beefy and accurate. I've found this but it's out of stock: [nl.aliexpress.com] [www.3djake.com] Though the bondtech is a little pricey. I'm looking to spend like 20-70 euros max. Is 3.00mm diameter stuff dead? Is 1.75 the way to go now? That would be a shame for my 3mm hot end E3D v6 I believe to be replaced. And still a decent amount of 3.00 filament that I still have in stock. Any advise is appreciated! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896835#msg-896835 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:15:11 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,897068#msg-897068 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,897068#msg-897068 VDX General Sun, 03 Aug 2025 12:42:44 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,897067#msg-897067 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,897067#msg-897067
That sounds really awesome! Unfortunately I don't have enough free time to be able to experiment with stuff like that.]]> NewPerfection General Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:29:28 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,897031#msg-897031 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,897031#msg-897031
I, for my part, use even thinner "filaments" with "laser-direct-melting" sort of FDM ... my first experiments with platinum wire (should be around 2006) gave something like 12micron wide tracks with 10micron thick wire, what could be even fine tuned between 5 to 40 microns width (3 to 20 height) by changing moving vs. extruding speeds.

As this was then under NDA and only for a special solution, I didn't discuss it in detail with the forum ... but later mentioned sometimes, without great feedback.

If enough people would be interested (today enough people without too much fears for lasers) I could disclosure more details, but not willing to "feed" the copycats even more 8-)]]> VDX General Fri, 01 Aug 2025 02:45:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,897029#msg-897029 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,897029#msg-897029 NewPerfection General Thu, 31 Jul 2025 20:46:15 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896870#msg-896870 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896870#msg-896870
I guess that was the main reason.]]> Govahnator General Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:57:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896866#msg-896866 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896866#msg-896866

_{^{192.168.100.1 192.168.1.1}}

]]> jodefoy General Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:59:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896861#msg-896861 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896861#msg-896861 Thanks, the E3D seems to be what I'm looking for!

@Govahnator
Yeah, it's funny how things turn out, seems kinda random that 1.75 was chosen by the market.]]> imqqmi General Thu, 12 Jun 2025 06:12:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896857#msg-896857 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896857#msg-896857 VDX General Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:16:06 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896855#msg-896855 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896855#msg-896855
If you want a 3mm compatible extruder, that doesn't need a planetary stepper motor; i can advice the E3D Titan. Ideally the full metal version.
You will only find it in 1.75mm but all you need to do is make the guiding whole in the extruder a bit larger by drilling it.

And yes, 3mm filament has been dead for years.]]> Govahnator General Sun, 08 Jun 2025 18:08:01 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896849#msg-896849 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896849#msg-896849
Smaller cross section of filament certainly helps to melt it uniformly, though the cold end extruder must be both powerful and fast enough to keep up. And bowden tubes add a lot of springiness so I don't know how they keep up with retractions, or is that no concern since they're so fast?]]> imqqmi General Tue, 03 Jun 2025 14:02:07 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896843#msg-896843 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896843#msg-896843 rq3 General Mon, 26 May 2025 16:20:11 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896838#msg-896838 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896838#msg-896838
Thanks for the input!]]> imqqmi General Sun, 25 May 2025 12:08:05 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896837#msg-896837 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896837#msg-896837

I say yes 3mm is dead. (And yes I still have machines that are 3mm, but haven't used them in some time.)

But many older machines are still out there and use 3mm and its still available but is way less abundant than 1.75

Also TPU is easier to print in 3mm,]]> Dust General Sun, 25 May 2025 10:22:32 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896836#msg-896836 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896836#msg-896836 VDX General Sun, 25 May 2025 10:22:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896835#msg-896835 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,896835,896835#msg-896835
It's based on 3.00/2.85mm diameter filament. I still use my DIY printed cold end bowden fishbone extruder and I'm looking to replace it with something a little bit more beefy and accurate.

I've found this but it's out of stock:
[nl.aliexpress.com]
[www.3djake.com]

Though the bondtech is a little pricey. I'm looking to spend like 20-70 euros max.

Is 3.00mm diameter stuff dead? Is 1.75 the way to go now? That would be a shame for my 3mm hot end E3D v6 I believe to be replaced. And still a decent amount of 3.00 filament that I still have in stock.

Any advise is appreciated!]]> imqqmi General Sun, 25 May 2025 09:20:13 -0400