One thing I've noticed is that, once you've run to the end of a piece of thermoplastic filament, starting a new one is a serious pain. If you just feed it in behind the last piece, it almost invariably jams when the gap reaches the top of the PTFE barrel. Right now, I have to take the extruder apart and manually push the old piece far enough down to start the new piece. Anyone come up with a solution to this? I'm halfway considering making some sort of filament splicer or maybe creating an access panel that allows me to guide the new piece into the PTFE barrel. The only other solution I can think of is to use extremely long pieces of filament to avoid starting new ones. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10407#msg-10407 Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:51:21 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10429#msg-10429 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10429#msg-10429 Ian Adkins Reprappers Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:25:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10427#msg-10427 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10427#msg-10427
[blog.reprap.org]

It looks nice and simple but I can't understand how it works!]]> nophead Reprappers Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:57:15 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10425#msg-10425 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10425#msg-10425
[hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Probably not required for Darwin but needed for moving table like McWire.]]> nophead Reprappers Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:24:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10424#msg-10424 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10424#msg-10424 The details are here [hydraraptor.blogspot.com].

If I put a short piece of filament in the extruder then it does rotate. However, the reel does not let it and HDPE is pretty rigid it so it doesn't twist. I don't know if CAPA behaves the same way yet but I will let you know later this evening hopefully.]]> nophead Reprappers Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:17:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10423#msg-10423 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10423#msg-10423
How do you prevent your filament from twisting? Is the real able to twist in some way? Please explain because I have sorting through this dilemma right now.]]> redskinsjbs Reprappers Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:02:35 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10422#msg-10422 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10422#msg-10422 degroof Reprappers Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:16:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10411#msg-10411 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10411#msg-10411
I have managed to do in flight refueling though. I push the new filament with pliers until the screw bites. The idea is that you exactly line up the pump channel with the hole in the PTFE using the slots in the clamp and slightly taper the hole into the PTFE. That way it has nowhere else to go but into the hole.]]> nophead Reprappers Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:05:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10408#msg-10408 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10408#msg-10408
Once you have the old one out it's a pretty simple matter to feed the new one in. As you say, the trick is in getting the filament to feed into the PTFE barrel. I've redesigned mine to where I have a copper slightly flaired feed assembly sitting on top of the PTFE block that I use for a thermal break. It makes life a lot easier. (:P)]]> Forrest Higgs Reprappers Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:42:08 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10407#msg-10407 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,10407,10407#msg-10407
Anyone come up with a solution to this? I'm halfway considering making some sort of filament splicer or maybe creating an access panel that allows me to guide the new piece into the PTFE barrel. The only other solution I can think of is to use extremely long pieces of filament to avoid starting new ones.]]> degroof Reprappers Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:33:47 -0400