Wade extruder slip - no grip Dear all, I'm struggling for a few weeks now with my Wade's extruder. It does not seem to extrude nearly enough plastic to print. At times, when testing it not printing, and when the stars were aligned (ie I can't really tell the difference in settings) it was extruding at a decent rate, but not for a long time. The key issue seems to be the grip of the hobbed M8 bolt. The "teeth" seem small, although it is difficult to compare with the wiki pictures accurately. It clogs with PLA quickly and doesn't push the filament down Here are a few questions/hypotheses - How do I know how deep the hobbing needs to be ? - I didn't pre-file the shoulder of the bolt. I do have a slot that looks reasonably deep, somewhat similar to Wade's picture on the wiki, but is it the cause of the problem ? - I don't use springs but just tighenning the nuts. I read multiple people had success with this setting so it seemed alright. But how strong should they be tightened ? Can it be too tight ? - I am printing PLA. I run at 190°C (well calibrated thermistor). I an it at 210°C and the lower melt viscosity helped extruding more. Is it a long-term solution or can it damage the PLA ? - I would like to try the alternative solution of cutting the bolt thread perpendiculary with a Dremel, as described on the wiki. Anyone tried that ? How "foolproof" is it - cause I'm a real fool :-) ? Thanks ! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81054#msg-81054 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:46:11 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,91720#msg-91720 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,91720#msg-91720 oz Plastic Extruder Working Group Sun, 24 Jul 2011 04:50:58 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,85013#msg-85013 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,85013#msg-85013 I never had it slipping once, but when the tip got cold, it once pushed the hot end off the extruder body- still no slippage. I can't even hold the filament with my hand when the extruder is transporting.
So my recommendation: go with a larger thread size for hobbing the bolt. M5,6,7 or some imperial equivalent should all work.

ST]]> stefanst Plastic Extruder Working Group Fri, 27 May 2011 08:49:24 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,85002#msg-85002 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,85002#msg-85002
I just want to say... you CAN get the springs in the UK! If you follow back on the wiki page there are recommendations to the spring supplier "Springmasters" (http://www.springmasters.com/) they are UK based, there is no web ordering system last time I checked and you do have to order over £15 worth of springs for them to deliver. (wiki link [reprap.org] near the bottom of the wiki)

But you can pick up springs for the print bed as well (if you want / need) or buy a few more sets of the extruder compression springs and sell them on here / emakershop / ebay to other reprappers!

I bought the same springs as Adrian for the extruder idler ( D12100) unfortunately I cannot remember the springs I bought for the Print bed, but I can dig them out if need be.


And on another note, I am having the same issue with the hobbed bolt... I think I am going to remake mine with an M4 tap... and go for reproducing it like Nopheads (mines deep but not quite THAT deep lol)

Cheers,

IainA]]> IainA Plastic Extruder Working Group Fri, 27 May 2011 06:33:07 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,83644#msg-83644 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,83644#msg-83644 I also could not find Springs strong enough and just tighten the four clamp screws down 1/4 of a turn until the grip is just making very slight marks in the filament.
You know its too tight if you need to apply lots of force to the fillament in to start it going. A gentle push and turn of the large gear and the clamp is tight enough.. not very sientific but seems to be a good method of setting the clamp screw tension.

It also means it not a mamoth fiddly task to change the fillament colour.]]> BodgeIt Plastic Extruder Working Group Fri, 13 May 2011 14:53:22 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81801#msg-81801 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81801#msg-81801
The springs help if the diameter of your filament varies much. In my case, the filament seems consistent, so I don;t see problems much.

Personally, I use a hack saw blade to cut a 0.5mm ditch into the bolt, and then use the 3mm tap to hob it.]]> jcabrer Plastic Extruder Working Group Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:19:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81746#msg-81746 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81746#msg-81746
Hi Greg - thanks for the advice I can try that]]> Matthieu Plastic Extruder Working Group Sat, 23 Apr 2011 09:52:39 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81708#msg-81708 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81708#msg-81708 Greg Frost Plastic Extruder Working Group Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:42:20 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81627#msg-81627 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81627#msg-81627 Andrew Diehl Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:19:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81613#msg-81613 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81613#msg-81613 Matthieu Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:25:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81609#msg-81609 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81609#msg-81609 2.bp.blogspot.com]]]> nophead Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:00:58 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81607#msg-81607 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81607#msg-81607 Try using an M4 tap instead of M3.]]> rhmorrison Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:19:27 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81606#msg-81606 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81606#msg-81606



]]> Matthieu Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:49:15 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81342#msg-81342 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81342#msg-81342
I have not found springs in the UK strong enough to work.

So I just gently tighten the 4 screws to get a good grip for extruding. It seems to work ok.. so far..

I have several boxes of hobbyist springs selections sold in the UK none of them have enough spring in them.

I have tried the springs from various plastic clothes pegs they have the strenth but not the length or the internal diameter for 4mm screws. Note:- the clothes pegs/pins that have a "compresion spring" not the more common "twist spring" type.

Cant find a picture other than the traditional twist spring type.]]> BodgeIt Plastic Extruder Working Group Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:58:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81151#msg-81151 Re: Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81151#msg-81151
The extruder won't work as intended without springs. They have to be pretty strong springs as well; specs are on the wiki page still. The dremel cut slots are a bad idea as well, if you want even flow rates.

You should never have to clean the teeth of the hobbed bolt - any buildup there is a symptom of not enough tension on the idler block, probably related to the missing springs, or a jammed hot end.

Post a macro shot of your hobbed bolt and I can tell you if it will work. I usually aim for a finished diameter of less 6 mm on the hobbed section.

Wade]]> Wade Plastic Extruder Working Group Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:01:24 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81054#msg-81054 Wade extruder slip - no grip https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,81054,81054#msg-81054
I'm struggling for a few weeks now with my Wade's extruder. It does not seem to extrude nearly enough plastic to print. At times, when testing it not printing, and when the stars were aligned (ie I can't really tell the difference in settings) it was extruding at a decent rate, but not for a long time. The key issue seems to be the grip of the hobbed M8 bolt. The "teeth" seem small, although it is difficult to compare with the wiki pictures accurately. It clogs with PLA quickly and doesn't push the filament down

Here are a few questions/hypotheses
- How do I know how deep the hobbing needs to be ?
- I didn't pre-file the shoulder of the bolt. I do have a slot that looks reasonably deep, somewhat similar to Wade's picture on the wiki, but is it the cause of the problem ?
- I don't use springs but just tighenning the nuts. I read multiple people had success with this setting so it seemed alright. But how strong should they be tightened ? Can it be too tight ?
- I am printing PLA. I run at 190°C (well calibrated thermistor). I an it at 210°C and the lower melt viscosity helped extruding more. Is it a long-term solution or can it damage the PLA ?
- I would like to try the alternative solution of cutting the bolt thread perpendiculary with a Dremel, as described on the wiki. Anyone tried that ? How "foolproof" is it - cause I'm a real fool :-) ?

Thanks !]]> Matthieu Plastic Extruder Working Group Sun, 17 Apr 2011 03:50:20 -0400