Why Not Kapton?

To build an extruder for a Reprap, you have to use a piece of copper pipe and fire cement to keep the heating element and temp sensor on. On the Cupcake CNC, Kapton tape replaces those two parts.

Why isn't it standard procedure to use Kapton to hold an extruder together? Kapton works just as well (if not better) than fire cement, and is easier to use. Also, if you need to take the heating element out, you just undo the tape.

I'm pretty sure that Kapton makes for an easier to build, and (probably) cheaper extruder. Please, leave your opinions below.

-Adam

I'm currently trying to use Kapton after some indifferent results with fire cement. I think you see the fire cement solution and the kapton tape solution both in use largely because we don't have enough operating hours on either yet to know which method, if either, is clearly superior. I think the issue will sort itself out in the next year or two.

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Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Thomas A. Edison