Problems with Universal Mini Extruder
Posted by Grumpy Mike
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Problems with Universal Mini Extruder August 29, 2011 03:32PM |
Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 24 |
I have just built the Universal Mini Extruder and what with it being my first printer I am not sure what is my fault and what is the design.
I used a 6R8 resistor at 12V and it is getting up to temperature but only just, the heater is powered all the time, all be it with a bit of PWM when I am over 230C. I am trying to extrude ABS and it comes out but is not so liquid as I see it in some of the videos. Also the filament needs a bit of help in being pushed down sometimes. I suspect the hobbing on the bolt might not be sharp enough. It feeds fine with no hot end in but slips when I try and extrude. As the temperature increases I can hear some poping and occasional bubbles in the extruded plastic. Finally when I try and extrude it goes for a bit then stops. I am thinking there might not be enough thermal mass / energy to keep melting the filament as it goes through.
So:-
1) Can this extruder handle ABS or is it only for PLA?
2) How can I improve the bolt hobbing or give it more grip.
Thanks.
I used a 6R8 resistor at 12V and it is getting up to temperature but only just, the heater is powered all the time, all be it with a bit of PWM when I am over 230C. I am trying to extrude ABS and it comes out but is not so liquid as I see it in some of the videos. Also the filament needs a bit of help in being pushed down sometimes. I suspect the hobbing on the bolt might not be sharp enough. It feeds fine with no hot end in but slips when I try and extrude. As the temperature increases I can hear some poping and occasional bubbles in the extruded plastic. Finally when I try and extrude it goes for a bit then stops. I am thinking there might not be enough thermal mass / energy to keep melting the filament as it goes through.
So:-
1) Can this extruder handle ABS or is it only for PLA?
2) How can I improve the bolt hobbing or give it more grip.
Thanks.
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Re: Problems with Universal Mini Extruder October 17, 2011 05:53PM |
Registered: 14 years ago Posts: 30 |
I'm having issues with a similar (same?) design. It's the all in one kit off mendel-parts.org for .35 mm nozzle. It can only reach a pitiful 68 C currently. Although i couldn't find any instructions for it... (the .pdf on mendelparts is broken for me, all the diagrams are too large and go off the side of the page) so i don't know if i'm supposed to have any sort of thermal paste on the resistor to help it heat the block.
Are you using any form of thermal paste? I think i may try this, and it might help you too.
Are you using any form of thermal paste? I think i may try this, and it might help you too.
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Re: Problems with Universal Mini Extruder October 22, 2011 09:07PM |
Registered: 14 years ago Posts: 30 |
Hi, i'm back again. This is embarrassing... My resistor had slipped half-way out of the block, and barely had any contact so it couldn't heat it.
Anyway, your issue is probably your hobbed bolt. Have you tried tightening your idler? Also, you may have bad plastic. On one of my other extruders i was plagued with slippage issues for months. If i didn't extruder incredibly slowly or use pliers to push the filament in it would slip. It turned out that that was my only extruder using 3 mm filament, and the 3 mm i had bought was way softer than the 1.5 for some reason. When i bought a new batch of filament it worked great and ran quickly again.
Anyway, your issue is probably your hobbed bolt. Have you tried tightening your idler? Also, you may have bad plastic. On one of my other extruders i was plagued with slippage issues for months. If i didn't extruder incredibly slowly or use pliers to push the filament in it would slip. It turned out that that was my only extruder using 3 mm filament, and the 3 mm i had bought was way softer than the 1.5 for some reason. When i bought a new batch of filament it worked great and ran quickly again.
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