Current state of the art in 3d printer extruders?
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Drmn4ea
Dec 12, 2012, 2:40:01 AM12/12/12
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Hi all,
I recently rebuilt a 2nd old but rock-solid CNC router that was languishing in the junk pit at work, and converted it over to using EMC2 software (for milling, at least). It does not have the original spindle anymore, so I figured I'd try it out as a millstrap (possibly even as a 'real' printer, depending on the results).
What is the current state-of-the-art for extruders for open-source 3D printers? Have any of you had especially good/bad experiences with a particular design?
From some Googling around, the following came up as "modern" extruder variants:
Bowden Cable based (used by e.g. Ultimaker)
"Wade's Extruder" (conventional stepper motor + knurled shaft and gear; appears to be mostly printable parts)
Some similar-looking variants, e.g. "Universal mini extruder" and "Watson".
There seems to be a complete-ish list at the bottom of http://reprap.org/wiki/Extruder , but it is truly overwhelming for a newb :-)
Any advice?
Thanks!
I recently rebuilt a 2nd old but rock-solid CNC router that was languishing in the junk pit at work, and converted it over to using EMC2 software (for milling, at least). It does not have the original spindle anymore, so I figured I'd try it out as a millstrap (possibly even as a 'real' printer, depending on the results).
What is the current state-of-the-art for extruders for open-source 3D printers? Have any of you had especially good/bad experiences with a particular design?
From some Googling around, the following came up as "modern" extruder variants:
Bowden Cable based (used by e.g. Ultimaker)
"Wade's Extruder" (conventional stepper motor + knurled shaft and gear; appears to be mostly printable parts)
Some similar-looking variants, e.g. "Universal mini extruder" and "Watson".
There seems to be a complete-ish list at the bottom of http://reprap.org/wiki/Extruder , but it is truly overwhelming for a newb :-)
Any advice?
Thanks!
Leo Dreyfus
Dec 12, 2012, 2:45:54 PM12/12/12
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I just got this one: http://store.qu-bd.com/product.php?id_product=11
for my printrbot, but it's not hooked up yet, still rewiring and making a mount.
they also have dual headed extruders, and if this one works well, I'll be considering the dual head in 2013 sometime.
I just like their beefy approach, looks like it should work well.
the other thing I've been eyeing is the rostock (for its huge print volume)
and somewhere, I can't find it at the moment, but somewhere I saw a triple extruder for the rostock, where there was very little space between the 3 heads, and they were all bowden style.
I like the bowden design, and I like bomb proof design. (metal, big parts, solid)
and I'm looking forward to multiple color or material prints, but it doesn't seem there is a single solution that handles all of that well/comfortably/reliably.
although I think that'll be achieved in 2013.
simple, works, non-bowden, I like the qu-bd for design.
hopefully it'll live up to expectations.
-L
for my printrbot, but it's not hooked up yet, still rewiring and making a mount.
they also have dual headed extruders, and if this one works well, I'll be considering the dual head in 2013 sometime.
I just like their beefy approach, looks like it should work well.
the other thing I've been eyeing is the rostock (for its huge print volume)
and somewhere, I can't find it at the moment, but somewhere I saw a triple extruder for the rostock, where there was very little space between the 3 heads, and they were all bowden style.
I like the bowden design, and I like bomb proof design. (metal, big parts, solid)
and I'm looking forward to multiple color or material prints, but it doesn't seem there is a single solution that handles all of that well/comfortably/reliably.
although I think that'll be achieved in 2013.
simple, works, non-bowden, I like the qu-bd for design.
hopefully it'll live up to expectations.
-L
"Noli exulcero Leones"
-MB
"I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land."
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
♪ (\__/) ♫
♫ (='.'=) ♪
(")_(")
Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. - Napoleon Bonaparte
-MB
"I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land."
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
♪ (\__/) ♫
♫ (='.'=) ♪
(")_(")
Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. - Napoleon Bonaparte
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Nicholas Wattendorf
Dec 12, 2012, 4:33:29 PM12/12/12
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My dad and I are currently using the Ultimaker extruder which is Bowden fed and like it quite a bit, it is for the most part foolproof and works no matter what. I find it very reliable and as far as doing multiple colors that is a great advantage of using a Bowden fed extruder because you are able to put multiple colors into the tube at once and the colors will blend together. In my opinion the Bowden style is the best to use! Good Luck!! :-) Always happy to help
-RepRap Kid
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