Filament Extrusion Measurement Rig

brunofporto

In order to make it easier to measure the filament and correctly set the steps/mm for the extrusion, I designed this filament rig!

You use it before your extruder and with it you can mark the filament, straight it and measure with a proper caliper and reference surface.

I hope it will help!

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https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3093665

fma

That's clever!

wilriker

Thanks a lot! This is now sliced, uploaded and will be printed in about one hour (after the current print is done).

I only scaled it to 125% in X so that the inside length now is 125mm. This matches more my regular pattern of extrudern 100mm when calibrating steps/mm.

Dougal1957

Have a check of this one Extruder cal jig

And an instruction Video on how it is used Esteps Calibration Video

brunofporto

@dougal1957 That is really NICE!

brunofporto

Thanks, @fma, @wilriker, and @seomelon06 !!!

@wilriker that is a good idea... I need to update to increase the length. Please let me know if the filament moves freely or if need any tweaking because the version I printed had a PTFE tube inside (that I did not like....)

wilriker

@brunofporto I have not yet actually used it to calibrate the extruder but I inserted filament into it. The filament lays very nice and flat into the groove so measuring and marking should work really well. But it has an enormous friction. So much that I am not sure my (ungeared) extruder will be able to pull it through.

You mention that you had a version with PTFE tube that you did not like. Was the tube all the way running along the part or just at the ends? Because the latter would be my first idea so solve this issue.

brunofporto

@wilriker Thanks for the feedback!

The first version was with the PTFE running along and cut to expose the filament. But cutting it was not easy.

I think that your idea, using PTFE on both ends will be a good approach: better alignment and a wider path to avoid any excessive friction. I'll add this modification ASAP

brunofporto

Done! The new version has holes at both ends for the PTFE tube and a better clearance for the filament. Also, come at two lengths with 100mm and 125mm gaps.

wilriker

@brunofporto Cool! It's sliced and ready to print. Not sure though if it will make it on the plate today.

brunofporto

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A tight fit for the PTFE and you need to carefully insert the filament to the exit but it is ok to use

Thanks for all the feedback!