Filament producer options - Filafab

The Filafab 

A successful kickstarter project as well, priced at the high end at 699 pounds, which is double the price the kickstarter models sold. The machine looks sleek and well designed, claims to be suited for ABS and PLA and has a build in crusher, which could account for some parts of the raised price.

Next time: Extrusionbot

Filament producer options - Filastruder

The Filastruder.

The Filastruder is on the cheaper end of the spectrum. With 279.99$ (excl shipping) so cheap indeed that I question why the Filabot is comparatively so expensive or what the mechanical/technical differences are. They claim to have sold 1000 units already which would speak for the machine and the kickstarter campaign  seems to have run smoothly. The machine looks a bit simpler but the basic mechanism looks very similar to the Filabot.



I especially like the Filawinder upgrade and the plastic filter to avoid filament with contaminants.
The main contra I see with this machine is that they particularly say that the primary use is ABS, because PLA is more delicate to handle and requires good control of dryness and cooling.

Conclusion: This seems to be a  good starter because of the relatively low price however I would like to understand the price difference to the filabot.

Next time: Filafab

Filament producer options - Filabot

Getting to produce our own filament should reduce the cost to 10-20% of the normal 30€/spool price.
Models range from 300-800€. Most of them are still in the Kickstarter process so we will focus on the ones already out.

First up the Filabot (649$ excl shipping). If I remember correctly the Filabot kickstarter campain is started 1.5-2 years ago and as we see produced a working machine. It seems to do its job but as we know from the Eventorbot campaign that doesnt have to mean anything. The Filabot was featured in Make magazine which means even less, since the only repeat what the manufacturer is saying.
Nonetheless the machine looks solid to me and the price seems high enough for some quality parts to be in the kit.
I already contacted the makers for some details on the their recycling unit.

I´d like to hear from you what you think of this kit. What impression do you have of its workings (Youtube search link) and what have you read on 3D Printings blogs etc?

Next time: the Filastruder

P.S.: Try out the "Filament Tag" to find all post about the machines I considered.

Natrium-hydroxide vs. PLA

I had heard that natrium-hydroxide is supposed to have the same effect on PLA as Acetone has on ABS. So I went out to my DIY store and bought some natrium-hydroxide based drain cleaner. I tested two different PLA in a 50% solution and while one filament fell completely apart and lost all its structural integrity upon touch the other one wasn´t affected at all.
The next solvent I will test will be Tetra-hydro-furan.

Bling aka gold the cheap and dirty way

Yesterday at my local 3D Print Hub meeting (http://www.3dhubs.com/groningen) someone suggested that even a rough surfaces from normal prints might still be suited for gold plating with sheet gold. Thats definitely something I want to try at latest with my engagement ring ;-) in the mean time I used goldlacquer.

First successful print

Still lots to be desired, but no structural fails in the extruder.

First Prints