Print with rubber on your Lulzbot!

[bam]

While none of them are technically 'rubber', there are a number of flexible filaments available for 3D printers. We've just developed a new extruder that will let you print with even the springiest filaments.

Though this extruder is still in the early testing phase, you can follow along and try it out yourself. Everything you need to get started is at http://devel.lulzbot.com/TAZ/accessories/flexystruder/, including freeCAD source files and images of the extruder and FilaFlex material (including turning a spiral vase completely inside out!).

Here's a great write-up on printing with various types of flexible filament:
http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?1,269 ... msg-269018

Enjoy!
-bam

The de-lamination below the eyes is from a botched hot swap, the stuff actually adheres very well

[piercet]

Cool! Can you print standard ABS with the same extruder? Or will you want to swap out for ABS and whatnot?

[bam]

Cool! Can you print standard ABS with the same extruder? Or will you want to swap out for ABS and whatnot?

We've printed with ABS with this nozzle using our production g-code (pretty quick) for about 6 hours so far with no issues, so things are looking good for it. I'll keep posting as I try it with different materials.

the flexystruder printing away with some slick turquoise ABS

-bam

[jebba]

This material is awesome, by the way. It is very strong & flexible, even walls printed one extrusion width wide.

[piercet]

Here is a slightly cleaned up version of the STL. That odd gap in the top surface was annoying my editing software.

[mbruner63]

This looks very exciting. I printed the extruder yesterday. Do we have a complete BOM yet? I noticed there is a screw on the side that I don't think I have (I am running a TAZ 1). Are you guys going to sell the filament?

Thanks,

Marty

[bam]

Thanks Piercet I'm working on a cleaned up redesign now with access to the hobbed bolt, so look for that later today/tomorrow (I'm calling it version 0.2)

This looks very exciting. I printed the extruder yesterday. Do we have a complete BOM yet? I noticed there is a screw on the side that I don't think I have (I am running a TAZ 1). Are you guys going to sell the filament?

Thanks,

Marty

The BOM is now up on http://devel.lulzbot.com/filament/therm ... ruder-0.1/, along with some pictures that should help assembly. The screw on the side is an M3x12, though most sizes longer than 10mm should work, it's threading into an M3 heatset insert. We're currently looking into US suppliers of the thermoplastic urethane (filaflex/ninjaflex), and are working with Village Plastics (our main supplier) to bring on some rubberized PLA.

BTW thermoplastic urethane will hotswap and bonds to ABS very well

Hope this helps
-bam

[piercet]

You're welcome! I'll make a quick fit variant of 0.2 once you release it and test it out on my rig later on this weekend when I get a chance. I still have a whole bag of heat set inserts left from the ao-taz X end project heh.

Do you find you need to smooth the end of the M3 screw to prevent it from scoring the filliament?

[mbruner63]

Things are starting to get clearer for me

Is there any way we could get a photo of the other side of the extruder? There are just a couple of more things I'm confused about. Please pardon my ignorance..

Marty

[mbruner63]

While in the middle of printing version 0.2, I noticed that this part does not have the same two holes in the bottom for attaching the hot end. Is this by design or did I just get a bad version?

I also noticed that the hole for the m3 machine screw on the side doesn't go completely through to where the filament is fed (which is different than the first version).

Thanks,

Marty