Since I started this website in December 2010, it has received a lot of attention, especially from my NPR Science Friday video interview. Since then I have accepted a position with 3D Systems, the leading 3D printer manufacturer! (Just to be clear, they are not acquiring my printer or website, just me as an engineer!)
It was time for a new plastic extruder head with better resolution, more measurable deposition and could compensate for slight changes in filament diameter without jamming. I modified an extruder design that Matt Laberge had uploaded and printed it with my old extruder. The new extruder uses 1.75mm ABS plastic filament, so it is much easier to work with a melt down than 3mm. It is acuated by a geard NEMA 17 stepper motor and also has a spring loaded idler wheel to account for slight changes in filament diameter. I also am using a .35mm nozzle for higher resolution with a .25mm layer height. The old extruder used a .50mm nozzle with .50mm layer height so I have effectively doubled the resolution. The new extruder is also around a quarter the size of the old one.
New Extruder Being Printed by the Old one
Brass Threaded Thermoplastic Inserts last longer than tapping the plastic
Old Extruder next to the New Extruder
New Extruder mounted
Since the prototypes (the white ones from the previous posts) fit perfectly into the 1968 Camaro, it was time to print them in black as that is the color of the original car ducts. As you can see the plastic had a bit of moisture in it, so I will likely re-print these with my new extruder.
A/C Duct Adapters
A/C Duct Adapter
A/C Duct Adapter
