If you’d like to venture into the world of flexible, tough, tactile printed parts, then you came to the suitable place. Here is where you’ll learn to print flexible filament speedy and very easily print the softest filament available. Get far more details about print flexible filament
Utilizing the Flexion To Print Flexible Filament
This article focuses on how to print flexible filament together with the Flexion Extruder. If you do not already use the Flexion Extruder, then go get one and come back here. Suitable out of your box, Flexion produces rapid (60mm/s), clean, void-free prints with TPU, TPE, Ninjaflex, along with other flexible filaments. Angus (aka Makersmuse) even utilizes it to test flexible filament: Critique of Flexible Filaments (with X60!). Flexion eliminates the typical issues you encounter any time you print flexible filament: jamming, buckling, and oozing. Read on to discover a handful of tricks to optimize your settings and generate ideal prints with your flexible filament.
Application Settings
Here’s an example from the extrusion settings we use with a soft TPU which include Ninjaflex (about 85 Shore A). These settings are valid for speeds up to 60mm/s. Some factors to note:
The extrusion multiplier above 1.0 – when the drive roller and idler squeeze the filament, they effectively minimize the diameter on the filament. This requires extra extrusion. As you increase tension you may should increase extrusion as well.
Extrusion width reduced than the nozzle diameter – this aids produce gap-free upper layers. Nevertheless, it could also make overhangs tricky. You will need to balance these things to optimize your individual prints.
Retract higher and quickly – this keeps the nozzle from oozing and tends to make clean prints. Longer drive paths (Bowden drive, E3D hotend, Mk11 extruder), could need even longer retractions.
We propose that you just improve outline overlap above 75% to make sure a very good connection amongst outlines and infill. Other settings will be related to what you use for other supplies.
Hardware Settings
Initial, adjust tension. Hold the filament among your fingers and load filament., then turn the adjust screw to maximize the pull-force around the filament. Most printers have a function to load filament automatically. If yours does not, then attempt this load/unload “print”.
The photo below depicts two identical prints (one particular nonetheless has support material attached). The print around the left was created with a perfectly-functioning Flexion extruder. The a single around the suitable had a compact hardware situation that brought on pressure buildup and “blobbing”.
So the way to fix this problem?
Blobs/strings/pressure buildup – if the barrel (see the exploded view for element name reference) is not pushed all of the way up in to the mounting block, then the PTFE is going to be able to float among the nip point along with the nozzle, allowing the accumulation of material amongst the PTFE as well as the nozzle. This is a dilemma which will manifest with time. You may get some number of “good” prints before seeing this effect. The very best technique to repair it is to disassemble your hotend, take away any material, and reassemble. Assure that the barrel is seated on its shoulder against the bottom with the mounting block. Ensure that to tighten the nozzle when it truly is at temperature to get a superb seal.
Bumpy surfaces/inconsistent extrusion – this could be caused by bad settings. Ahead of you take into account hardware problems, adjust temperature and extrusion up and down. If that doesn’t assistance, you may have an under-powered extruder motor. This can “cog” toward a steady magnetic position when it need to be micro-stepping, causing visible locations of over- and under-extrusion. To operate the Flexion, we suggest a minimum of 250N-mm of torque. Most Nema17 motors attain this, but some drivers do not provide adequate present. This occurs most usually on Wanhao (and equivalent) printers, especially a single batch that shipped in early 2017. To adjust current, adhere to the guide right here. You can also locate replacement motors on Amazon.
Style Considerations
Listed below are some fast tips to optimize prints for flexible filament:
Keep overhangs at 40° or significantly less
Design in peelable assistance wherever possible (see Ninjaflex Support Material here)
Use slicer-generated assistance and take away with side-cutters. This operates better than you could picture
We hope this helps you print flexible filament together with the Flexion Extruder. For those who have any queries, we’re always right here to answer them! Just send a message by means of our get in touch with form.