Comments on: Worm Drive Extruder

By: Blake Celestian

Blake Celestian — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:42:34 +0000

How do you make it do those retractions? Is there a a Skeinforge setting for it? Your extruder is very impressive.

By: Bart Dring

Bart Dring — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:19:25 +0000

Do you have a source and part numbers for the gears? I usually buy from Stock Drive, but I am having trouble figuring out what is best.

By: Buzz

Buzz — Wed, 19 May 2010 08:30:19 +0000

When running it at such a high throughput, do you have any issues with the filament not having time to properly melt, and then jamming in the hot-zone? Did you have to modify the heating system to “keep the heat up”, or run at a hotter temp, or similar?

By: Brian Korsedal

Brian Korsedal — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:50:15 +0000

Maybe the oil isn’t an issue. I’ve seen people run the filament through sponges soaked in oil to lubricate the system. Maybe contaminating your filament with oil actually helps.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:58:56 +0000

Andres- yes, I have thought about adding a second drive gear. The result would probably be ideal, and very similar to NopHead’s worm drive extruder. It would remove the oil fouling issue and allow for other drive ratios. The only issue I’d have with it is that these gears are pricey little buggers, ~ $15 each. The current setup lets me get away with just two of these off-the-shelf components.

By: andres

andres — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:52:46 +0000

really fantastic work. i’m consistently impressed when i check in. keep it up!

i presume the more compact version puts the motor on top and runs it in reverse to what is doing now? still, fantastically simple, once at gear is fabbed.

also, have you considered putting two gears onto that axle? allows for an alternative ratio if necessary and removes the grease fouling the feedstock issue.