Hello i´m new on these 3D stuff, i have a Prusa i3, and it has a MK8 extruder, in the specification i was told that it could print with PLA and ABS, i use standart PLA. Some days ago i read in a forum that there are a lot of variety of PLA filaments, like CopperFILL, BronzeFILL, LayWood etc, so i was wondering if my extruder can print with those materials too since all of them are PLA but i´m not really sure, can you tell me in what depends an extruder can print in some materials and in other not?
Hi,
You can print them with this print head not a problem. Just keep in mind that the bronze and copper mixed into the PLA, may damage the nozzle and/or the extruder filament drive gear after printing a lot. Just order spare nozzle and filament drive gear they are really cheap, so if you experience any problems just replace the wear out part.
As I said it may cause damage, so just be prepared if it ever occurs.
BR.,
Tamas
Ty very much, hey; could you give me maybe some tips or hacks about 3d printing that you have gotten by experience, like usual problems with the extruder or maintenance, i haven´t used my printer so much so i haven´t experienced any trouble yet but i would like to prevent future ones
Hi,
For tips:
- Make sure that all the belts are tight as possible(almost like a guitar string) and run straight on the pulleys and idlers, otherwise it will reduce print quality and can wear out the belt if its rubbing onto the side of the pulleys.
- When changing the filament always clean the extruder filament drive gear with a tooth brush. Make sure its clean and don’t have and plastic left between the teeth( as the gear grabs the filament sometimes small pieces can came off from it and stuck into the drive gear
- Make sure that the spring tension for the filament idler bearing makes enough pressure so it firmly pushing the filament onto the drive gear. My experience: its enough force when you can hardly rotate the bearing with your finger when its tighten.
- Be prepared for a nozzle jam. Purchase replacement nozzles and when its not extruding perfectly(filament don’t came out straight anymore or the molten plastic line has some blobs or different diameters ) just replace it in one minute. Then just burn out the clogged nozzle with a gas torch (make it almost red with the flame).
- To improve print quality maybe you have to make changes in the firmware of the printer. Like reducing acceleration and/or jerk values. One of the biggest problems with the I3 printers that the bed is moving and this can cause ghosting on the prints.
- Check all moving parts for play/backlash like bearings and the nuts on the Z axis, there should be none…but usually that’s not the case so think on how to eliminate it.
BR.,
Tamas
