Eztruder with 3mm

[MSURunner]

Has anyone tried using an EZstruder with 3mm filament? It sounds like from the interwebs that it does okay in direct drive fashion with 3mm but doesn't generate enough torque for a bowden setup. Anyone care to verify/dispel?

[geneb]

If you're using it directly against a hot-end, you're probably ok. I don't know of anyone that recommends shoving 3mm through a bowden tube though. Even going through PTFE, the friction is going to add up due to the surface area.

it would be interesting to see if someone could come up with a PTFE bowden tube that's been extruded such that there's a star pattern inside the bore of the tube. It would greatly reduce the filament contact area and still provide a good guide. Kind of the reverse of how Sullivan Gold-n-Rods work for routing control pushrods in R/C airplanes.

g.

[Nylocke]

My ultimaker using a Bowden setup handles it fine, and I had an RS Mini that used a 3mm buda with a Bowden setup, and it made some pretty good parts despite the numerous mechanical issues I encountered.... Mostly not due to the 3mm Bowden.... A MAX would do fine with 3mm though, though a non geared setup would have issues with resolution (I used a non geared air trippers and it worked ell enough)

[MSURunner]

If you're using it directly against a hot-end, you're probably ok. I don't know of anyone that recommends shoving 3mm through a bowden tube though. Even going through PTFE, the friction is going to add up due to the surface area.

it would be interesting to see if someone could come up with a PTFE bowden tube that's been extruded such that there's a star pattern inside the bore of the tube. It would greatly reduce the filament contact area and still provide a good guide. Kind of the reverse of how Sullivan Gold-n-Rods work for routing control pushrods in R/C airplanes.

g.

Ultimaker still uses 3mm in both of their setups and the UM2 is a direct drive extruder, but it lacks the ability to quick change (part of the reason I'm looking at upgrading the Steve's). I personally like the extra rigidity of the 3mm for single extruder setups because that also helps to decrease the hysteresis on retractions and what not. In a dual extruder setup, I would avoid it as it can affect the positioning of the head more. That bowden setup would likely help a lot, but I would be concerned about it allowing more deflection in the filament (maybe?). I think it would be really cool if the cold end of an extruder would star the filament itself slightly, but that would require a couple of rollers and a hefty gearing/torque rating on a stepper. But back to the point, you're advising against the EZ, correct?

[geneb]

Give it a shot and see how it goes.

g.