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I'd like to try to combine two or more 1.75 mm filaments into a single 1.75 mm filament, forming color stripes.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to do it? I probably involves some Y connector and an hot end tip around 1.75 mm.

Can ABS / PLA be remelted and retain the same properties?

jesse, I'm not clear on what you are asking for. There are 2 possibilities: 1) combine 2 colors at the same time to create the "toothpaste" blend - that's what RichRap describes on his cool blog: 3 Way Color Blend

He also built a filament splicer to do color changes over multiple layers.

What printer are you using? Reason I ask, if you have an H-1 or 1.1 you can simply "cut-splice-and-push" a new color. This does not work with Bowden setup. I did a multi color whistle this way in ABS:

[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v38 ... 5309-2.jpg[/img] [img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v43 ... 9755-2.jpg[/img]

You basically watch the print and estimate where you need to splice the next color in. I simply did a clean snip of the filament and then butted the new color against that cut and held it by hand as it fed into the extruder. It worked remarkably well. You can do this with PLA too.

If you want to automate this somewhat, you can calculate how much filament is required for a layer (add up the E0 values in the gcode) then cut a length of filament that long. Do that for the next color layer and fuse the ends. You can just use a lighter/candle to heat the ends a bit, push them together and then trim so there are no lumps. Repetier Host has a "pause here" code you can insert into your gcode so you could pause at a specific layer (or slightly before) to do the splice.

mhackney wrote:I'm not clear on what you are asking for. There are 2 possibilities: 1) combine 2 colors at the same time to create the "toothpaste" blend - that's what RichRap describes on his cool blog: 3 Way Color Blend

I'm trying to do a toothpaste blend. For example, combining red and blue filament.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/piSEU3f.jpg[/img]

mhackney wrote: What printer are you using?

A Rostock Max. I tried shoving pieces of filament into the bowden tube to try the different layer color method but they got stuck and I had to take them out. I'm not really a fan of the different layer colors anyway.

Ok, read RichRaps triple extruder. You can do just 2 also. I have machined the nozzle to test this but waiting for my add-a-struder kit to arrive from SeeMeCNC (UPS reports Tuesday).

You can also purchase filament with 2 colors but I don't know if it is toothpaste or segments. I have some on order.

regards,
Michael

RichRaps blog post is something I'd like to work towards.

Filadrone, two filaments enter, one filament leaves.

Do you know where a Y shaped joining piece can be purchased? Or maybe where the parts can be purchased?

I'm thinking it will need to be metal and need inside diameters no smaller than 1.75mm.

These are some heaters I've picked up a few months ago before ordering the Rostock Max on IndieGoGo. Not sure if they're good enough.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/ohQvdUa.jpg[/img]
12 volt heater cartridge 40 watt

[img]http://i.imgur.com/1Q6F9eg.jpg[/img]
10 6.8 Ohm 5 watt resistors

Maybe something like this could be used?

[img]http://i.imgur.com/zNfLqwu.jpg[/img]