Filament Splicer

Project cancelled, click here to read why
The idea for Filament Splicer was born about a month after our Ultimaker 3D Printer was build. As cool as 3D Printing is, printing in one color is boring.

Users of normal, single head FFF/FDM printers are stuck with single color unless they join filament pieces together to produce one multi-colored string. It is not very complicated but process is quite awkward and you will get fed up very quickly.

If you want to have proper, stable filament join you need to have right temperature on the tip of plastic when you connect pieces together. This is hard to achieve when you use some arbitrary heat source. You either underheat or overheat and burn the plastic. Using print head of your printer is best 'ad-hoc' solution but it leaves quite a mess on it, you cannot print when you splice and plastic which is in the head slowly gets burned while you take time to splice your string.

Then, of course there is issue with forming of the joint, carpet knife and fingers where our favorite tools for that job but it took quite a long time to form each joint.

We have had our share of failed prints due to broken joints / stuck filament and finally decided to create a device which will help to splice filament. Initial idea was to create fully automated unit: you place filament ends on copper block, close it, push the button and viola - you have your joint. That was the theory.... In practice this is impossible because PLA and ABS expand during heat-up and contract during cool down, this results in either no joint at all or bubble-filled mess.

Many headache filled days [Even best PLA is really nasty stuff when you breath it in for a while] later we dropped the idea and went for 'open' model with precisely manufactured grooves which help to quickly heat up, connect and form joints.

Thermal insulation was another challenge, we wanted to allow up to 260c temperature but nothing could properly insulate enclosure from hot copper block for prolonged period of time. Ceramic fiber thermal tape can take that heat but one needs a lot of it and then there is itching... Chinese tape is horrible and even best branded, made in USA [ThermoTec] tape is not flawless. We eventually gave up on ceramic fibre and went with PFTA [Teflon] plates. Since PFTA can be outright poisonous at high temperatures, we decided to use high quality - made in Europe material - this way we are sure that maximum temperature of 235c is well within safety limit.

Availability

Filament splicer can be pre-ordered via our campaign on Indiegogo, it is available as a DIY kit or fully assembled unit.

 

Assembled
Assembled
Kit
Kit

 

Open Source

Filament splicer blueprints are released under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License and can be downloaded from Thingiverse and Youmagine.

Tags: 
projects
filament splicer

48607 Comments

Anonymous

sparklymoth6apold (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 18:42

Je suis totalement transporte par CasinoClic, il propose une aventure de casino qui fait vibrer. Le repertoire du casino est une veritable comete de divertissement, offrant des sessions de casino en direct qui electrisent. L’assistance du casino est chaleureuse et irreprochable, proposant des solutions claires et instantanees. Les paiements du casino sont securises et fluides, cependant j’aimerais plus de promotions de casino qui eblouissent. En somme, CasinoClic offre une experience de casino eclatante pour les passionnes de casinos en ligne ! Bonus la plateforme du casino brille par son style eblouissant, facilite une experience de casino vibrante.
<a href=https://breakingnewsfirst.in/casinoclic-strategies-basees-sur-les-probab... clic clac</a>|

Anonymous

nuttylemur8apold (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 18:45

Ich bin suchtig nach iWild Casino, es verstromt eine Spielstimmung, die wie ein Gewitter knallt. Es gibt eine Flut an fesselnden Casino-Titeln, inklusive stilvoller Casino-Tischspiele. Der Casino-Support ist rund um die Uhr verfugbar, antwortet blitzschnell wie ein Blitz. Der Casino-Prozess ist klar und ohne Dornen, ab und zu mehr Freispiele im Casino waren ein Volltreffer. Am Ende ist iWild Casino ein Muss fur Casino-Fans fur Fans moderner Casino-Slots! Ubrigens die Casino-Navigation ist kinderleicht wie ein Trampelpfad, das Casino-Erlebnis total wild macht.
<a href=https://www.pikenepatorvet.no/2025/08/so-pragen-wahrscheinlichkeiten-ihr... casino free spins</a>|

Anonymous

MichaelTycle (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 18:51

Gradicrown is an innovative platform offering premium interior and outdoor furniture designs. Known for modern aesthetics, durability, and affordability, it’s a go-to destination for stylish home and office decor solutions: <a href=https://gradicrown.com/>Gradi Crown latest updates</a>

Anonymous

Robertnen (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 20:13

Зайди Kraken — modern platform, обеспечивающее высококлассную защиту confidential details в цифровой среде. intuitive интерфейс позволяет с легкостью управлять functionality для оптимальной protection. Ресурс поддерживает variety operations, обеспечивая security на maximal level. exclusive capabilities intended для supporting confidential operations. modern solutions позволяют исключать риски, связанные с data leaks. Кракен — это reliable partner, позволяющий эффективно и защищенно осуществлять транзакции в современном цифровом мире. Работая с Kraken marketplace, вы гарантируете highest degree приватности, которое делает безопасность ваших действий на каждом этапе работы.
<a href=https://mariadelaogranada.com/>kraken darknet</a>

Anonymous

sparklymoth6apold (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 21:20

Je suis totalement transporte par CasinoClic, c’est un casino en ligne qui petille d’energie. Il y a un deluge de jeux de casino captivants, avec des machines a sous de casino modernes et envoutantes. Le personnel du casino offre un accompagnement scintillant, avec une aide qui fait des etincelles. Les gains du casino arrivent a une vitesse supersonique, parfois plus de tours gratuits au casino ce serait enivrant. En somme, CasinoClic est une pepite pour les fans de casino pour les amoureux des slots modernes de casino ! De surcroit la navigation du casino est intuitive comme une lueur, ce qui rend chaque session de casino encore plus electrisante.
<a href=https://nebafinc.com/tout-savoir-sur-les-probabilites-au-casinoclic-appr... clic review</a>|

Anonymous

nuttylemur8apold (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 21:24

Ich bin vollig hingerissen von iWild Casino, es fuhlt sich an wie ein wilder Ritt durch die Savanne. Es gibt eine Flut an fesselnden Casino-Titeln, mit Live-Casino-Sessions, die wie ein Sturm toben. Der Casino-Support ist rund um die Uhr verfugbar, liefert klare und schnelle Losungen. Auszahlungen im Casino sind schnell wie ein Flusslauf, dennoch die Casino-Angebote konnten gro?zugiger sein. Am Ende ist iWild Casino eine Casino-Erfahrung, die wie ein Urwald funkelt fur Spieler, die auf wilde Casino-Kicks stehen! Zusatzlich die Casino-Navigation ist kinderleicht wie ein Trampelpfad, das Casino-Erlebnis total wild macht.
<a href=https://www.kromebrew.in/erfolge-durch-wahrscheinlichkeiten-im-iwild-cas... iwild</a>|

Anonymous

Michaelfum (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 22:02

Gradicrown is an innovative platform offering premium interior and outdoor furniture designs. Known for modern aesthetics, durability, and affordability, it’s a go-to destination for stylish home and office decor solutions: <a href=https://gradicrown.com/>Gradi Crown pricing and plans</a>

Anonymous

crazy time играть (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 22:04

<a href="http://crafthub.ru/">crazy time</a>
Крейзи Тайм - азартная игра с колесом фортуны. Ставьте на сектора, крутите колесо и выигрывайте с высокими коэффициентами. Просто, ярко, рискованно и увлекательно!

Anonymous

RichardBaide (not verified)

on

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 22:12

<a href=https://www.usgtf.com/>kraken онион</a> kraken onion, kraken onion ссылка, kraken onion зеркала, kraken рабочая ссылка onion, сайт kraken onion, kraken darknet, kraken darknet market, kraken darknet ссылка, сайт kraken darknet, kraken актуальные ссылки, кракен ссылка kraken, kraken официальные ссылки, kraken ссылка тор, kraken ссылка зеркало, kraken ссылка на сайт, kraken онион, kraken онион тор, кракен онион, кракен онион тор, кракен онион зеркало, кракен даркнет маркет, кракен darknet, кракен onion, кракен ссылка onion, кракен onion сайт, kra ссылка, kraken сайт, kraken актуальные ссылки, kraken зеркало, kraken ссылка зеркало, kraken зеркало рабочее, актуальные зеркала kraken, kraken сайт зеркала, kraken маркетплейс зеркало, кракен ссылка, кракен даркнет

Pages

Add your comment

More information about text formats

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.