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

24699 Comments

Anonymous

Anthonygussy (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 03:00

Браво, очень хорошая мысль
Приложение прикручивается на компьютер, [url=https://www.05745.com.ua/list/493884]Обменник криптовалют[/url] мобильный телефон или в роли расширения к браузеру. без оплаты подходящего обменника рекомендуем пользоваться специальным агрегатором bestchange либо альтернативным таким.

Anonymous

Jeffreyfrume (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 04:50

apotek online <a href=" http://jiangzhongyou.net/space-uid-588167.html ">apotek online recept</a> or <a href=" http://cse.google.ba/url?q=https://apotekonlinerecept.com ">apotek online recept</a>
https://maps.google.jo/url?q=https://apotekonlinerecept.com Apotek hemleverans idag
[url=https://cse.google.mk/url?sa=t&url=https://apotekonlinerecept.com]apotek online[/url] Apotek hemleverans recept and [url=https://wowanka.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=8104]Apotek hemleverans idag[/url] apotek online recept

Anonymous

EllisHal (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 06:20

Kamagra online bestellen <a href=" http://www.superiptv.com.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=110036 ">Kamagra kaufen</a> or <a href=" http://cse.google.co.bw/url?q=https://kamagrapotenzmittel.com ">Kamagra online bestellen</a>
http://hamas.opoint.com/?url=http://kamagrapotenzmittel.com Kamagra Oral Jelly
[url=https://www.google.vg/url?q=https://kamagrapotenzmittel.com]Kamagra Oral Jelly kaufen[/url] Kamagra online bestellen and [url=http://www.9kuan9.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=2923558]Kamagra online bestellen[/url] Kamagra Oral Jelly

Anonymous

Raymondtaree (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 06:33

Apotheek online bestellen <a href=" https://quantrinet.com/forum/member.php?u=774827 ">de online drogist kortingscode</a> or <a href=" https://www.google.co.id/url?sa=t&url=https://apotheekmax.com ">Apotheek Max</a>
http://images.google.com/url?q=https://apotheekmax.com Apotheek online bestellen
[url=https://toolbarqueries.google.com.mx/url?sa=t&url=https://apotheekmax.co... online bestellen[/url] ApotheekMax and [url=http://www.9kuan9.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=2922594]de online drogist kortingscode[/url] ApotheekMax

Anonymous

SamuelSam (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 07:17

Our luxury transportation offerings include [url=https://seattlestowncar.com/arlington-limo-service/] Arlington SUV service [/url], Seattle Private Van Service, and Seattle Premium Limo Transportation. Each service is designed to provide comfort, style, and reliability. Arlington SUV service offers spacious vehicles perfect for groups, ensuring a smooth ride to any destination. Seattle Private Van Service caters to larger groups, ideal for corporate events or family outings, with ample space and privacy. Seattle Premium Limo Transportation elevates travel experiences with high-end vehicles and professional chauffeurs, making any occasion special. Whether for business or leisure, our fleet ensures a luxurious and stress-free journey.Our luxury transportation offerings include Arlington SUV service, [url=https://seattlestowncar.com/seattle-private-vans/] Seattle Private Van Service [/url], and Seattle Premium Limo Transportation. Each service is designed to provide comfort, style, and reliability. Arlington SUV service offers spacious vehicles perfect for groups, ensuring a smooth ride to any destination. Seattle Private Van Service caters to larger groups, ideal for corporate events or family outings, with ample space and privacy. Seattle Premium Limo Transportation elevates travel experiences with high-end vehicles and professional chauffeurs, making any occasion special. Whether for business or leisure, our fleet ensures a luxurious and stress-free journey.Our luxury transportation offerings include Arlington SUV service, Seattle Private Van Service, and [url=https://seattlestowncar.com/seattle-premium-limo-transportation/] Seattle Premium Limo Transportation [/url]. Each service is designed to provide comfort, style, and reliability. Arlington SUV service offers spacious vehicles perfect for groups, ensuring a smooth ride to any destination. Seattle Private Van Service caters to larger groups, ideal for corporate events or family outings, with ample space and privacy. Seattle Premium Limo Transportation elevates travel experiences with high-end vehicles and professional chauffeurs, making any occasion special. Whether for business or leisure, our fleet ensures a luxurious and stress-free journey.

Anonymous

Mattabevy (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 07:43

)))))))))) я вам не могу поверить :)
но что говорится, [url=https://sev-plus.com/pocket-option-obzor-strategii-i-sovety-dlja/]https:... яйца надобно держать в нескольких корзинах. Мой отзыв о Покет Оптион будет положительный. Я таким образом смог утроить свой 1-й депозит.

Anonymous

Bobbydup (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 09:28

apotek online recept <a href=" https://wowanka.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=8017 ">Apotek hemleverans recept</a> or <a href=" https://images.google.com.bz/url?q=http://apotekonlinerecept.shop ">Apoteket online</a>
https://image.google.nr/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://apotekonlinerecept.shop apotek online
[url=http://penza-job.ru/phpinfo.php?a[]=<a href=https://apotekonlinerecept.shop>Generic Viagra online</a>]apotek online[/url] Apotek hemleverans recept and [url=https://dongzong.my/forum/home.php?mod=space&uid=25689]Apotek hemleverans idag[/url] Apotek hemleverans idag

Anonymous

Bobbydup (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 10:05

Apotek hemleverans idag <a href=" http://iapple.minfish.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=4381869 ">Apoteket online</a> or <a href=" https://cse.google.co.vi/url?q=https://apotekonlinerecept.shop ">Apotek hemleverans recept</a>
https://images.google.com.ai/url?sa=t&url=https://apotekonlinerecept.shop apotek online
[url=https://images.google.com.mx/url?sa=t&url=https://apotekonlinerecept.sho... online[/url] apotek online and [url=https://17lubbs.com/space-uid-46593.html]Apoteket online[/url] apotek online

Anonymous

Kennethvob (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 10:32

Наш сервис предлагает ремонт разного уровня сложности мониторов Philips с гарантией до 12 месяцев.

Преимущества обращения к нам:

Профессиональная оценка проблемы

Быстрые сроки ремонта

Доступные цены

Обслуживание на дому при необходимости

Узнать больше или записаться на ремонт вы можете на нашем сайте [url=https://philips-remont-moskva.ru/]сервисный центр пылесосов филипс в москве[/url].

Мы восстановим работу вашей техники! Свяжитесь с нами для консультации – мы решим любую проблему!

Anonymous

Jeffreyfrume (not verified)

on

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 10:44

apotek pa nett <a href=" http://asresin.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=70648 ">Apotek hemleverans recept</a> or <a href=" http://clients1.google.com.gt/url?q=http://apotekonlinerecept.com ">apotek online recept</a>
http://km10805.keymachine.de/php.php?a[]=<a+href=http://apotekonlinerece... apotek pa nett
[url=https://www.vinteger.com/scripts/redirect.php?url=https://apotekonlinere... online[/url] apotek online recept and [url=http://www.forppt.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=9604]apotek pa nett[/url] Apoteket online

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.