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

60966 Comments

Anonymous

Davidneeri (not verified)

on

Wed, 10/01/2025 - 22:47

<a href=https://docspexip.com/>Pexip best practices</a> Pexip Microsoft Teams: Integrating your Team meetings. Pexip integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams so users can optimize workflow and enhance collaboration.

Anonymous

GemShadowL4apold (not verified)

on

Wed, 10/01/2025 - 22:58

J'eprouve une brillance infinie pour RubySlots Casino, c'est une galerie ou chaque tour revele une veine de prosperite. La collection de jeux est un ecrin debordant de plus de 200 joyaux exclusifs, avec des slots RTG aux themes luxueux qui font luire les lignes. Le suivi preserve avec une purete absolue, assurant une conservation fidele dans la vitrine. Les flux financiers sont sertis par des sceaux crypto, toutefois des spins gratuits supplementaires poliraient les pieces. Dans l'ensemble de l'ecrin, RubySlots Casino construit un ecrin de divertissement precieux pour les graveurs de victoires raffinees ! De surcroit le portail est une monture visuelle imprenable, simplifie la traversee des galeries ludiques.
<a href=https://tvo.org.pk/ruby-slots-casino-les-secrets-des-chances-reveles/>ruby red slots no deposit bonus codes</a>|

Anonymous

CosmicForgeB3apold (not verified)

on

Wed, 10/01/2025 - 23:01

Je suis irresistiblement epice par PepperMill Casino, on hume un verger de tactiques enivrantes. Il regorge d’une abondance de melanges interactifs, offrant des titres exclusifs comme PepperMill Candy Dice des maitres comme Amusnet. Les artisans repondent avec une acuite remarquable, assurant une tutelle fidele dans les vignes. Les recoltes affluent via USDT ou canaux fiat, bien qu’ des herbes de recompense additionnelles epiceraient les alliances. A la fin de cette degustation, PepperMill Casino emerge comme un pilier pour les epicuriens pour ceux qui cultivent leur fortune en ligne ! En piment sur le gateau le visuel est une mosaique dynamique et odorante, instille une quintessence de mystere epice.
<a href=https://tennisanlagenservice.de/peppermill-casino-boostez-vos-gains-avec... peppermill restaurant and fireside lounge</a>|

Anonymous

GemShadowL4apold (not verified)

on

Wed, 10/01/2025 - 23:02

Je suis cisele par RubySlots Casino, ca eleve le jeu a une coupe diamantaire. Il scintille d'une serie de pieces interactives, offrant des bonus mobiles des artisans comme Realtime Gaming. L'assistance grave des reponses nettes, activant des facettes multiples pour une revelation immediate. Les transferts coulent stables et acceleres, malgre cela davantage de coupes bonus quotidiennes affuteraient la galerie. Pour clore la coupe, RubySlots Casino se pose comme un pilier pour les joailliers pour les collectionneurs de casinos virtuels ! A sertir le graphisme est un poli dynamique et immersif, ce qui propulse chaque tour a un niveau diamant.
<a href=https://www.bendiciondigitalperu.com/ruby-slots-casino-probabilites-pour... slots 100 free spins plentiful treasure 2022</a>|

Anonymous

ForestWhisperR4apold (not verified)

on

Wed, 10/01/2025 - 23:18

Je suis irresistiblement bande par WildRobin Casino, c'est un bosquet ou chaque pari lance une fleche de succes. Les branches forment un labyrinthe de mecaniques ingenieuses, avec des slots aux themes Robin Hood qui font vibrer les cordes. L'assistance decoche des reponses precises, accessible par signal ou appel direct. Les transferts sprintent stables et acceleres, occasionnellement des embuscades promotionnelles plus frequentes dynamiseraient le repaire. En apotheose legendaire, WildRobin Casino forge une legende de jeu heroique pour ceux qui visent leur destin en ligne ! De surcroit le portail est une clairiere visuelle imprenable, amplifie l'engagement dans le repaire du jeu.
<a href=https://www.theasbestossurveylondon.co.uk/wild-robin-casino-comment-les-... animateur radio wild m6</a>|

Anonymous

Leonardvam (not verified)

on

Wed, 10/01/2025 - 23:43

<a href=https://t.me/Lucky_Jetr>Лаки Джет Играть</a> Lucky Jet (Лаки Джет) — ваша возможность оседлать удачу! Динамичная игра Lucky Jet уже ждет вас. Чтобы начать играть в Лаки Джет, достаточно пройти быструю регистрацию на официальном сайте игры. Если он недоступен, воспользуйтесь рабочим зеркалом Лаки Джет. Ищете, где сыграть? Lucky Jet 1win — одна из проверенных площадок. Lucky Jet 1вин предоставляет полную версию развлечения. Не упустите шанс — играть в Lucky Jet можно сразу после создания аккаунта. Официальный сайт Lucky Jet или его зеркало — ваш надежный старт!

Anonymous

Leonardvam (not verified)

on

Wed, 10/01/2025 - 23:50

<a href=https://t.me/Lucky_Jetr>Lucky Jet Зеркало</a> Lucky Jet (Лаки Джет) — ваша возможность оседлать удачу! Динамичная игра Lucky Jet уже ждет вас. Чтобы начать играть в Лаки Джет, достаточно пройти быструю регистрацию на официальном сайте игры. Если он недоступен, воспользуйтесь рабочим зеркалом Лаки Джет. Ищете, где сыграть? Lucky Jet 1win — одна из проверенных площадок. Lucky Jet 1вин предоставляет полную версию развлечения. Не упустите шанс — играть в Lucky Jet можно сразу после создания аккаунта. Официальный сайт Lucky Jet или его зеркало — ваш надежный старт!

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.