3D model of juliatruchsess
The models were repaired and checked for printability.
Having gone through a nasty nozzle clog or two I don't want to ever have to
...Plus repeat the experience if I can help it. This Thing helps reduce the probability of a clog due to dust etc. by passing the filament through a small chunk of open-cell foam. The foam is held inside the Thing so that you don't have to deal with a loose piece of foam every time you change filament.
Rather than offset the guide to the spool's edge as is often done, I designed this guide to mount on the spool's centerline and pivot in a self-adjusting way to the amount of filament on the spool.
This Thing also provides air connections for feed mechanism forced-air cooling schemes
giving you a stable anchor point for the air feed hose and allowing you to disconnect the compressor hose without disconnecting the hose that feeds the extruder head.
Print the parts.
Screw the head onto the bracket with an M4 machine or self-tapping screw. I put a rubber washer between the two parts to make the assembly non-floppy but it may not be necessary. Adjust the screw for a light tension so that the head can pivot as the extruder calls for filament.
Cut a chunk of foam to the rough dimensions of the foam compartment (1 x 1 x 3/4") and stuff it in.
Bolt the assembly to your Up!
Poke filament through the foam and up into the filament guide tube.
julia@pragmaticdesigns.com
