Skelestruder and experience with flexible material, anybody?
 
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Skelestruder and experience with flexible material, anybody?  

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MTom
 MTom
(@mtom)
Trusted Member
Skelestruder and experience with flexible material, anybody?

Hi,

somebody using the skelestruder mod printing flexible filaments?

I am looking for a replacement for the stock extruder because I can´t get it working with flexible filaments plus I think the maintainance at it is too complicated. Though before I try the skelestruder mod I thought it would be a good idea to ask if it is worth the change. Apart from that is there a reliable source in europe for the required nonprintable parts?

 

Posted : 19/08/2019 7:54 am
Chocki
(@chocki)
Prominent Member
RE: Skelestruder and experience with flexible material, anybody?

I have used Rigid.Ink flexible TPU without any problems Shore Hardness=94A, not a huge amount, but no issues either.

Now, I use capricorn tubing for the PTFE tube and printed the SP_Inlet_Std_r1b version which I printed with a 0.25mm nozzle for better detail.

It is actually recommended to use the SP_Inlet_PTFE_r1b version for flexible filament and with really flexible filament, ie Ninja Flex Shore Hardness=85A at high speed, this may be necessary.

Also, I found I never need to adjust the clamping force of the drive for any filament, just use cleaning floss and a PLA cold pull between material changes. Cold pulls are really easy on the skelestruder, no need to unscrew anything, just lift the clamp and pull when the temperature of the PLA drops to 80 Degrees.

This post was modified 5 years ago by Chocki

Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.

Posted : 19/08/2019 3:32 pm
Chocki
(@chocki)
Prominent Member
RE: Skelestruder and experience with flexible material, anybody?

What I would recommend is you print SP_Ecage_S and the OMEGA nozzle out of Polycarbonate or some other high glass transition temperature material as these parts can soften if printed from PETG. The SP_Spider17 also benefits from being printed with PC as it becomes stiffer, I printed with 100% infill also the Tread and wheel, but these I printed with a 0.25mm nozzle also in Polycarbonate an 100% infill. Much stronger and stay centred on the shaft better than PETG. Tightening the PETG wheel can cause it to flex away from the shaft and end up running non true.

I used Rigid.Ink PC as this is a pure polycarbonate and thus has a higher glass transition temperature than some cheaper PC blends.

Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.

Posted : 19/08/2019 3:45 pm
MTom
 MTom
(@mtom)
Trusted Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Skelestruder and experience with flexible material, anybody?

Okay, thanks for the suggestions, once I got the non-printable parts together I´ll start printing the parts. I guess I´ll come back with questions then 😉

Posted : 19/08/2019 3:52 pm
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