Feeding filament from below the printer?
So I recently got a a display case that I'm planning to make into my printer enclosure. https://shop.prusa3d.com/forum/user-mods-octoprint-enclosures-nozzles--f65/my-enclosure-to-be-t15603.html .
I am daydreaming on some solutions for where to mount the filament. For this to work pretty much out of the box I would love to be able to run my filament from the bottom shelf up. That way I could enclose the bottom and make it a humidity controlled area and select my colors from there.
I'm concerned that it would be too much stress on the filament feed motor drawing from the bottom. Should I be concerned? Any workarounds for such a system? I have seen solutions where the filament is fed up from table level but so far nothing from below the printer.
I could mount filament to the top of the dome, but I would also have to invest in a step stool since its ~6' tall to the top. The filament ALMOST fits inside while on the spool holder. Its shy 1/2 inch.
Re: Feeding filament from below the printer?
Set your filament roll on ball bearings so there is little friction and put a pulley on the top of the printer to feed it back down maybe? Gravity isn't helping that much and the stock solution has so much friction, if you reduced it by even a little bit you could probably feed in the filament from anywhere.
As an example I use one of these to make the filament movement almost friction less:
Re: Feeding filament from below the printer?
Set your filament roll on ball bearings so there is little friction and put a pulley on the top of the printer to feed it back down maybe? Gravity isn't helping that much and the stock solution has so much friction, if you reduced it by even a little bit you could probably feed in the filament from anywhere.
As an example I use one of these to make the filament movement almost friction less:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1832235
Interesting. Ultimately I would love the system to look like this https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2850984 but from the bottom.
Re: Feeding filament from below the printer?
Interesting. Ultimately I would love the system to look like this https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2850984 but from the bottom.
CRAZY nice find!! *bookmark*
That's coming in the near future from my printer. That will solve about 5 of my problems!
Annnnyway.
Follow his system to the T, except don't put it in a tote, put it in your cabinet. His system has EVERYTHING you need.
Hi, I'm Sean. I used to work on CNC machines.
I try to not make mistakes, but the decision is YOURS.
Please feel free to donate to my filament/maintance fund.
Re: Feeding filament from below the printer?
I run my filament from below through a single pulley I designed. I started out with two pulleys, but found one to work much better. Here is a link to my pulley: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2851059
Re: Feeding filament from below the printer?
I run my filament from below through a single pulley I designed. I started out with two pulleys, but found one to work much better. Here is a link to my pulley: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2851059
Thanks for that! I bookmarked it. Would you mind sharing a picture of how you have the pulley mounted/orientated?
Re: Feeding filament from below the printer?
Here you go:
Re: Feeding filament from below the printer?
@ allen.m2
Pretty cool !
Re: Feeding filament from below the printer?
*snip*
Pictures like this make me VERY sad. My printer is on what's left of my computer desk... I say "what's left" becuase my wife and I, due to circumstances, basically live in a single bedroom. Due to acquiring new stuff, hobbies, and stuff between the two of us, every flat surface has about 3 feet of stuff stacked on it... (that's the average)
I recently have acquired a "new" spot that I can claim for the 3D printer, and I am looking into building table for the 3D printer.
(As nice as yours looks, I highly doubt it's stable enough to make my never-ending-quest for-stupid-quality happy though)
But it just makes me sad to see printers with space on/around them. I literally have my filament connected to my printer, routed over my wife's cooking utensils. (she's a chef)
I'm not 100% sure on what I'm going to build, but here's my design goals. (I am actually not happy with the spool holders online, so I am in the process of designing my own)
Printer-stand.
6x6 square post for legs. These are HEAVY.
Some kind of "braketing" the hold it "stable" (likely 3D printed+Plywood) Air-Tight.
Room for a tray large/deep enough for ~10lbs of desicant. (directly below the filament)
Some kind of system to hold Filament OVER the Desicant. (I don't like the "hanger" systems, I want the filament to be EASY and FAST to add/remove. Open doors, means moist air. (Like maybe, let's say, 2 dowel rods, that I could mount some kind of filament holder to, and just sit the filament on it?)
Bowden system to pull filament directly from below spool. (prevent spool from jumping off rollers on filament holder)
Must be Air tight, and store, 5 2kg spools. (There's a brand I love, and their 2KG spools are VERY cheap for what their quality is) Extra space is a Plus if I have "smaller" spools in there!
And the printer will just "live on top". I don't like Enclosures.
(The printer would sit on the thickest piece of glass I can have cut, same theory as the concrete base, except it's not ugly. ;))
And if I need to print something that needs "enclosure", I will make a "fish tank" with handle, to just sit over it. (wires would go through stand, so the glass "lid" wouldn't touch them)
I'm in love with the filament box linked above. I have no means of doing much of it right now, but down the road, I plan on doing something VERY similar!
EDIT: Or suspend the Silica Gel over the filament in a hanging bag... mmm I like this idea!
Hi, I'm Sean. I used to work on CNC machines.
I try to not make mistakes, but the decision is YOURS.
Please feel free to donate to my filament/maintance fund.
RE: Feeding filament from below the printer?
hey, do you have any pictures of the system? i've been thinking of doing this but with a ender 3 and in a ikea lack enclosure, but i don't really have a perfect idea of how to route the fillament up without any very sharp turns, so if you would like to reply with a picture or 2 of how youve set it up or something that would be great, thanks.