11

You need a PTEFE Tube with 3mm Outer diameter and 2mm inner diameter. About 3€ on Ebay/m

12

Hey, I’m also waiting for an order on PTFE tube from Ebay, just to have around as spare. I’ll only know for sure if it’s the right size once it arrives which should be still this week, but for reference, this one is the one I ordered:

PTFE Teflon 2 x 3mm

The inner diameter is 2mm (to handle the 1.75mm filament) and the outer diameter is 3mm, in order to fit the nozzle (I hope). Previously I got another PTFE tube which was for 1.75mm filament and it didn’t fit - inner diameter 2mm / outer diameter 4mm.

First listing which didn’t fit (chose 1.75mm) > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111513375750?\_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=410506092329&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Second listing, still to arrive, hoping it will fit > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151280480493?\_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I’ll let you know how it goes once the later one arrives.

EDIT - I own a CTC-3D printer, in spite of having bought from an Ebay listing mentioning RepRap etc.

13

You can’t run without the PTFE tube. It acts as a guide down into the nozzle. If you run without it, the filament will just flex in the heat break, twist and jam.

The only way to get rid of it completely is to replace the heat break with to a version with a 2mm hole down the centre and nozzle with a 2mm hole and make sure when you assemble that you tighten the heat break and the nozzle very tightly against each other to stop molten filament from spilling out between them.

This happened on my E3D Clone and it was a sod to clean all the cold filament from the hot end.

14

Agreed, the entire extruder is built differently than the cheap plastic ones that are stock with CTC. The upgrade was about $190, and there was some retro fitting, but I have a reprap style of feeder now, no more tubing. Hasn’t clogged yet, and that’s with 350+ hrs on mine!

15

You might be able to find what you need here: http://www.makers3dzen.com/category-s/115.htm

I am no way affiliated with that company nor have I ever used them. I saw a posting they had in a google group.

16

To be fair, the default extruder with a fixed bearing and no pre-load is terrible. I bought a moulded abs spring loaded replacement pair of extruder on ebay, best upgrade so far. I plan on getting some stainless bar and making my own barrier tubes on my lathe so that I have an all metal hot end.

17

Hi, the new tube arrived yesterday and it fits nicely, matches all the comments and suggestions from the other posters in this thread > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151280480493?\_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I also bought a few spare nozzles that seem to work with this PTFE Teflon 2 x 3mm:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321796094101?\_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The shape of the new nozzles isn’t exactly the same as the originally installed ones - the new ones seem narrower/slightly longer - but the specs seem to match.

I will do some maintenance on the printer later this week and try out the new nozzles+PTFE tube and post the results here as well.

2 Likes
18

hi, i have ordered PTFE Teflon Tube ID 2mm OD 3mm for 1.75 Filament Makerbot Prusa RepRap 3D Pri... | eBay PTFE Tube ID 2mm OD 3mm for 1.75 i measured the outer diameter an it was 3mm and the inner was 2 so hopully this works lol

19

If you have an address send me over a message on here and I’ll post you replacment ones free cut to size all you need to do is remove the nozzle and slide this tube in and out the nozzle back on

20

Hi Dan,

Is it possible to purchase some of this tube of you as I have 3 printers down at the moment and am waiting for some from china which seems to be taking forever or do you know of a supplier in the UK?

Thanks for your time

Tommy

21

i have bought the tube, seems to fit well and i havent put it all back as im using the left extruder for now lol

22

if you send me over a message I can work something out for you

23

Hi Dan

I have only just joined this forum and can not find the messaging part could you possibly send me an e-mail to tjdonnelly2012@gmail.com

thanks for your time

Tommy

24

New tube and new nozzle seem to have worked OK, a few prints in and it looks fine.

new_set_001.jpg
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new_set_002.jpg
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new_set_003.jpg
new_set_003.jpg826×464 193 KB
new_set_004.jpg
new_set_004.jpg826×464 202 KB
new_set_005.jpg
new_set_005.jpg826×464 147 KB
new_set_006.jpg
new_set_006.jpg826×464 118 KB

2 Likes
25

wickwire great replies , i have got same tube but not fitted it all yet will do soon.

26

I wrecked one of my teflon tubes, too. I bought a 5-pack of replacement hot-end barrels off Amazon but they had 4mm OD PTFE linings in them, and a lot of stuff just printed too differently for my taste. (PLA and ABS seemed to print fine, but PETG-- my bread and butter material --didn’t print right anymore.) Either due to the different barrel design, or additional thickness of teflon…

I finally just bought a meter of 3mm OD PTFE tubing and waited like a bloody month for it to arrive from Malaysia via slowboat while I used the lining from the left extruder to get the right one back up and running. Taught me an important lesson though; stock up on replacements of anything that can take down your printer!!!

Also, stay away from PFA. It’s supposed to be rated for the same temps as Teflon and it was easier to source in the right diameter, but if you take it up to 240°C to print PETG or something…it’ll LIQUIFY. Not melt or deform, LIQUIFY. (Invented some new curses for that one, I did.)

27

at first CTC dual extruder 3d printers are not recommended to buy it have lot of problems.

28

I whole heartedly agree.

There are indeed differing levels of 3D printers on the market. when I bought my CTC, I could have had a cheaper option like a Prusa I3 which required much much more assembly, set up and calibration.

OR I could have gone for the much higher end of the spectrum and got a stratasys or something like that (enter very expensive brand name here)

I’d never used a 3D printer before let alone knew anything about them, operations or materials. I opted for the CTC because it was already assembled taking out a lot of the work.

Straight away though I had issues, exactly as you’ve mentioned. The nozzles would clog, the prints wouldn’t stick, I couldn’t get replacement Kapton for the bed cheap, the extruders would skip on the filament.

Over all, it was a terrible machine which I couldn’t trust to run more than an hour without messing up.

It was from that I persevered with it, I replaced the stock fixed extruders with spring loaded ones which has solved the skipping on the filament. I replaced the PTFE tube with that which is 1mm longer so that it’s compressed in the thermal barrier tube, no more clogging or jamming.

I’ve since made a TON of other modifications and the print quality is fantastic but is still only as good as the settings I use.

My point being, no matter what level of user you are, no matter what level of machine you have, it’s still developing and there’s still a lot to learn.

I’ve recently built a Rostock legacy and had masses of issues with it, so much so I started to design MY OWN printer to repurpose the parts I bought for the Rostock. But I persevered with it and now it’s at a point where I’m happy with it. Just further reiterates my point above.

29

… or maybe you’re just the kind of user who just wants a turnkey solution, something along the lines of a Nexpresso coffee machine.

If that’s the case, then perhaps it would be good to understand that 3D printing isn’t quite there yet, at that level.

While I disagree with your comments, I’ll back mine having owned one for a bit more than 6 months:

  • 3D printing on FDM for the average consumer still has its quirks, regardless of how expensive the printer is
    • clogging
    • calibrating
    • consumable parts replacement (overall maintenance)

… and whatever else I’m not thinking of right now

  • Buying a cheap 3D printer has enabled me to experiment with the technology and keep learning more about than I would otherwise
  • The printer is not without its limitations, but the prints are very, very acceptable in terms of detail and quality
  • It’s even accessible to hardware/software mods
30

You’ve made 6 comments, and they’re all about how bad your CTC dual extruder is. You understand that it’s an exact copy of the MakerBot Replicator 1 dual, right? Just like the FlashForge and a half dozen other inexpensive Chinese-made printers.

Jams happen, that’s just how it goes with FDM printers. Doesn’t matter if it’s CTC or MakerBot. But I’ve had my printer for eight months now, and it’s only jammed once. If you wanted a maintenance-free printing experience, you should’ve spent a couple tens of thousands of bucks more.

As for all the problems you’re having with your CTC, have you tried checking to see if the #P38K4C register is set to 1?