An interesting idea in theory, but the practical execution would be a nightmare.
Using a flat headed filament would require entirely new hardware throughout all our machines to accept a new shape, and then we have to consider how the rectangular geometry affect flow dynamics in the nozzle when being printed. It will be slower and harder to convert etc etc etc
Really the issue of tangled filament comes down to buying cheap/crappy filament and not using the right contingencies to coutner this. The ultimaker 2 for example has a very very basic fix to tangled filement by adding an extra little arm the filament latches onto before feeding in to the bowden, this give the filament breathing room, and if there is a knot, this is then usuall avoided as a result.
alternatively, we should look at changing the shape of our reels from circular to eliptical/oblong, and the way the filament is fed onto the reels could learn a lot from how guitar pickups are made!
it’s true , a flat filament would require a complete new hardware…
I usually don’t buy cheap filament, I usually buy from Form Futura and Color Fabb and that happens also with those filament too sometimes… I really think that filament producer should make a bit of research on this…
I’ll try the the little arm… is it on thingiverse?
you should have been provided one in the box! it goes in the bottom left corner of the machine on the back, it looks like a little black arm with 2 circular ridges
Next year we’ll have an intern who will be challenged to design a custom spool for us. Tangling of filament might be solved or partly prevented with a clever design of the spool. So if there are bright minds around with great ideas let us know!
Hey Gijs, that’s pretty cool, I’m sure there are lots of designers in the community that would love to share their ideas or join ColorFabb on this mission.
Having to produce huge volumes of pribts I have notices it is not just about bad filament or process. A lot of times I will go to the lead manufactur of filament and still have the problem. I see it as a problem of tension in the spool. As a result of the tension the spool, some portions will fold and wrap around itself when you attempt to give the space between spool and extruder head some slack. I have had to undo an entire spool to get the spools tension under control or it would clog up my pribts
Having to produce huge volumes of prints I have notices it is not just about bad filament or process. A lot of times I will go to the lead manufacture of filament and still have the problem. I see it as a problem of tension in the spool. As a result of the tension in the spool, some portions will fold and wrap around itself when you attempt to give the space between spool and extruder head some slack. I have had to undo an entire spool to get the spools tension under control or it would clog up my prints
