This project aims to create a working prototype of a small universal pellet extruder that works in horizontal and vertical orientation. You can 3D print in a vertical position. Extrude filaments or inject plastic into a mold in a horizontal position.

Extruder vertical position
Extruder vertical position

Extruder[edit | edit source]

The principle of operation is simple. The electric motor rotates the gearbox, which reduces the speed but increases the torque of the main screw. A thermoplastic pellet is poured into the feeder and transported to the main compression screw. The granule melts from the pressure and temperature and exits through the nozzle in an elastic state.

An extruder can work as a stand-alone machine or be part of another machine such as a 3D printer.

Open source[edit | edit source]

FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Project data
Authors Roman Sakh
Vadim Khudobets
Skoblia Bohdan
Location Ukraine
Status Verified
Verified by Aziz Wadi
Made Yes
OKH Manifest Download

The latest version of files for the assembly of the extruder V0.1 alpha version[edit | edit source]

Keep in mind that development and testing are still ongoing, this is an alpha prototype and the configuration may change in the near future.

We plan to increase the power of the main engine and replace the feeder engine. Instead of stepper nema 17, we will install a DC motor with a gearbox. We also plan to improve the efficiency of the cooling system.

Bill of Materials[edit | edit source]

Type Item Qyt. URL (Aliexpress) Price (€) Notes
Extruder KIT Extruder KIT 16 mm screw, barrel, nozzle 3 pc. band heaters 1 Link €245,00 57 Size Flange, 2.5mm Nozzle, 3x pc. band heaters
Bearing Single row angular contact ball bearing 2 Link €18,00 Better buy 3 or 4
Coupling Oldham shaft coupling 14x14 mm with 5 mm key 1 Link €29,00 Text to seller that you need key 5 mm
Gearbox Gearbox 16:1 Nema 23 1 Link €40,00 Ratio 16:1
Motor Nema 23, 102 mm, 3 N.m, 5A with driver 1 Link €45,00
Motor Nema 17, 48 mm 1 Link €15,00
Coupling D20L25 3D Printer Part Lead Screw Coupler 5x6 mm 1 Link €2,00 Better buy more couplings with different inner diametrs (5x8, 5x10, 6x6, 6x8)
Heat Sink Heat Sink for 40mm fan 2 Link €13,40
Cooling Fan Cooling Fan 4020 24V 4 Link €11,60 24V
Cooling Fan Cooling Fan 4010 24V 4 Link €10,70 24V
Power Supply Power Supply 24V 15A 1 Link €24,00 24V
Motor controller Stepper Motor Controller 2 Link €9,00
Fastners M5x100mm 12.9 class steel 4 Link €17,00
Fastners M5x30mm 12.9 class steel 4 Link €7,00
Fastners M4x70mm stainless steel 4 Link €11,00
Fastners M4x40mm 8 Buy local
Fastners M4x25mm 2 Buy local
Fastners M3x15 8 Buy local
Fastners M3x25 8 Buy local
Tube Aluminium tube D10 mm length 245 mm 2 Buy local
Drill Drill 6 mm 1 Buy local
Temperature sensor Temperature Sensor PT100 1m 3 Link €17,00 PT100
Temperature controller KIT Temperature controller REX-C100 + 40DA SSR Relay + heat sink 3 Link €33,00
Button Emergency stop push button 1NC 220V 1 Link €1,00 Buy local
Button Start green button 1NO 220V 1 Link €2,00 XB2-BA31 GREEN Buy local
Button Stop red push button 1NC 220V 1 Link €2,00 XB2-BA42 RED Buy local
Contactor AC Three-pole contactor 220V 6A+ 1 Link €19,00 220V Buy local
Socket plug Socket plug 16A+ 1 Buy local
Wire Silicone 18 AVG 10+ meters 10 Link €6,00 Buy local
Wire 20-22 AWG 10+ meters 10 Link €3,00 Buy local
Wire connector Bridge type zero line bar 4p 2 Link €3,00 Buy local
Wire connector Bridge type zero line bar 8p 2 Link €4,00 Buy local
Wire connector Dual row terminal block 6P 1 Link €1,00 Buy local
Wire connector Quick Connector Spring Wire 20 Link €2,00 Buy local
€591,30

Tests[edit | edit source]

Playlist of tests on YouTube

Last[edit | edit source]

For tests we use CNC milling machine to move the extruder in space. At this stage of development, the extruder is mounted on existing frames of CNC routers.

The extruder parameters are changed manually. The temperature is regulated on the termocontrollers depending on the type of plastic we use and the speed as well. We set the main motor speed on the driver.

We generated the gcode in Rhino Grasshopper and edited it manually so that the NC Studio control program correctly executes the commands.

The vases are printed from bHIPS granules.We are currently testing different plastic options and will later make a table of temperature and speed parameters.

As a build plate, we used scratched MDF and then scotch tape pasted on a mirror. We also used crushed PS, but the particle size was too large and the feeder was clogged.

We wiil make more tests and share results. Stay tuned!

First[edit | edit source]

First steps[edit | edit source]

Contacts[edit | edit source]

If you have questions about the extruder, please e-mail me at bohdanskoblia@gmail.com or dm on instagram @bohdan

FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Page data
Part of Tolocar
Authors Roman Sakh, Vadim Khudobets, Skoblia Bohdan
License CC-BY-SA-4.0
Language English (en)
Translations Ukrainian
Related 1 subpages, 4 pages link here
Aliases Big Pellet 3D Printer
Impact 188 page views (more)
Created August 10, 2023 by Paola Moreno
Last modified January 15, 2024 by Paola Moreno
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