DIY filament production ĭIY filament production machines use the same method as FDM 3D printers of pushing the filament through the extruder to create the correct diameter filament. It is then wound onto a spool to create the finished product. The filament is then fed through a cold water tank to cool it to room temperature. The filament is then fed through a warm water tank which cools the filament which gives the filament its round shape. The diameter is often measured by a laser beam(not melting) as part of a quality control mechanism to ensure correct diameter of the filament. From there the nurdles are fed into a single screw extruder where it is heated and extruded into a filament. The nurdles must be dried as many thermoplastics are hygroscopic and extrusion of damp plastic causes dimensional flaws (this is also the case when the finished filament is being printed ). Before the filament is extruded the nurdles are heated to 80 ☌ to dry it and reduce water content. increased strength or magnetic properties. Pigments or other additives are added to the material before it is melted to create coloured filament or filament with special properties, e.g.

The plastic nurdles are always white or clear. A different force and speed is applied to the filament as it is pulled out of the extruder to define the width of the filament, most commonly 1.75 mm or 2.85 mm diameter.

However, unlike a 3D printer, the filament is pulled rather than pushed through the nozzle to create the filament, the diameter of the filament is defined by the process that takes place after the plastic has been heated rather than the diameter of the extruder nozzle. Stacks of commercially produced filament which have been shrink-wrapped to protect the filament from moisture.ģD printing filament is created using a process of heating, extruding and cooling plastic to transform nurdles into the finished product.

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