Dutch technology company 3devo has unveiled the "Filament Maker Two," which allows for the production of custom 3D printing filament from pellets and powders. It aims to improve stability, efficiency, and customizability.
For many years, 3devo has developed and manufactured compact filament production equipment. These units have become vital infrastructure supporting polymer and filament companies worldwide. With this equipment, companies can produce small batches of innovative filaments for testing, research, and development.
Filament Maker Two
This new device was developed based on feedback from users of the original Filament Maker ONE, featuring significant technical improvements to address challenges in filament extrusion.
Filament Maker Two aims to enhance performance across several areas.
Key improvements include a powerful drive system combining a new stepper motor and gearbox, which achieves up to three times the torque while minimizing fluctuations in rotational speed.
This ensures extremely stable rotational speed and reduces variations in filament quality.
The extruder screw has been extended by 50mm, enabling optimal mixing and stable flow, thereby increasing the consistency of the filament diameter.
The extended screw creates a thermal insulation zone between the heating zone and the hopper zone, preventing premature melting of the material and maintaining a stable material feed.
Combined with automated filament tension control, the Filament Maker Two can produce filament spools of up to 3kg.
The intuitive touchscreen interface of the Filament Maker Two makes operation easier, allowing users to view extrusion data, notifications, and guidance.
Advanced monitoring features include a 3-axis optical sensor that measures the ovality and diameter of the filament with 10-micrometer precision.
This sensor detects filament ovality, while a temperature measurement feature ensures the extrusion process remains at optimal conditions.
"The Filament Maker TWO is designed to speed up research and development, enabling our customers to produce high-quality filament perfectly suited to their specific needs," said Louis Rinaldo, a materials specialist with over seven years of experience at 3devo.
He added, "The Filament Maker TWO delivers the stability, efficiency, and customizability required for filament extrusion. By producing tangible results in the fields of plastic recycling and filament extrusion, 3devo's latest device is expected to support the success of more material development projects."
He also emphasized that the new stepper motor stabilizes screw rotation, allows the flow of molten material to stabilize more quickly, and reduces the time required for fine-tuning settings.
The device is designed with internal maintenance in mind, allowing parts such as nozzles and screws to be easily removed.
This enables rapid troubleshooting and repairs without returning the machine to the manufacturer, reducing downtime and enhancing long-term reliability.
An open-source API allows users to integrate their own development projects and expand the system in the future based on user feedback.
The temperature sensor also helps confirm that the filament is kept at the optimal winding temperature.
According to 3devo, image processing features are planned to help users identify defects, with this functionality expected to be released in 2025.
Users operate the device via a 7-inch touchscreen. The software is built on an open-source API.
3devo states that the internal components are designed for easy access, maintenance, replacement, and upgrades.
The unit is also equipped with advanced data logging capabilities and has a proven track record of testing with various materials, including PLA, ABS, PC, PS, PETG, TPU, TPE, PPS, PVA, PE, PET, PA6, PA12, PA66, PEEK, PEKK, and other PAEK-based materials.
Advances in Filament Technology and Drying Solutions
Italian company Xenia Materials also announced new high-performance filaments at Formnext 2024, driving the evolution of material technology.
Xenia's 3DF materials division focuses on thermoplastic composites and has introduced four types of filament designed for industries requiring lightweight, structural performance, and sustainability.
One notable product, XECARB® SL 3DF, is a carbon fiber-reinforced PA11 composite that achieves high strength while maintaining low density.
These materials are intended to meet the advanced requirements of industries such as aerospace and automotive, where structural strength and weight reduction are critical.
German manufacturer BigRep announced the "DRYCON" 3D printing filament dryer, approaching filament quality challenges from a different angle.
This new system is designed for industrial users working with high-performance and hygroscopic materials, utilizing a dual-chamber structure that can simultaneously dry, store, and anneal filament spools and printed parts.
By maintaining optimal drying conditions, it aims to improve print quality, reduce extrusion issues, and enhance the mechanical strength of printed parts.
Because parts can be annealed directly within the chamber, it also helps release internal stresses, which is expected to improve dimensional accuracy and interlayer adhesion.
Additionally, 3devo’s "Plastic Shredder GP20" grinds plastic of various shapes and sizes into granular particles suitable for use as 3D printing material.
This integrated design combines a high-performance plastic shredder with granulation capabilities. It can be utilized according to application needs and flexibly incorporated into projects across various industries.
► 3Devo Filament Maker ONE Filament Production Series
► 3Devo Filament Maker TWO Filament Production Series
► 3Devo Plastic Shredder GP20 Plastic Grinder
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