Filament Basics - MakerBot Replicator 2X User Manual

FILAMENT BASICS

Your MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental
3D Printer uses ABS plastic filament, 1.75
mm in diameter, to print objects. [Fig 14.1]
The Replicator 2X can also use 1.75 mm
filament made from other plastics with
similar properties. The filament used in 3D
printing is also known as plastic welding
rod and is used in other applications, but
filament made for 3D printing needs to be
more consistent in diameter.
Sometimes 1.75 mm plastic filament can
vary in size between 1.65 mm and 1.85 mm.
[Fig 14.2] The extruders in the MakerBot
Fig. 14.1
Replicator 2X can accommodate this
range of sizes. The consistency of filament
diameter is more important than the size
of the diameter. Filament that is thicker in
some places than in others is difficult for the
extruder to grip. It can also result in poor print
quality: a section of plastic that is too thin
will result in a section of your print that does
not contain enough plastic and a section
of filament that is too thick will result in a
section of your print that contains too much.
If you load a new roll of filament that is
slightly more thick or thin than your previous
roll, the extruders might feed too much or too
little plastic for your print. To fix this problem,
adjust the feedstock diameter in the
MakerBot Slicer through the custom profiles
feature in MakerWare. For more on custom
profiles and the feedstock diameter setting,
see the Advanced MakerWare settings page
at www.makerbot.com/support/makerware/
documentation/advanced.
1 mm
1.65
1.75
Be careful with your filament. Keep it dry;
1.85
humidity might cause it to expand. Avoid
1 milimeter = 1 inch Fig. 14.2
letting the filament loosen on the roll; this
can result in tangles which could cause your
filament to break or get stuck during a print
and the print to fail.
FILAMENT 95