Simple 2020 Filament Tube Guide (Customizable)

This is a simple filament guide using a PTFE-tube. In my case it is mounted below the filament spool, but you…
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updated October 31, 2021

Description

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This is a simple filament guide using a PTFE-tube. In my case it is mounted below the filament spool, but you basically can mount it anywhere to guide filament around corners.

The reason for having this is simple. When a spool is brand new or mostly filled, the filament tents to hop of the side of the spool on retract or when the print head is driving towards the spool mount. The filament between the direct extruder of my TronXY X5 and the spool itself gets pushed towards the spool and the winding jumps sideways of the spool and gets tangled.

A secondary feature of this guide is kind of obvious: If the filament breaks between the guide and the extruder the backlash won´t reach the filament spool and you just need to re-feed the printer to restart printing. No filament tangling here as well.

Requirements:

2x M5 10mm Screw
2x M5 extrusion nut.
1x 5cm PTFE tubing. The default model is for 4mm diameter tubing.

Please note that the length of the PTFE tube does not matter. I suggest to use at least 2cm towards the print head, so the tube can bend when needed. On the spool side just ensure it is long enough to bend in the direction you want to feed the filament from. The longer the tubing is the more backlash compensating is happening. Well, within reasonable size at least. You can always pull the tube to the back, so better go a little longer and adjust if there is any problem.

Having the tube dangling on the head bed is definitely indicating that you are using to much tube. :D

There should be no need to glue the tubing. If the hole is to big or to small, simply adjust the diameter in the FreeCAD spreadsheet. I designed it for a 4mm diameter tubing and you can rock it back and forth with a little force. If your tubing has a smaler diameter and you don´t want to reprint, then a small dot of hot glue on both ends will fixate the tubing and still allows to adjust by peeling the glue off and moving the tube into position.

As always you can edit the design as the FreeCAD source file is inclued. I like my parts to be robust so I can tighten the screws. I also like sink the screw heads. Feel free to adapt the file if you disagree! :D It is just a matter of tweaking a value or two.

The 2020 filament spool mount shown on the images can be found here:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3362785

Happy Printing

Print Settings

Printer:

TronXY X5

Rafts:

No

Supports:

No

Resolution:

0.2

Infill:

25

Filament: Noyes PLA Black

Category: 3D Printer Parts

Tags



Model origin

The author marked this model as their own original creation. Imported from Thingiverse.

License