Simple filament splicer

Easy splicer for 1.75 mm filaments

 Metal or ceramic base for heat sink

2 x Heat Sink Radiator Cooling for Electronic Chip IC With Thermal Conductive Tape available Aliexpress, Amazon or Ebay etc for around £2 for 10 size 20 x 20 x 6mm approx the spacing of the fins will likely be less than 3.2.-3.5mm so bending one pair of fins likely to be required, easily achieved by inserting a flat ended screwdriver or similar to open gap a little. Go gently but worse senario you have several attempts to be gentle.

Soft silicone tubing inside diameter 1.5 to 1.6mm outside diameter 3.2mm to 3.5 mm I obtain from ali express at around £4 for 10 mtrs, at 20mm per join thats 500 joints 0.8p per join.

Cut silicone into 15-20mm lengths.

To use push filament  ends to be joined into each end of silicone tune it will be  tight fit, gently warm silicone tube to soften if necessary, using only 1.6mm ID 3.2mm OD I have never found this necessary.

Apply heat to centre of tube with hot air gun, naked flame or soldering iron tip, gently push both ends to ensure good bond in centre, as it is cooling cut silicone tube length ways to enable removal I use either scalpel, craft knife or single sided razor blade.

Combine onto one spool repeat if necessary and use remnants to produce prints multi color bandings are easy with this method and I often use while pausing print to insert end of reels to complete prints.

I normally have no problem cutting length of tubing freehand but  included is a guide to make this foolproof, and watch those fingers..

I use a small nail/pin from a picture handing kit to pin the hinge.

print 0.4-0.6mm nozzle 0.2mm layer no supports needed, print on end neither raft or brim should be necessary. Drill hinge pin hole at approx 2mm & guide hole to 3-4mm if necessary.

Use as in photos..

Cut ends of filaments to be joined square, push into silicone tube, so ends meet, push into fins, apply heat from any source, (5v USB soldering iron pictured) aim is te get filament close to print temperature, tryand get heat all around the joint.

Allow to cool for 30 seconds remove from heak sink, insert into cutting guide and slice with any sharp blade the length of the tube, silicone cuts easier than most filament and a decent pressure is required (Practice make almost perfect.

Remove the silicone tube and continue print, or spool for later use, tip: when printing a single collour item that you might like to print multi colour banded, it is possible to make filament specifically for prints, a little trial and error when prototyping can give you measurements to use to produce great final results. Add diiferent colour at start allowing you to extrude to exact point to begin.