Filament Splice Helper - splicer

thingiverse

This is a custom-built bench splicer or in-situ splicer designed for use with Anet A8 3D printers. The project was inspired by TrustFm's "Filament Splicer Joiner" found on Thingiverse. To assemble the head of this splicer, you'll need to attach it to a C-bracket and have some M3 nuts and bolts on hand. Make sure to clean out any excess filament fluff from around, in, down, and at the bottom of the hole where the nut will sit. The photos above show the splice helper in use with solvent welding and heat welding at the print head of an Anet A8. Solvent welding using methylene chloride is a viable option, but it requires a two-minute set time and a minimum 30-minute cure time. However, it does work effectively when used properly. For those who prefer to use heat welding, you can place aluminum foil on the tip of your soldering iron and heat it up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit. Be cautious not to apply too much pressure or the weld may be too wide, causing issues with filament feed. To avoid any problems, make sure the finished weld is no wider than the filament itself and doesn't have any bulges that could get caught in the guide hole of the gear wheel. This will prevent the splice from breaking or getting ground down by the gear wheel as it moves through the hole. Thanks to TrustFm's original design for providing a great starting point for this project! Don't forget to have at least two M3 nuts and bolts on hand, each measuring 6mm in length. The nuts should fit snugly into place, so be sure to clean out any excess material from around the hole before attaching them. One of the biggest challenges with creating an in-situ splicer is getting the two pieces to meet up without bending or distorting the filament. You might consider trying TrustFm's technique for heat welding, which overcomes this issue and provides a reliable join.