Filament straightener

thingiverse

The issue with a bowden tube feed extruder is often kinks or bends in the plastic, resulting in filament grinding. To solve this problem, I was inspired by a wire straightener and created a filament straightener. Since using it, I haven't experienced any more grinding issues. After slicing an object, I determine the required filament length, pass it through the straightener, and recoil it on the spool. With semi-translucent plastics, the bending may cause a slight white discoloration, but this fades upon heating. For the build, you'll need: - 6x M3 x 20mm screws - 6x M3 nuts - 6x M4 washers - 6x U-grooved bearings with ID 3.5/4mm, OD 25.5, and an inner groove OD of 19.5 I purchased these bearings from a surplus store for $2 each, and they had many available. These specific bearings fit snugly around 3mm filament. In my setup, I use just five bearings to achieve the desired curve for smooth filament feeding through the bowden tube.