Fillament Welding Clamp

thingiverse

Fillament welding clamp. I designed this tool to simplify the process of welding fillaments. My goal was to create a device that holds two fillaments tightly and accurately, making hot-plate welding of two fillaments easier. I've successfully tested it on PLA and TPU, achieving consistent results. Using the Clamp: https://youtu.be/ElFuTF0LtSs (If you're experiencing issues accessing this link, please leave a comment) How to Use: 1. Assemble the clamp by applying grease to the bolt threads for tight nut clamping. 2. Cut the fillament ends using a sharp knife or Precision Shear Cutter to create a flat surface. Insert two fillaments into the "08_Fillament locator" holes. If necessary, use a 1.8mm drill to enlarge the holes if they're too tight. 3. Place the Fillament locator into the clamp and tighten the nuts as much as possible. 4. Open the clamp to remove the Fillament locator and adjust both ends for proper alignment. 5. Preheat a soldering iron to 250 degrees or use a torch to heat a blade or sheet metal for several seconds. Squeeze open the clamp, then clamp the fillament onto the hot surface for about 0.5 seconds. Release the clamp, remove the hot metal, and let the clamp close to weld the fillaments. 6. Loosen the nuts, remove the fillament from the clamp, and trim excess material around the welding joint. Welding strength depends on temperature and pressure. Note that excessive melting of the fillament on the sheet metal can result in insufficient overlap length, compromising the weld's integrity. Using a soldering iron provides better temperature control, but its cylindrical body makes it slippery and challenging to heat the ends effectively. Note: Remove the spring from the clamp if you won't be using it for an extended period to prevent loosening.