precision paste extruder based on screw frosting device

thingiverse

This is an incredible paste extruder designed based on one I've been working closely with using a HYREL 3D printer. It incorporates a geared down stepper motor and a paste (frosting/clay) extruder that can be sourced from numerous places. Although there's a patent covering the frosting extruder part, which is actuated by a screw/plunger (USPTO # 7413429 B1, 7416400 B1, and 7476097 B1), as far as I know, this only implies that you can manufacture or sell this part. Various sources such as Amazon, Walmart.com offer the extruder's components, but as far as I am aware, the official source is Makin'SClay.com. The main concept revolves around the stepper motor's axle rotating, yet the body remains rotationally constrained by a linear rail. The rail facilitates minimal frictional movement as the screw's rotation slowly activates the plunger. The printed components consist of the motor bracket (which can be adjusted for different stepper motors) and I intend to switch it out with a 50:1 planetary geared NEMA11 or NEMA14 in the near future. Another essential component is the syringe holder along with a part that bolts onto the x carriage, primarily designed for a Prusa i3 with 20mm wide holes accommodating m3 bolts. To complement this paste extruder design, other required components include a 19:1 geared stepper from StepperOnline.com. For precise calibration of steps per mm, one must multiply 200 by 16, then by 19.19, followed by division by 1.411111111 (threads per inch for a 5/16-18 screw thread), yielding the result 43517.48. To simplify calibration, consider setting it to 435.1748 and use a filament diameter of 1.7. Since volume is directly proportional to radius squared, decreasing the radius by 10 and extruder calibration by 10 squared will cancel each other out. This adjustment allows speeds comparable to those obtained with traditional 1.75mm filament. In addition, a linear rail is necessary, albeit expensive, as well as several crucial mechanical parts. More detailed information on these components will follow in the near future. That's a concise summary; I'll be updating this post as new revisions become available. As for an add-on with UV curing and heater setup details, they can be found here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/marc.201600236/abstract. My intention is to compile a comprehensive guide for building a bioprinter once that's finished. You may find the following products helpful in assembling this paste extruder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PNEQKOS https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IN4KMX4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018BOXWQ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051Y1VYY https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MN9SV2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L1L8108 https://www.mcmaster.com/#90101a230 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003NUY6FO