Slugstruder 1.0 - lightweight flexible shaft extruder

thingiverse

This lightweight flexible shaft extruder was designed for high-speed printing while minimizing mass acceleration issues without bowden-extruder drawbacks; a design posted early on Thingiverse. The extruder features an active second hobbed element, larger gear diameters for better grip at high speeds, and a short distance between gears and nozzle for direct drive. Its two rotatable parts maintain constant worm-gear distance while adjusting pressure to drive filament. Known as the "slugstruder," its name is derived from the German term for snail-like worm gears and the resemblance of slugs to snails, with a nod to brainslugs. The flex-shaft, sourced from a motorbike speedo, must rotate in the same direction as the worm gear; a Dremel alternative may be tried if torque is insufficient. This extruder design remains a work in progress, with non-functional added parts and a missing flex shaft connection; standard gears are used, with teardrop-shaped holes for printability or round hole alternatives available.