SnakeBite extruder for 3mm 3D printing filament

thingiverse

This experimental device is a 3mm filament driver with high mechanical force that pushes the filament into a 3D printer's hot-end. It utilizes counter-rotating 6-32 nuts for operation, and a video demonstration can be found here: http://vimeo.com/87940579. The device has been successfully tested (http://vimeo.com/89471876, http://vimeo.com/89471877), with a large print example available at http://vimeo.com/89872411. For printing on MegaMax, use a 0.35mm nozzle with coex3D green ABS filament, setting the first layer at 0.35mm and remaining layers at 0.2mm, without support material and 30% infill, along with 2 top and bottom layers and 2 perimeters. The device requires a NEMA-17 motor, 6-32 screws to secure the cover on the base, and 8-32 screws for attaching it to the printer carriage, with M3 screws for the motor. One filament drive nut is left-hand threaded, made by tapping mild steel with a left-hand tap, while the other is a standard 6-32 nut. Ensure that both nuts can properly thread onto 3mm filament; gears for the device are available at American Science and Surplus or eBay, and are pushed onto 5mm ODx 0.45mm wall brass tubing along with 625Z bearings (5x16x5mm).