The function and features of the Spooler wheel explained. These essentials are to help you understand how best to use the machine to your specifications.
The Filament Maker extrudes with a collection of features and components working together efficiently. It is up to the user to utilize these tools and ensure that the machine works well.
Table of Contents
Function
Features
Things to Watch Out For
Machine Settings
Safety / Error Messages
Further Information
Function
Once we have achieved a consistent filament diameter during the Finetuning Phase, we can move on to spool the filament. This of course is the spooling action in the Spooling Phase, after which the filament will be ready for printing.
The Spooler is the last and most intuitive feature of the Filament Maker. Once set up, it works automated together with the Puller and can be left alone. The user needs only to monitor the process.
Features
The spooling process includes a series of connected hardware and software features that work together as the Spooling Mechanism. The hardware features are:
- the guiding shaft:
thin metal rod below puller wheels - the positioner:
automated guidance tool - the spool
- the spool holder
fastens the spool onto the shaft - the spool shaft
metal rod that the spool spins on - the winder slipper clutch:
adjustable knob on the opposite side of the FM
The software feature that automates the process is called the Spooling Wizard and can be found in Main Menu > Spooling.
The most relevant feature is the positioner. To summarize, the positioner moves back and forth (starting from right) to neatly align the filament on the spool as it slowly winds up. This is based on the calculations of the spool measurements. For the FM1, it is enough to set up the Spooling settings once for the first time, and then keep using the same settings. This can be done in Main Menu > Settings.
Have a look at this article for the first time set up, including learning more about the positioner.
Things to Watch Out For
Quality
Only spool filament once you are confident that its quality is printable in a 3D printer.
As described in our Practice Essentials, this happens during the last phase of the extrusion process, after all the finetuning has been done and we are happy with the filament quality.
Positioner
Take care not to accidently push the positioner endstop button with a tool or the filament. This will reset the Filament Maker!
Although this is frustrating, it can be very quick and easy to continue with the extrusion process. Just turn the machine again and restart the DevoVision log. Once the screw is spinning, the flow should return momentarily.
Machine Settings
Main Menu > Settings > Empty spool diameter, Full spool diameter, Spool width, Positioner right, Spooling speed
Main Menu > Spooling > Filament length, Filament volume, Positioner Settings
Safety / Error Messages
Safety Warning:
There are no safety measures to consider with the Spooler.
Error Messages:
"Positioner endstop hit unexpectedly" (Point 5)
Further Information
A great article that introduces the whole Spooling Mechanism.
Some tips on when to actually start spooling.
Instructions on replacing the winder clutch.