When it comes to FFF-based 3D printers, no single mechanical piece of these machines is as important to print quality and consistency as that of the printer’s extruder. Extruders are the devices which pull the filament in, melt it to a precise temperature, and then extrude it onto the 3D printer’s bed, thus building an object up, layer by layer.
When most people buy 3D printers, they don’t exactly take an interest in how that printer’s extruder works. One man, named Martin Bondéus, realizes the importance of the extruder in creating high quality, professional looking parts, and because he couldn’t find an extruder that met his expectations, he set out to create his very own.
Bondéus began developing the Bondtech Extruder in the summer of 2014, and since then has relied on beta testers’ feedback to improve upon its design.
“I am also designing a 3D printer, and during the test phase of this I have had a lot of problems with existing designs of extruders, problems with slipping, grinding the filament and inconsistent feeding,” Bondéus tells 3DPrint.com. “Because I have been working with product development for most of my active career, I have learned the tools to develop, analyze and improve things.”
Yesterday, Bondéus officially presented his latest iteration of the Bondtech Extruder — the V2. The V2 has the following improvements over the his previous iteration:
- Available to support both 1.75 and 3.0 mm filament.
- Comes with an integrated high quality “Push Fit” connector for bowden tubes.
- An improved drive gear geometry which increases grip.
- An optimized filament path for trouble-free operation.
- A reduced clearance between the drive gear and the housing, eliminating the risk of tangled filament.
- The bowden tube and the fittings are now integrated into the front of the extruder housing, providing for an easier disassembly for service.
- The EasyOpen holder makes removing the extruder easier.
Currently, Bondéus is making several of these extruders available for those interested in beta testing the product. The price he is asking is $116 + shipping, and the beta units come with SLS printed parts, printed in nylon.
“My intention is to have the plastic parts injection molded to achieve a better look and strength, but I need to find a way to get funding for the tools,” he tells us. “The performance [of this extruder] outclasses everything I know of on the market today.”
The price that his final completed extruder will retail for has yet to be determined, as it depends on many factors. It currently works on any 3D printers that have bowden feeds, but Bondéus tells us that he is currently working on creating a way for it to work on 3D printers which have the extruder mounted to the XY carriage as well.
Bondéus takes pride in what he does, and has built this extruder concentrating on making the entire 3D printing process an easier and better one. The Bondtech V2 has very high “pushing force” ensuring that extrusion is always precise, and providing for a “perfect” surface quality on prints. It utilizes two counter-rotating feed wheels, which eliminates the risk of grinding the filament. He also built this extruder so that filament would not slip, skip or experience deformation because of friction between the material and the bowden tube. Utilizing a Nema17 stepper motor, along with a planetary gearbox, ensures that the extruder has plenty of torque while also featuring high extrusion precision.
What do you think of Bondéus’ extruder? Would you consider using one on your 3D printer? Have you had the chance to beta test a unit yet? Discuss in the Bondtech Extruder V2 forum thread on 3DPB.com. You can see some videos showing a previous iteration of the Bondtech extruder below.
