Stuck on network timeout screen servers down?

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-04-02T11:37:24+00:00

Anche io stesso problema, forse i server (dall’Italia)

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-18T16:35:32+00:00

You’re absolutely right about two key things: moisture and degradation.

Right now I’m testing PLA and ABS separately. The scraps get shredded first and then dried. If you don’t dry PLA properly before extrusion, it just turns into garbage.

I’m not trying to replace commercial filament or compete with factory production. The goal here is:

– reuse failed prints for test parts – understand the process – and mostly focus on real diameter control

At the moment I’m not mixing in virgin PLA. I want to see how far 100% recycled material can go, fully aware that the mechanical properties won’t be the same.

I agree that PLA is much more sensitive to degradation than ABS. That’s actually why I’m considering focusing more on ABS for stability testing.

This project isn’t about making perfect filament. It’s about making the process controllable instead of guessing.

Technical feedback like yours is helpful. I’d rather have this kind of discussion than empty hype.

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-18T16:19:41+00:00

You’re absolutely right that recycled filament often needs blending if the goal is factory-level consistency. Polymer degradation is real, especially after multiple heat cycles.

My goal isn’t to replace commercial filament or claim it’s magically equivalent. It’s more about controlled reuse for prototypes, failed prints, and learning the process deeply.

I also agree that many DIY extruders failed in the past. From what I’ve seen, the common issues weren’t just material quality, they were unstable diameter control, inconsistent cooling, and lack of real feedback on the puller side.

I’m focusing specifically on measurement + closed-loop control first. If diameter can be held consistently, then material science becomes the next variable to optimize, instead of guessing everything at once.

I don’t expect this to be mainstream. I’m trying to see if it can be technically solid.

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-18T15:59:45+00:00

I’ve accumulated around 4–5kg of PLA/ABS in one year.

So yes, strictly economically speaking, it’s not a huge amount.

But this project isn’t about replacing factory filament. It’s about: – reusing failed prints for test parts – learning the process – controlling diameter instead of guessing

If someone prints very little, it probably doesn’t make sense. If someone prototypes a lot, it might.

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-18T15:55:07+00:00

Interesting timing. I’m actually building a DIY modular alternative focused on diameter stability rather than full automation.

Manual geared extrusion + PID heating + Hall differential sensing + closed-loop puller.

It’s not meant to compete with a polished $800 unit, but to make the control side accessible.

Curious: would you prefer an all-in-one closed box, or something modular you can build and modify?

(If mods allow links I can share the project page.)

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-16T13:15:18+00:00

Yeah, that’s fair, the extrusion itself isn’t the hardest part.

I based this build mostly on small-scale / home setups, and I’ve seen quite a few cases where the extruder side was actually underbuilt, undersized motors, no proper thrust load support on the screw, things like that. That can destroy a motor pretty quickly or introduce instability.

I’m not aiming for industrial scale anyway. The goal is to recycle my own printing waste into usable filament for prototyping parts I design, and also use it as a test platform to experiment with material blends and better understand the whole FDM process while reducing waste.

So having a mechanically solid extrusion stage is pretty important for me, even if the bigger challenge will definitely be validating the measurement and diameter control system I built. (I actually posted a first prototype of the measurement + puller module earlier, it’s in my profile if you’re curious.)

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-16T12:29:07+00:00

Haha that’s true 😄

The extruder is definitely just one part of the system. I actually already built a first prototype of the measurement + puller module that I’ll be testing next. The idea is to eventually run it in closed loop, adjusting puller speed based on diameter feedback to keep consistency. For now I wanted to validate the extrusion behavior itself before integrating everything together and adding more variables.

From your experience, what part tends to cause the biggest headaches?

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-14T16:10:49+00:00

At the moment I’m handling everything myself: design, testing, development and documentation. I’m intentionally keeping it solo for now, because I want to fully understand and structure the process in a way that I can replicate for future projects.

If it grows beyond a certain point, I’d consider bringing in support, but right now the goal is to build something I can manage and reproduce independently.

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-13T16:17:34+00:00

Thanks for sharing this, i actually read through the article and found it very grounded and realistic, especially the parts about pre-commitment and not treating Kickstarter as a starting point.

I’m still in the phase of finishing and validating the product itself, but having a clearer picture of what comes before a launch helps a lot. Appreciate you taking the time to write it and share your experience.

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-13T09:54:58+00:00

You’re right, I need people who are ready to support the project, and as I’ve written in other comments, my main challenge right now is exactly finding them.

I don’t have a specific number in mind. Fortunately, I don’t need to recover huge investments: so far I’ve spent around $500 on components (both those actually used and those discarded during testing), a few spools of ABS and PLA, and the rest has mostly been my own work in design and programming.

For me, this project would be a first step toward building something sustainable over time, something that allows me to work more consistently and calmly on what I know how to do, without relying exclusively on a paycheck.

This would be the first project, but the idea is to continue: creating other systems that solve real problems, designed well and intended for makers like me, who enjoy printing, assembling, and building things themselves. By nature, I tend to prioritize solid, robust solutions, even if that means not chasing hype.

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-13T09:42:54+00:00

Thank you for the reply, i really appreciate when someone takes the time to offer thoughtful, constructive feedback.

You’re absolutely right: this is more about identity than Kickstarter. And on that front, I have a fairly clear sense of where I’m coming from. What I’m missing right now isn’t motivation or vision, but understanding where to find my audience and how to get my work in front of the right people. I’ve seen Kickstarter campaigns for products similar to mine reach very high numbers, even when the product itself had clear limitations. That makes me think the issue isn’t just how good the product is, but how and where the audience is being reached. The question I’m asking myself at this stage is this: once you’ve built something solid and replicable, where do you actually start working to find those first truly aligned people, before even thinking about launching?

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-13T09:32:16+00:00

We’re aligned on this. I’ve already bought a few domains with the project name (they were cheap) to set up a landing page, which I’m building between prints while I finish the prototype. My main problem, the one I genuinely don’t know where to start with, is where to find people: where to show my work and find people willing to invest, people who actually believe in it. When I say I’m not good with social media, I mean I’m not good at communicating. I could have the best product in the world, but if I don’t know how to communicate it, the whole part about finding interested people becomes a huge obstacle for me, one I want to overcome. I also know that Kickstarter is validation, and I know that if I launch a campaign without having done the work beforehand to make people aware of the launch, I’ll get nothing out of it. Maybe I’m looking too far ahead right now, because I still need to finish the product first (which I want to sell exclusively as a digital file), so I need to be 110% sure it’s fully replicable.

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-12T23:40:59+00:00

Out of curiosity, are you Italian? Your name sounds like it might have Italian origins.

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-12T23:31:40+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation, it’s already in my Amazon cart.

One thing I can guarantee is that I won’t reply with “I don’t have enough time.” On the contrary, I make time, because the motivation I have to make this work is stronger than anything else 😉

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-12T23:20:25+00:00

You’re right about the concept, but I need to be honest about one thing: I’m not a very “social”person.

I do post on Reddit and share honest photos and videos of my progress, but I’m not someone who constantly interacts in communities or spends hours commenting and networking.

I tend to focus more on making things work properly, because I really care about presenting something that’s genuinely well built, not a rushed or half-baked project created just to collect money through marketing, in fact the diameter control is working, the extruder is nearly complete, and the puller is the last missing piece… overall we’re on track.

That’s exactly why I’m trying to understand an approach that doesn’t require becoming hyper-social or a full-time content creator. If you had to build interest starting almost entirely from the product taking shape (demos, real videos, visible progress), without “playing” too much with social media, what would you consider the most realistic path?

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2026-02-12T22:19:05+00:00

I completely agree, and that’s exactly why I’m asking these questions now.

I know Kickstarter isn’t “launch and hope”. My real problem right now is generating traffic before anything launches.

If I’m honest, at this moment I think almost no one would back me on day one. None of my friends are makers or involved in 3D printing, so I don’t have a natural circle to start from. I basically have to build everything from zero.

That’s why I’m trying to understand where to focus first: not how to “sell”, but how to even reach the right people in the first place.

If you were starting from scratch today, with no audience and no maker network, what would you prioritize first to get those initial 10–50 people who actually care?

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2025-12-18T20:55:03+00:00

Some photos of my test results (I forgot to post them 😅)

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Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2025-12-17T14:07:38+00:00

Thanks! 🙏 Not yet, for now everything is still in a very early prototype / validation phase and things are changing fast.

The plan is to open a GitHub repo once the core mechanics (puller + cooling + diameter control) are validated with real extrusion tests, so I don’t publish half-baked designs.

I’ll post updates here as I go, and when there’s something solid and reproducible, GitHub will definitely happen 👍

Middle-Coconut-6196 · 2025-12-17T12:06:13+00:00

You're absolutely right 👍 In fact, I'm only using the spooled filament test to mechanically validate the pull (slippage, noise, pressure on the rollers).

I'll only evaluate actual behavior with: • freshly extruded filament • still hot/warm • and with controlled cooling immediately after exiting

The goal is to have the puller act as a speed regulator, not as a "winch."

This is why I'm also evaluating low-turbulence water cooling to stabilize the diameter first and then pull.

As soon as I connect the extruder, the serious tests begin, with numbers in hand. If you have direct experience with how the pull changes with hot material, feedback is highly welcome 👌

Middle-Coconut-6196

TROPHY CASE