About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2025)
|
| Symposium
|
2025 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2025)
|
| Presentation Title |
Enhancing Flexible Filament 3D Printing Reliability With Motion-Decoupled Rolling Joints |
| Author(s) |
Ryo Takei, Jeffrey Lipton |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Ryo Takei |
| Abstract Scope |
Flexible filaments, such as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), enable fused filament fabrication (FFF) of compliant structures but are prone to extruder jams. To mitigate this, TPU filament is typically dried during printing using a filament dryer placed adjacent to the printer, requiring the shortest and straightest possible filament path to the extruder. However, conventional Bowden guide tubes introduce friction that increases exponentially as the bend radius decreases, leading to printing defects and reliability issues. We propose replacing traditional Bowden tubes with motion-decoupled rolling joints (DecoupLink) -- bearing-supported pulley modules adapted from cable transmission robotics -- that maintain a constant filament path length and tension regardless of toolhead position or movement. DecoupLink joints significantly reduce friction and feed-force variability, enabling smoother TPU extrusion and substantially decreasing the likelihood of clogging and other filament-related defects. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Post-meeting proceedings |