Filement extrusion machine upgrade for composite materials

Za izdelavo posebnih kompozitnih filamentov je bilo treba nadgraditi napravo za ekstruzijo filamenta. Problem pri takšnih napravah nastane zaradi velikih izgub materiala na začetku ekstrudiranja (preden se premer ustali) in pa pri vodnem hlajenju, ki lahko vpliva na kemijsko strukturo delčkov v kompozitnem filamentu (korozija). Cilj naloge je naprava, s katero bi lahko izdelovali kompozitne filamente v majhnih količinah s čim manj izgub materiala. Takšna naprava bi morala imeti zagotovljeno tudi hlajenje, ki bi onemogočalo korodiranje kompozitnega filamenta. Komercialen ekstruder smo nadgradili z ohišjem z ventilatorji za boljše hlajenje, nato zasnovali in izdelali podajalni mehanizem, mehanski 3-osni senzor debeline in mehanizem za navijanje koluta. Pri izdelavi smo uporabili različne odrezovalne tehnologije, 3D tisk, spajanje in lakiranje. Po izdelavi smo izdelali ustrezno strojno in programsko opremo za krmiljenje naprave. Na koncu smo napravo preizkusili z ekstrudiranjem PLA filamenta. Pri ekstrudiranju smo ugotavljali, kako različni parametri vplivajo na kakovost ekstrudiranega filamenta in jih temu primerno prilagajali. Ko smo ustrezno analizirali in nastavili parametre, smo ekstrudirali kakovosten filament.For the needs of manufacturing composite filaments, it was necessary to upgrade the filament extrusion machine. The problem with such devices arises from large material losses at the beginning of extrusion (before the diameter settles) and water cooling, which can affect the chemical structure of the particles in the composite filament (corrosion). The goal of the task is a device that could be used to produce composite filaments in small quantities with as little material loss as possible. Such a device should also be provided with cooling, which would prevent corrosion of the composite filament. We upgraded an comercial extrusion machine with a case with fans for better cooling and designed and manufactured a feeding mechanism, a mechanical 3-axis thickness sensor and a filament spool winding mechanism. We used various cutting technologies, 3D printing, welding and varnishing during production. After production, we created the appropriate hardware and software to control the device. When we finished the device, we tested it by extruding PLA filament. During extrusion, we determined how various parameters affect the quality of the extruded filament and adjusted them accordingly. After we analyzed and set the parameters accordingly, we extruded a quality filament