VERT？CAL EKSTRUS？ON (FILAMENT) SYSTEM DESIGN AND PROTOTYPING

The aim of this study is to design a desktop and small scale extruder which works on vertical axis and produces filaments using thermoplastic granules. Thermoplastic materials were moved into nozzle by screwed shaft in designed extruder. After granules were melted at the outlet of the nozzle by heating band, 1.75mm diameter filaments were produced and cooled by fan. Flowing of the melted plastic materials was achieved without any external force due to the natural gravity when the extruder placed on vertical axis. Arduino control card, stepped motor and sensors that measures the length of the filaments were used to control and trigger the reel holder of the filaments. Produced PLA filaments by this extruder and commercial PLA filaments were used to print tensile test specimens and tensile experiments were performed with these specimens. Consumed electrical power per hour, produced amount of the filaments and consumed energy per raw material were measured