Frostruder MK2
Description
The way it works is pretty simple: The frostruder is basically a syringe connected to a pressure source, typically an air compressor. There are two solenoid valves to control the pressure: a 'Pressure' and a 'Relief' valve. When the Pressure valve is on, the syringe is connected to the main pressure source and that pressure forces out whatever paste material is in the syringe. When you wish to stop the extrusion, the Pressure valve is closed, and the Relief valve is opened. This part is critical because even after the Pressure valve is closed, the syringe is still pressurized. By opening the relief valve, the pressure is released and the Frostruder stops extruding almost immediately.
The frostruder is capable of extruding nearly anything with a paste-like consistency. There are many materials to possible, from food based items to awesome engineering resins. So far, we've had success extruding the following materials:
* Frosting
* Peanut butter (creamy)
* Jelly / Jam
* Nutella
* Clay
* Silicone
* Epoxy
Instructions
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I just cut one of these out in order to modify it to fit an alternate variety of pneumatic relay (still 100 psi and 12V) - I'll post the mods as a derivative once I get the back and sides suitable modded.
In the meantime, here's a tip to anyone who makes one of these from these DXF files... it's mentioned in the assembly instructions on the Makerbot blog, but the mounting holes for the Extruder Controller are ever so slightly off. You'll want to check the four 3mm holes and shift a pair of them a
fraction of a millimeter or you'll have some drilling/filing to do after the cut.
House Paint??
Hi All,
I have no experience with 3D printing (but I have built a CNC router).
Would it seem with the realm of possibility that I could use the Frostruder to lay down a layer of regular latex paint? Sorta like a crude inkjet printer?
Now if we had a heated frostruder with a conveying screw, we could print with *almost anything really* with the same toolheads - ABS pellets? Chocolate? Clay? Whether you need to heat it or not, whether it is solid or liquid before extrusion, ... oh the infinite possibilities.
I've purchased this to explore extruding liquid ABS. Apparently, liquid ABS was used back in the RepRap days. Liquid ABS is made by mixing acetone with ABS. The main reason for going this route is because I can't get my hot extruder to work properly. Plus, the smell of burning and smoking ABS is very unpleasant. Here is a link: http://blog.makezine.com/archi...
Wish me luck!
i investigated liquid abs around 2006 as well, but there are a few major downfalls. 1. the acetone takes quite a while to evaporate. 2. acetone has a REALLY strong smell. think rubbing alcohol but 3x worse. 3. acetone is really flammable. so is ABS. together they are captain flammable.
good luck and be safe!
I've build an extruder following the Frostruder MK2 design but with a single Solenoid and one that fits a Bits from Bytes Rapman. The goal is to extrude clay and build ceramic object.
You can follow the progress here: unfoldfab.blogspot.com
Hi Makerbots, I'm trying this out and am getting some solenoid valves. Any reason you used two 2/2 valves instead of a single 3/2 valve? Most probably they where around no?
How thick of a substance can it handle? I saw that it was extruding clay but i would think the clay is pretty watered down.
This thing lacks only a valve or two to transform the cupcake into a liquid handling system. This is brilliant.
I do have enough air tanks to do this reliably.... I do want it. Mmmmm please has.
More from MakerBot
Lately I have been inspired by project Shellter and have been burning ideas on my heated build platform of a brain. I would like to experiment with the frostruder and try out plaster, clay or even ceramic based materials. I was hoping to find the original frostruder some where, but I guess there are reasons for the MK2 successor. I can't justify the costs at the moment, but maybe this could be a good project to laser at my hacker space. I also have a few other projects on hand too, so this may be on the burner for a bit...