While I’m waiting for parts, and the next thing to print, question for you folks who print PLA:
Do you use an oil filter and if so, what kind of oil and how much do you use?
What symptoms are you trying to alleviate with the oil and does it work?
I use a oil filter, mostly to help it glide though the extruder with out producing as much heat, and partly to remove dust. Works great, I use olive oil on a little piece of foam in a little screw together thing I found on thingiverse, I just dip one end of the sponge, however, the sponge is compressed a lot in the case, so it is probably saturated after conpression.
I use fishing reel oil. Usually 2-3 drops per print. It usually results in better feed properties, IMO. Keeping it from potentially snagging somewhere in the hot end, and allowing smoother prints, then again, it might just be “snake oil”
One of the options expressed elsewhere is to use a Dremel type buffing pad with a hole in the center. That eliminates the need for an enclosure, although one must install it prior to feeding the filament, of course.
I don’t use oil.
Never used oil, though had for awhile considered putting a filter on extruder for dust at least (but also never got around to it).
To me, it seems crazy to introduce anything into the hotend that isn’t the filament itself.
That oil has to be going somewhere, and no place I can think of it ending up (inside hotend, infused with plastic of print, etc) sounds good.
I used to “season” my hotend with oil regularly to get it to print reasonably well. It was really just a crutch - when I finally resolved the true underlying problems with my hotend and extruder, I didn’t need the oil and haven’t used it since. Oil is a quick workaround, I would recommend finding and fixing the real problem.
only real reason to consider oil is when trying to run PLA through steel, since it will want to stick to it. The oil will act as it would if you were cooking something and prevent it from sticking.
I have to agree with that.
When I added heatsink paste to my e3dv6 hotend heatbreak, my need for oil was eliminated. Oh, and the MK8 gear…
B3 includes a choke shell with a piece of foam inside. I tend to use a small square of paper towel folded several times and gently applied with a clip just to keep dust out of the hot end. I don’t use any oil. Also, make sure you’re not applying so much pressure at the hobb that you’re crushing the filament.