Retrofit Filament Loader for 3D Printers
Team Members Heading link
- Maria Bortolaso
- Marco Bucio
- Emma Hoyt
- Jacob Key
- Zachary Sablay
Advisor: Atif Yardimci, PhD
Sponsor: Mark One SRL
Project Description Heading link
Just as 2D printers require cartridge replacement after ink levels have depleted, 3D printers require reel replacement after filament is expended. This limitation provides an opportunity for minimizing time to print, as well as reducing operating costs concerning manual labor for conventional filament reel replacement. The Mark One Filament Loader is a retrofit device that removes interruptions to 3D printing operations by serving as an automated filament loading solution. It consists of an inductive sensor that relays information about the presence of filament and signals several motors to run filament through the device housing according to commands provided by an accompanying Arduino. The device is designed to be scalable for other 3D printer models and to accommodate multiple filament sizes for an individual printer. Due to time and resource constraints, the prototype could not be tested for dual reel system integration. Future work can be conducted to finalize the prototype by integrating simultaneous dual reel loading as originally intended. The main considerations for the prototype focused on hardware integration, process automation, and manufacturability.
See supporting documentation in the team’s Box drive.