Andrew, so far I have arrived at this post on HydraRaptor
http://www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com/201 ... ruder.htmlWhere at the end he summarizes the following:
For an extruder to work I think the transition zone needs at least two of the following three attributes: short, slippery or tapered.
Ive had a bit of much needed rest, after revisiting the previous post,
I still think MBI left out the much needed aluminum outer shroud/tube type of element. Ive never used a makerbot, but my guess is that some of the jamming is due to the consumables expanding causing resistance. Maybe even some sort of backflow issue.
If thats not it, its got to be the reverse taper (draft angle).
This new post (plumbstruder) has got me thinking, I either need to break up the central barrel of my design (from the top down) into a Stainless Top Insert, Stainless Bottom Barrel with the heatsink being drilled at both ends leaving a center core section of aluminum for the two stainless pieces mentioned above to butt up against.
Or
Reverse Taper (Draft Angle) the internal dimension of the barrel. Both configurations still requiring a somewhat mirror finish I was originally intending.
Link of interest:
http://compounds.sbna-inc.com/index.php ... raft-angleBut the one thing I cant get my mind wrapped around is the new prusa hotend, or the pico for that matter. They seem to be for the most part, just one singular material. One not having a heatsink of any sort, unless you count the mounting plate that is recommended, one having a heatsink using one of the worst materials for dissipating heat?
I mean... if these actually work, it "almost" (but not quite) negates any tests done, hotend related on HydraRaptors blog. Which I dont think is the case frankly. My suspicion is that these newer hotends either work, in which case Im going to study a similar design so see exactly why, or they both eventually "soak" at some point with heat, which is not good. Im guessing they soak with heat, and will cause problems eventually.
So.. as a builder/someone who likes to tinker yourself... you know how this type of thing goes. I just gotta dive right in... Obtain my own potential variables. Develop my own understanding of those variables based on what "I" see.
If you could pm me, or post your specific initial thoughts on my design, I would greatly appreciate it. Im not looking for any pulled punches here, I will take it all. It may very well help me at some point while Im dicking around with this.