IMG_1113

My first attempt at making a reprap plastic extruder.

This is a B&Q MIG welding tip. It is approximately 25mm long and 6mm wide. I've drilled a 3mm hole down the center for about 23mm leaving a nozzle 2mm thick and 1mm diameter.

I then covered it with Kapton tape which is a high temperature insulator, and will let me wrap uninsulated nichrome wire around it. This will be teh heater. Further coverign that with Kapton tape and attaching a thermistor or a thermocouple should allow me to measure the temperature.

As the screw thread on the end of the tip is M6 I'll need to find a sutible material to tap to M6 and then simply screw in. I was thinking PEEK or PTFE.