HOW IT’S MADE
01.
DEHUMIDIFYING & PELLET SELECTION
Before the production begins, it all starts with choosing the highest quality of polymer. Additionally, the basis of the whole process is a professional plastic processing knowledge. The polymer used for filament manufacturing is delivered as a colorless pellet. Extremely sensitive granulate particles should be carefully dried before extrusion. To dehumidify pellets are transported to a drying system using pneumatic feeders.
02.
COLOR MEASURING & AUTOMATIC COLOR DOSAGE
The final color of the filament is determined by the addition of pigment to the clear plastic granulate. During the manufacturing process, the color is being constantly measured and the pigment dosage is adjusted in real time according to the CIELAB ΔE metric. Should the color get out of acceptable tolerance anytime during the manufacturing, the spool is immediately discarded.
03.
EXTRUSION
The extrude is a key line element responsible for homogenization of the polymer. Pellet goes through several heated zones transported by plastification screws. That process allows material to melt and blend with color pigment or other additives. Controlled pressure is demanded to achieve homogeneous filament and constant diameter of the final product.
04.
COOLING
Cooling is a truly important part of the whole production process. It is necessary to sustain the temperature and purity of coolant, since those have significant influence on the final product. First cooling step called the „warm” bath prevents uncontrolled shrinkage of the material and surface quality. In the final step filament is fed into the cold water bath allowing efficient discharge of the heat from the strand.
05.
DIAMETER MEASUREMENT
During the production each 1 mm of filament is being continuously measured in 2 axes with ±0.8µm accuracy. To be sure that the measurement result is reliable we use certified laser meter devices designed by a worldwide known and reputable Swiss company. In the final step collected data is transported to our database which enables the end-user to check diameter online. Precise survey guarantees that our products meet rigorous market requirements.
06.
WINDING PROCESS
Winding quality is often underestimated, but everyone knows how important that factor is when it comes to 3D printing. Tangling of filament can be avoided only when the spool is neat and tidy, that is why we pay attention to that very last step of the production process.
07.
PACKING
Each filament spool is vacuum packed including silica gel desiccant. For vacuum packaging we use foil with ZIP lock, which allows the end-user to pack the filament precisely after using and prevent moisture absorption. Each spool contains information on the type of material, diameter and recommended printing temperature. At the end filament is placed in a cardboard box, which is additionally foiled.