This is a universal paste extruder for RepRap and other 3D printers. It allows you to experiment with various pastes on your 3D printer without the need for any air compressor equipment or valves etc.

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Description

Originally developed and shared 6th April 2012 -

This is a universal paste extruder for RepRap and other 3D printers.

It allows you to experiment with various pastes on your 3D printer without the need for any air compressor equipment or valves etc.
It simply uses the existing Extruder motor output from your printerâ€™s electronics.

It's designed to fit on my universal Quick-Fit X Carriage

And it will also fit on Prusa and Greg style X carriages.

7th-4-2012- Split and added Gear set on two plates for Cupcake and smaller build-bed machines.

11-April - Uploaded Sketchup Source files (sorry for the delay)
I challenge you to make one that works with 50ml Syringes! or do a fully parametric version in SCAD :)

And a very big thank you to Greg Frost (and derivatives) for the wonderful work done on the Parametric Involute Bevel and Spur Gears script, without this, the gear set would have taken me a lot more time to make.

An assembly video for the Universal Paste Extruder can be found here, giving you details of how to build one up -

You can print with Ceramic Clays, Silicone, Sugar pastes, solder paste for PCB assembly, Chocolate, Frostings, Masa Harina, and all sorts of other foodâ€™s or pastes that can be extruded through a syringe.

A Blog post on the Extruder is Here - richrap.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/universal-paste-extruder-ceramic-food.html

Printing with Sugar paste video -

Printing with Chocolate -

Printing with Porcelain Clay -

Printing with Masa Harina (Corn chips) -

Intro video -

Materials and methods

BOM -
1 x Print - Plastic Body V2 Extruder
1 x Print - Gear and drive set (small gear, medium gear, large gear, idler block, syringe pressure block
1 x NEMA17 motor
1 x T5 10teeth Metal drive Gear (you could print one of these)
4 x 624 Bearings
1 x 608 bearing
1 x 20mm M8 Smooth rod
1 x 55mm M4 Bolt
1 x 75mm M4 bar or bolt
1 x M4 Hex spacer (or M4 wingnut)
2 x M4 plain nuts
4 x M4 Nylock nuts
3 x M3 Nuts
2 x 20mm M4 bolts
5 x 10mm M3 bolts
4 x M3 washers
14 x M4 washers
3 x M3 nuts
1 or 2 x 45mm M3 bolts for Idler
1 or 2 x springs or Silicon pressure spacers for Idler
1 x small zip tie
1 x 5-6mm wide T5 belt ~about 40cm
1 x Plastic sheet