Cartridges Breaking / Lifespan? Haven't even emptied it yet

#1

How have everyone’s filament cartridges been holding up? I’m not even through half of my first 2 and both of them are breaking at the end that goes under the motor. One has cracked completely and won’t feed anymore, and the 2nd is about to go. I don’t really understand why these are called refillable if they can’t even run through their first spool worth of filament.

My main question is how can I use the filament leftover? I can’t just load it into another ‘refillable’ cartridge as they don’t last long enough to even empty one. These really seems like a terrible design, even if these cartridges were one use only they would still not make it to the end. I would love to bypass the cartridges entirely (I saw a few people mention skipping the whole bottom feed operation) but it is over my head right now.

#2

I printed the parts jpod posted on Thingiverse, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:611463 and I am using them along with his spool holder (slightly modified for a larger spool), http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:620809 to feed directly into the bottom feed motor on the Zim. I see there is another option now as J_Schmidt has posted a file for a replacement tip, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:689152 that can be glued onto a cartridge after the original one breaks.

#3

Thank you for those links, I knew I had seen them before but couldn’t find them. For operating the spool off the back, how would we bypass zeepro’s cartridge check? Or do we leave one in there at all times minus filament? I know it has a sensor at the tip by the motor to detect filament.

The other question I have is will the top motor be strong enough to pull filament off the back since it doesn’t have to snake its way through the printer? I’m pretty new to this but it’s really exciting being able to modify these printers using parts you print!

#4

Just unplug the bottom limit switch which detects the filament. You do have to leave a bottom plate with the RFID tag in the bottom to make the printer think something is there.

I have no problems with the top motor pulling off the back.

#5

I use the parts jpod created and the bottom of a cartridge for the RFID tag. I just hang a spool off the side and feed it in to the bottom where the cartridge normally feeds into.

#6

I tried printing the replacement nozzle today but it didn’t come out right. It looks to be building some small support beams at first on the left side but these get knocked over before the print is finished so I don’t get a useable piece. Does anyone have a suggestion? They are sticking pretty well but they are so small that they don’t stick forever.