Variable Width Nozzle (Sculpman)

[HebigT]

Thought this was cool:

https://sculpman.com/technology

https://sculpman.com/product

[jens55]

Interesting concept but it's got a ways to go before it becomes practical. The three most glaring issues:

1. Slicers need to support the nozzle
2. How does this nozzle deal with abrasive filament and how do you clear a blockage?
3. How much weight does this add to the carriage?

[droftarts]

@jens55 We saw something similar at Formnext, and it worked well. I can't remember if it is the same company, or another. @dc42 or @T3P3Tony might know.

Ian

[deckingman]

Arguably, due to die swell, pretty much any nozzle is variable width.

[T3P3Tony]

Yeah they were at Formnext. Developing their own custom slicer, also have a rotary axis for the extruder so they can put the "thin" side of the nozzle into corners etc.

[o_lampe]

Where is heater and thermistor?

No more oozing is quite nice. You close the nozzle instead of retracting filament. That allows using remote Bowden tube extruders.

I only hope it works smooth at different nozzle temps and in heated chambers...so many different material expansion-rates to deal with.