1/16 Scale FrankenDiff

[ddmckee54]

I "WAS" going to print out a new lower die for the U-bolt bender, so I could try my idea of using the brass tubing to protect the threads when bending the legs. My printer had other ideas though, I got a plugged nozzle on the 2nd or 3rd layer.

I changed the nozzle and started another print, about half way through it jammed again. This time it took out the PTFE liner. This is the second time in about a month that I've had to change that liner, and I didn't have any more spares. I ordered some more liners, and some new nozzles, and they have arrived. I'm going to just pitch the remainder of that roll of filament, It was several years old anyway. I had something similar happen a few years ago, only that was a brand new spool. When I changed the filament all the problems went away.

I've used old filament before, usually with no problems. I normally store any left-over filament in a zip-lock bag, and I'll throw a couple of desiccant pouches in with the filament. I usually don't have any problems doing this. However I have noticed that if the filament is a year or two old or more - it does tend to break in the feed tube to the extruder. Especially towards the end of the roll. It won't break while printing, but if the printer sits for a couple of days there's apparently enough stresses built up in the filament to cause it to break.

Bottom line - the plugged nozzle, the bad PTFE liner, AND the rest of that roll of filament are going to be introduced to the trash can when I put in the new parts.

Don

[ddmckee54]

Christmas miracles do still happen - sorta.

Yesterday, 12/23/24, I received an odd shaped package in the mail, in it were 6 axles for WLToys 12428/12423 1/12 cars. I ordered these axles in mid September. A few days after the delivery window had ended I contacted the seller telling him that the order hadn't arrived. According to the tracking records it was delivered into the hands of the "Final mile" shipper in mid to late October - and hadn't moved since. The seller contacted the shipper requesting them to search for the package. About a week later, with no response from the shipper, I asked the seller to refund my money - which he did on 11/19/24.

Then yesterday the axles showed up, the package had been obviously opened and resealed. The package was tagged as inspected by US Customs. I contacted the seller and told him that the axles, for which he had already refunded $87.76 to me, had finally arrived. I told him that I had received the refund in mid-November and asked him to send me an invoice for the $87.76 that had been refunded. So that I could pay him for the axles.

Today I got an e-mail from the seller thanking me for my honesty. He also told me that they couldn't access the refund from their end, so I should just forget about the money and to have a nice Christmas.

Small Christmas miracles do still happen.

Don