Hassle Free PTFE Remover

A common issue faced whilst maintaining a Boden 3D printer is that of PTFE tube removal from the Heat breach coupling, especially with Lubricated Capricorn PTFE Tubes, and such process can lead to the damage of the 3D printer if not done with due care. This occurs to the waring of such tubing overtime especially with tight PTFE couplers, which are needed to ensure reliable printing.

The goal of the project is to design a convenient low-cost tool of which aids in the process of 3d printer PTFE Tube removal.

The Easy PTFE Removal Tool is a tool of which gives the user additional leverage to apply the decoupling force unto the PTFE tubing coupler to aid in PTFE removal and possesses two major design iterations.

This version is much more complex than its successor and utilizes a spring-loaded mechanism to grip the PTFE Tubing, whilst applying a Decoupling Force onto the PTFE Coupler.

The bill of materials consists of just the two jaws components, 2 m3 bolts, one m2 bolt and 3 compression springs of which act around a pivot in a similar rotational direction of the moment to press down on the PTFE coupler whilst gripping the PTFE tube.

This is the final version of which possesses a simplified design and comes ready to be used on the print bed.

Instead of the Spring-loaded design of its predecessor, in Version 2 the length of the tool handle was lengthened to allow for a greater moment of force to be applied manually. Along with such, a Hexagonal Profile was added to the lower section of the tools Jaw to prevent Rotational movement along the Radial axis of the PTFE Coupler whilst using the tool aiding its ease of use.

As such the bill of components only consists of the tool itself and performs more reliably in this form than its predecessor costing just 3 grams of material, hence only 6 cents USD.

In summation, this version of the tool aligns with the hex section of the coupler and allows you to push down directly onto the coupler release collar with greater mechanical advantage, over a larger surface area, with one hand.

In Conclusion, via the use of the 3D modelling and Design Software Fusion 360, a simple, reliable and cheap to manufacture Tool was designed and Manufactured of which augments the process of PTFE tube removal from the Coupler of a Boden designed 3D printer, making such process easier and safer with less risk of damage to the Hot end of the machine.

You can Find this model on Thingiverse Under The Hassle Free PTFE Removal Tool