QUALUP SAS

Compensating for variations in filament diameter is essential to guarantee the quality and reproducibility of 3D parts.

The manufacturing tolerances of filaments can vary by +/-0.05mm, resulting in a 12% variation in volume between the maximum and minimum of these tolerances.

For technical filaments such as PEEK, PEKK, PEI, PPSU,... some manufacturers even advertise tolerances of +/- 0.10mm, which means that the filament can vary by 24% in volume!

Although these variations in volume are generally well tolerated when using standard filaments such as PLA or PETG, they can cause considerable problems with technical filaments.

Filament extruders control the flow rate in "mm equivalent", which makes it impossible to obtain reproducible prints of consistent quality with such variations in volume.

The sketch above shows the variation in extruded volume for 1 mm of filament, with minimum and maximum tolerances.

A simple percentage calculation shows that the volume variation is 12% (varies between 2.5446 and 2.2698mm3) between 1.80mm and 1.70mm (+/- 0.05mm) and 24% (varies between 2.688 and 2.1382mm3) between 1.85mm and 1.65mm (+/- 0.10mm).

These variations in volume cause under-extrusions or over-extrusions which affect the quality of the part by systematically degrading the inter-layer bonds, strength, dimensions, fill ratio, surface finish, mass, etc.

CERTIFY THE QUALITY OF YOUR PRINTED PARTS

A Qu4-HT equipped with QuControl guarantees the quality of your 3D printed parts, regardless of variations in filament diameter.
Thanks to our system, you can ensure the reproducibility of 3D printed parts.

Once you have achieved the desired properties for the part in the pilot phase, you can be sure that subsequent parts will be absolutely identical (same strength, same mass, same adhesion between layers, etc.).
Indeed, even if a machine records all the printing parameters such as nozzle temperature, chamber temperature, bed temperature, volume flow rate, etc. and generates complete and documented print reports, it is impossible to guarantee the print quality of two identical parts if you do not control the extruded volume.

QuControl is a device that continuously measures the diameter of the filament during 3D printing.
To do this, it takes diameter measurements in two perpendicular planes every second.

From these measurements, it calculates the ovality and average cross-section of the filament.

Simultaneously with the diameter measurements, QuControl queries the Qu4-HT's motherboard to find out what length was extruded at the time of the diameter measurement.

From this information, it calculates the volume compensation to be sent to the Qu4-HT and determines at what extruded length it should send this compensation according to the distance between the measurement point and the extruder drive rollers.
When the extruded length reaches this value, the Filament Control sends the compensation via a G code, which is immediately executed by the machine, thus adjusting the material flow according to the actual filament cross-section.

In short, QuControl makes it possible to adjust the quantity of extruded material in real time to guarantee consistent quality 3D printing.

By using QuControl, you can actually certify the printed parts or the production batch, by providing a pdf document with the parts certifying that the variations in filament diameter have been compensated for.

This allows you to ensure that 3D printing is carried out in the best possible way and that there are no variations in the process that could weaken the mechanical properties of the printed part.

What's more, complete and true traceability of the printed parts is provided because all the printing parameters have been recorded.

This also improves the reliability of the printed parts because the inter-layer bonds are constant, the dimensions are constant, the fill rate is constant and guaranteed, the mass is constant, etc.

1 - Certification of the printed part and supply of a document certifying compensation for variations in filament diameter.

2 - Guarantee of optimum printing with no variations that could affect the mechanical properties of the printed part.

3 - Complete traceability of printing parameters for each part.

4 - Increased reliability of printed parts, with constant interlayer bonds, guaranteed dimensions and fill rate, and constant mass.

Designation	Values
Measuring range	Ø1.50 / Ø2,0mm
Number of measurement axes	2 (perpendicular)
Number of measurements made simultaneously (per axis)	Measurements at a frequency of 500 Hz
Calculation of the average cross-section	Yes
Ovality control	Yes
Resolution	< 0.1 µm
Repeatability (3Sigma)	+/-0.07µm (Mean Time : 1 second)
Measurement accuracy	Better than +/- 0.8µm
Calibration	At the factory
Automatic dust detection	Yes
Automatic detection of erroneous measurements	Yes
Maximum measurement frequency	50 Hz
Operating temperature	15 to 45°C
Control and calculation software	Windows / Linux
Internet Of Thing	RJ45
Control interface accessible on the network	WEB Browser
Recording of measurements during printing	HTML & Excel compatible print report
Connection to the machine: Bayonet connector	PTFE Tube OD. 4.0, 5.0, 6.0
Power supply	220V – 2A

ENSURE THE QUALITY OF YOUR 3D PRINTS WITH OUR FILAMENT MEASUREMENT AND VOLUMETRIC COMPENSATION SYSTEM DURING PRINTING: QuControl

CERTIFY THE QUALITY OF YOUR PRINTED PARTS

Innovation

HOW DOES OUR FILAMENT MEASUREMENT AND VOLUME COMPENSATION SYSTEM WORK?

PRECISION :

PRODUCTION OF A PRINT REPORT EACH TIME A PRINT JOB IS LAUNCHED

IN SUMMARY, THE FOUR KEY BENEFITS OF QuControl

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS