Custom Translucent Filament Creator

This is a custom filament creator allows you to make any color of translucent filament (1.75mm diameter) using either PLA or PETG. This filament works by printing a shell of translucent plastic (I recommend clear or light color translucent filament) and a small core of opaque colored filament which creates the illusion that the whole filament is the same translucent color. Printed custom filament (left) and extruded custom filament (right) below:

Print Profile Details:

• The first print profile makes ~4.6m/13g of filament and uses AMS

• The second print profile makes ~8.8m/26g of filament and uses AMS

   

• Each of the above print profiles includes 2 plates:

1. A single color core
2. A double color core (colors will mostly blend together as seen in the model images)

• The Third print profile includes a cylinder with varying wall thickness and no infill to test translucent-ness

   

Instructions:

Once you have printed the model, use flush cutters to remove both mouse ears/cylinders from the ends of the filament. Make sure to also remove any burrs or strings on the filament before printing with it (could cause blockages)

For those without an AMS that still want to print this model: Unfortunately (as of the time of posting this model) Bambu Studio doesn't allow for mid layer printing pauses. So some solutions to get around this and print a single color core are: 

• Start printing with the translucent shell color, pause the print at the beginning of layer 5 for the core color filament, then pause again at the beginning of layer 6 for the rest of the translucent shell (result will be slightly more opaque)
• Start printing with the translucent shell color, pause the print at the beginning of layer 5 for the core color filament, then pause manually at around gcode line 41699 (on layer 5) for the rest of the translucent shell

Note that these solutions might not work exactly as stated if print settings or layer height are changed

Disclaimers:

1. You need 1 transparent filament for this project to work.
2. PLA shells need PLA cores, PETG shells need PETG cores (different types of materials will not melt at the same temp and may not stick to each other).
3. Good bed adhesion is required for the filament to print well. I recommend using either the BambuLabs Supertack plate (or similar plates) or glue on a PEI plate. If that does not work, try slowing down the print/layer time.
4. I have tested the print profile and have not ran into any errors with clogging/jamming in the printer, this does not mean it is not a risk though. Use this model with caution and monitor printing.
5. This filament is not a replica of any translucent filaments made by any filament producers (Ex. Bambulab's translucent PLA), so do not expect the same results when printing with it. Quality / appearance of the custom filament will most likely be similar to that of the filament it was printed in.

Thanks Henlor (https://makerworld.com/en/@Henlor) for giving me permission to use their spiral filament display model (based off of Bambu's) to display the filament in this project, the model can be found here: https://makerworld.com/en/models/222844-bambu-lab-filament-display-spiral-ball-model#profileId-240884