3D Printing Extruder: What is it?

In additive printing processes, the extruder or feeder for 3D printers is the part of the printer that is responsible for conveying ("feeding") the filament into the hotend. The molten filament is finely conveyed into the Teflon tube with the help of a so-called feeder screw, which is then heated in the hotend and ends downstream in the print nozzle, also known as the nozzle. Thanks to the continuous conveying of the filament, the material is pushed out and applied to the print bed via the print nozzle.

What components does an extruder for 3D printers consist of?

The extruder consists of a motor, the feeder screw, a metal spring and a ball bearing. Often you will also find a filament sensor on an extruder for 3D printers. This microswitch monitors whether there is currently filament in the extruder and sends a stop signal to the 3D printer if no filament is registered.