Anyone know where I can get clear (seethru) filament guide tubes ?

[curious aardvark]

The black ones are okay. But it would be useful to see the filament in the tubes in case it breaks.
Which it did earlier and even though I was sittingn next to the printer I didn;t realise it was printing in mid air.
If the feed tube was transparent I'd probably have noticed.

Just seems like a good idea.

[jaykay2PT]

car screenwasher tubing?

[jfkansas]

I would just get some PTFE. It is translucent and should be able to see the filament inside. You want to avoid any tubing that has friction like vinyl since it can stress your steppers trying to pull filament up. I've had a tangle do something similar, the stepper drive gear just ate a chunk out of the filament and it sat there air printing for an hour or two. In that case the filament tube would always have material in it. There are also filament monitors that detect an out of filament situation and auto pause the print.

[curious aardvark]

yeahbut I don't want to get complicated just fancied some see thru tubing.
ptfe. Right, I'll have a look.

[jaykay2PT]

I can see where the other poster is coming from, and he is right, we know that PTFE is OK because it is in the nozzle area, try this guy on Ebay, he is in Italy but I have found him to be both speedy & reliable
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PTFE-TUBO-...-/231336297634

hope this helps

[curious aardvark]

actually found wedo3dprinting on ebay. 1 metre lengths for about £3.50 inc p&p

Going to check length and diameters first.
But should be fine :-)

Okay for the record.
6mm outer, 4mm interior
and 60cm, bloody would be wouldn't it, when it's sold in 1 metre lengths :-)

Ah but there's 7cm at the back that I can just connect to the ne tube.
So I'll try 50 cm lengths first :-)

[RNeil]

In the US, we have Tygon tubing in the plumbing section of the hardware store.

[jfkansas]

I would use some PFA, It is a combo of PTFE and FEP and is more transparent than PTFE, and cheaper. Tygon would have too much friction that will stress the motor.

[sasabs]

would these materials maintain the arc that is set into the black tubing?

[sasabs]

Amazon has 2mm ID PTFE at a good price. They also have same tubing as a replacement part for some 3d printers