Flow Meters for extruders

Coriolis Flow Meters for Screw Pellet Extruders: Accurate Flow Measurement for 3D Printing

If you're searching for a high-precision flow measurement solution for your screw pellet extruder, a Coriolis flow meter could be the ideal choice. These meter devices provide real-time mass flow and density data for molten thermoplastics, ensuring consistent extrusion in 3D printing applications.

Why Use a Coriolis Flow Meter in a Pellet Extruder?

Screw pellet extruders for 3D printing require accurate flow monitoring to maintain print quality, prevent under/over-extrusion, and optimize material usage. Coriolis flow meters offer:

Direct mass flow measurement – No need for viscosity or temperature compensation
High accuracy (±0.1% to ±0.5%) even at high viscosity liquid– Critical for consistent extrusion rates
No moving parts design – Minimal pressure drop, no moving parts flow sensor
Multi-parameter data – Measures mass flow, total flow , density, and temperature simultaneously  .
Stainless steel flow meter, 316L material -Compatibility with shear-thinning thermoplastics (PLA, PETG, ABS, etc.)

Key Applications in 3D Printing Extrusion

Coriolis flow meters are ideal for:
- Precision extrusion control in pellet-fed 3D printers
- Monitoring material consumption to reduce waste
- Closed-loop extrusion systems for consistent layer deposition
- Research & development in advanced polymer extrusion

Challenges & Solutions for Extruder Flow Measurement

Challenge	Coriolis Meter Solution
High-temperature molten plastics (200–240°C) In individual cases	Flow sensor can max bear 350 °C
Shear-thinning viscosity (2000m pa.s–3,000 Pa·s)	No matter how thick or thin your molten plastic is, our flow meters deliver precise measurement as long as it keeps flowing
Low flow rates or high flow rate	Different flow sensor sizes from 1mm to 8 inches，from 10 kilogram per hour to 100 ton/hr or even higher.
Space constraints near nozzle	Compact designs , no straight pipeline before and after molten thermoplastics flow meter.

Choosing the Right Coriolis Meter for Your Extruder

When selecting a Coriolis flow meter for a single-screw pellet extruder, consider:
✔ Flow range of molten thermoplastics,below we list our mass flow meter and corresponding flow range for molten plastic.

Coriolis flow meter sensor size	Flow range for molten thermoplastics
1 mm	0~10 kg/h
2 mm	0~70 kg/h
3 mm	0~150 kg/h
6 mm	0~200kg/h
10 mm	0~1.5 T/h
15 mm	0~3.0 T/h
20 mm	0~7.0 T/h
25 mm	0~13 T/h
40 mm	0~22 T/h
50 mm	0~33 T/h
65 mm	0~60 T/h
80 mm	0~100 T/h
100 mm	0~160 T/h
125 mm	0~230 T/h
150 mm	0~300 T/h

✔ Material compatibility (PLA, PETG, etc.)
✔ Temperature resistance
✔ pipeline size
✔ Molten thermoplastics viscosity
✔ Digital outputs for coriolis mass flow meter,such as 4-20mA analog output, pulse output, frequency output . HART ,Modbus RTU

Conclusion

For 3D printing pellet extruders, a Coriolis mass flow meter provides unmatched accuracy in measuring molten plastic flow. If you need a passive, inline flow sensor without driving the material, this could be the best solution for real-time extrusion monitoring.

Looking for a flow meter for your screw pellet extruder? Contact silverinstruments.com to find the best high-temperature, high-viscosity flow measurement solution for your 3D printing system!