Story of a beginner, constant filament extrusion, always curling and sticking to my nozzle  

Story of a beginner, constant filament extrusion, always curling and sticking to my nozzle

Hi guys,

new here since tonight. I just finished building my MK3S a week ago, had issues with calibration but made it. This is my first 3D printer so I know absolutely nothing about this, really !!! I decided to build it after reading some reddit posts saying that I would understand more how it works by building it myself. Took me a week doing this when my kid was asleep and now it's running, but that's it. It does everything but printing right. I did manage to print the prusa logo and bottle opener between a lot of fails. Now I cant start a print without a big mess.                           

I need your help understanding some basic things, looking at youtube videos with people that already know everything helped a little but I can't find direct answers to my questions. I am only using PLA, started with prusa filament out of the printer box, tried 3 different brands after my first fails (nearly all my prints) with same exact result. I used only PLA settings from the printer (Nozzle and bed heat) and tried the models on the SD card, then some prints from other website that i converted to gcode using PrusaSlicer. This is the only way i found to print from the SD card by the way.

1 - Is it normal that PLA is always coming out of my nozzle, i mean while it is heating, and continuously dropping from it after it's at 215 degree. What happens is when I start printing, while it's calibrationg the 9 points, it rolls and get stuck on my nozzle (every single time) and then I know I'm in deep trouble. The print is gonna get ruined (100% of the time).

2 - Is it possible that my nozzle is already clogged (using 0.4mm that came with it), I didnt even printed a complete bungie yet, can't finish it without failure, and how did this clog happened ? I did try several cold pulls using PLA, found nothing that look like dirt inside the nozzle, perfect print of the nozzle, don't have nylon or cleaning filament to test with. By the way, if someone can suggest me a link to buy some nylon, everyone say use nylon but what nylon ? Do i have to buy a complete roll at 50 bucks to get some  or can i get a small roll like cleaning filament?

3 - I found "1" video that really explained how to do my 1rst layer : lowering Z-axis until i can't move the PLA from my bed, just rolling my finger without applying force, am I right ? Do i need to lower it a little more after it stick to the plate ? I'm using the textured powdered-coated plate that came with my printer.

4 - I did break PLA at second cold pull, got filament stuck inside, got it out with plyers using the access door on the right side, then noticed long filament lines following my filament when changing color. Finally got a clog inside, heated at 285 degree, then used the small allen key to push it down and did 2 cold pulls after that, got the dirt out then nothing on the second pull. Filament is still dropping continously and rolling on my nozzle.

I really really want to love this new hobby but right now I can't even do anything except wasting PLA (i wasted more doing cold pulls than printing), searching for answers everywhere and rolling my eyes in my head when iI try something new that is not working. I already ordered new nozzles but I dont know if it will help, filament could have been stuck inside my PTFE tube but it's not explaining why PLA is always leaking from the tip of the nozzle.

I seriously hope that someone will have answers for me, if not i'll have 7 different color rolls 1.1kg PLA that will sit there, along with my headache and my unhappy kid that really want his pikachu print. And if one day I can start printing, I'll need to know what a printing profile is and how to use it. Yeah i'm far from there I know. If any of you can point me in the right direction to learn what I really need to know about 3D printing, I'll take any suggestion.

SuperNOOB thank you in advance.