Particles on Prusament Spools
On several Prusament spools, I found black particles. The first and second time, I was not sure if the particles were already on the spool when I took it from the vacuum-sealed package. Now, when I opened a new spool of Prusament PETG signal white, I carefully examined the spool just after opening the package.
Indeed I found these particles on the outside of the spool. There were more at the bottom. I took a few of these particles and looked at it using a microscope:
Sorry for the bad image quality, I took a photo from the display of the microscope.
The ID for this spool is: ec80a70
The particles are always black and only at the outside of the spool, never between the windings.
I had several times problems with a clogged nozzle, but always just when I started a new spool. So I wonder if this could be the reason why.
I write this, just to let you know you may have an quality issue in your filament production at the packaging stage. Probably other users found these particles on their spools too?
Best,
-LR
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
This is a user - user forum rather than an official support forum. I suggest you contact support directly to make them aware. If you use the web chat on the e-shop page you'll get a quick response, email will take a little longer as they are very busy after the black Friday sales rush.
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
@gordon-w
Hi Gordon!
Indeed, I agree and I will do this for sure. The reason why I posted this to the forum is to make other users aware of the particles. It may be my phrasing was not ideal. Either nobody else found these particles on new spools, or others found them too. In any case, it would be a win to get a better assessment of the situation. 😄
Best,
- LR
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
I just had a look at two unopened spools. An spool with black PETG about 2 weeks newer than yours and a spool with orange PETG about 2 weeks older than yours.
The black is hard to see without opening it, but don't see anything in both spools.
Were the spools you had problems with before of the same batch?
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
I had the same thing on a spool of Signal White PETG I had delivered a couple of weeks ago.
It ended up in the middle of the surface of a white print before I realised. 🙁
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
@luckresistor If you received a lot of it, see if you can ship it back to get a replacement. They should thank you if you do: that way they can study the contamination and trace-back where it came from. If I were them, I'd even pay for return shipping, because it would be cheap compared to a lost customer.
Case in point: I noticed a similar sort of thing, only far worse, on a spool of PETG made by 3D warehouse: gobs of dust/fluffy detritus/who-knows-what throughout it. Definite jam potential, so why take the risk? I returned it (to amazon) and won't ever be buying that brand again, even if it were free.
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
@baklin
Were the spools you had problems with before of the same batch?
No, not really. One was the new PLA "Oh my Gold", and one a PETG signal white I bought with my printer. To be fair, I didn't pay too much attention here. I just believe the particles were already on the spool because my workshop is quite clean. I discovered them when I loaded the filament in the printer. So I cannot know for sure.
Also, the particles are well visible on the white filament. They may be very hard to find on the black filament.
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
@dimprov
If you received a lot of it, see if you can ship it back to get a replacement. They should thank you if you do: that way they can study the contamination and trace-back where it came from. If I were them, I'd even pay for return shipping, because it would be cheap compared to a lost customer.
I just pay much more attention to the surface of new spools and brush and pick any large particles I find from the spool. The filament itself is perfect, so I do not see any problems here.
It's just: Josef Prusa seems like a perfectionist to me. He would not want to have black particles on his perfectly wound spools, doesn't he? 😀
Most likely its a problem at the last stage of the production process, when the filament gets cut or something. Probably they need to clean this machine more often.
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
Just a question .... do you not use a filament wiper on your feed line before it gets into the PTFE tube?
I do and its surprising just how mucky the sponge gets as the filament is dragged through.
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
@steves
Just a question .... do you not use a filament wiper on your feed line before it gets into the PTFE tube?
I started using one after I had multiple times problems with a clogged nozzle. This should actually be part of the 3d printer. 😀
RE: Particles on Prusament Spools
@luckyresistor
this is what i use and you can see the crap its cleaned off. I usually clean it after a couple of prints. tried a couple of different holders and prefer this one.