Prusament Quality Control  

RE: Prusament Quality Control

No had a single bad spool.  Sounds like bad luck.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

It is impossible for a spool to tangle unless it has been mishandled. While that might happen at the factory, the odds of 3 different Prusament spools being mishandled are slim. I suggest you review your spool handling procedures and make sure the end does not pop loose during handling. Be sure the loose end is secured for storage. 

RE: Prusament Quality Control

I actually printed clips for securing the filament on the reel. Every reel has a different spool, and finding the right clip was a nuisance. Just sticking the end of the filament in one of the reel holes (put there for that purpose) works well. Does not even damage the end of the filament.

A loose filament pretty much guarantees a tangle. Stuff has a mind of its own, and some times it does not show up for twenty turns.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

I just stick the loose end into one of the holes in the spool; works like a charm.  And had an interesting discussion with a gent who swore he had several of these "loop unders" in a single spool; I tried to explain why they are impossible mid spool... finally had to give up.   

I lost an end of filament once, luckily discovered it before the print failed, but it took me a while to find the "right" loop and untangle the mess I had made.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

I use binder clips. One-size-fits-all and they're handy for clipping the filament to the top of the frame when doing work.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

I built the Lack enclosure. I only use one roll at a time, and I have a ball bearing filament holder on top.

The filament feeds through a double ended funnel (only contacts the center), and has never popped out.

So I leave the filament loose inside the enclosure.

Off topic question for Bob: If I leave the printer for long, I always unload the filament figuring that would help avoid jams.

Do you leave the filament in the hot end (like overnight) or unload it?

RE: Prusament Quality Control

Posted by: bobstro

I use binder clips. One-size-fits-all and they're handy for clipping the filament to the top of the frame when doing work.

Best and the simplest option.  I do the same thing. 

I have also used a piece of duct tape. 

RE: Prusament Quality Control

Posted by: rmm200

[...] Off topic question for Bob: If I leave the printer for long, I always unload the filament figuring that would help avoid jams.

Do you leave the filament in the hot end (like overnight) or unload it?

It depends on the filament, and honestly, the cost of the filament. If it's something special (e.g. Colorfabb nGen), I try to take it off an pack it in a sealed bag with desiccant. If it's cheap PLA, I tend to just leave it if loaded. I sometimes go out of town on business and realize I left something loaded for a week.

I did get a PrintDry last Christmas, so can always dry stuff out if needed, but I do try to avoid needing to do so.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

I wasn't asked, but my home hovers in the 30-35% RH category ... and filament inside plastic bags with fresh desiccant hovers around 15-20% RH.  I leave filament on the printer for days, and have left filament on for weeks (intermittent printing).   I generally don't have print issues I can genuinely verify as moisture issues.  So in my specific case, the filament I use is pretty robust.  But I still pack it away when I plan on being idle for more than a day or two.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

Posted by: rmm200

I actually printed clips for securing the filament on the reel. Every reel has a different spool, and finding the right clip was a nuisance. Just sticking the end of the filament in one of the reel holes (put there for that purpose) works well. Does not even damage the end of the filament.

A loose filament pretty much guarantees a tangle. Stuff has a mind of its own, and some times it does not show up for twenty turns.

If you want a printable filament clip, I found these on youmagine:  http://www.youmagine.com/designs/1168  There are STL files for both 3mm and 1.57mm filaments.

These clip to the filament, not to the spool, so it doesn't matter what type of spool you use, and keeps the sharp-pointy end down against the spool windings and away from the plastic bag (to avoid poking through). I clip the open end under the 2nd to last loop, and then insert the filament end into the closed clip end. (See the 2nd picture on the design page.) I've also found that the open end of the clip slides on the filament enough so I don't remove it while printing so I don't loose the clip. These print pretty quickly unless you do as I did and print off a double fist-full at once.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

Posted by: Sembazuru

Posted by: rmm200

I actually printed clips for securing the filament on the reel. Every reel has a different spool, and finding the right clip was a nuisance. Just sticking the end of the filament in one of the reel holes (put there for that purpose) works well. Does not even damage the end of the filament.

A loose filament pretty much guarantees a tangle. Stuff has a mind of its own, and some times it does not show up for twenty turns.

If you want a printable filament clip, I found these on youmagine:  http://www.youmagine.com/designs/1168  There are STL files for both 3mm and 1.57mm filaments.

These clip to the filament, not to the spool, so it doesn't matter what type of spool you use, and keeps the sharp-pointy end down against the spool windings and away from the plastic bag (to avoid poking through). I clip the open end under the 2nd to last loop, and then insert the filament end into the closed clip end. (See the 2nd picture on the design page.) I've also found that the open end of the clip slides on the filament enough so I don't remove it while printing so I don't loose the clip. These print pretty quickly unless you do as I did and print off a double fist-full at once.

 

That is a unique manner.  Most of them I have seen attach the filament end to the spool.  

RE: Prusament Quality Control

I appreciate all your suggestion.  I already make sure the filament end will not tangle usually using the holes in the spool.

However in this case and the previous one it was a new spool of filament and the tangle was at least 10 -20 hours into the print.  I did not tangle the filament in these cases.

I have probably bought close to 100 rolls of filament over the last couple of years and these three rolls of prusament are the only three I have had this type of problems with

Debra

RE: Prusament Quality Control

If you are 100% certain that there is no possibility the tangles were caused by you I would raise this direct with Prusa support. See what they say.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

I did and they gave me a voucher for the bad spools

Debra

RE: Prusament Quality Control

Posted by: debra.k

I did and they gave me a voucher for the bad spools

 

Debra

Another satisfying use for customer support.  I am not sure how an autowinder would put a tangle in the spool.  

RE: Prusament Quality Control

That is seriously not funny.  I had a single bad spool of filament - someone at the factory had slathered hand lotion (my guess) over the entire first layer and the filament foamed like it was construction insulation.  I tried to get a credit from Prusa and they laughed at me.  And this guy gets credits for losing the end of the filament. 

RE: Prusament Quality Control

Posted by: Tim

That is seriously not funny.  I had a single bad spool of filament - someone at the factory had slathered hand lotion (my guess) over the entire first layer and the filament foamed like it was construction insulation.  I tried to get a credit from Prusa and they laughed at me.  And this guy gets credits for losing the end of the filament. 

I cannot believe they would do that.   I just don’t think that is the cause.  I have nearly 100% success at getting a credit or replacement.  The one time I did not, they suggested a fix that worked.  

RE: Prusament Quality Control

That's okay - they also would not replace my heavily scratched PEI sheet - one surface is not unusable - and to this day won't use it.   The side that was mostly okay I've used for well over a year and still use it, despite some misprint artifacts etched into it. Why use a machine scratched side when the other side is "new" ?? Well, it is that scratched - and was that way when I pulled it form the plastic it was wrapped in by Prusa.

RE: Prusament Quality Control

I just has a jam in my extruder using prusament

it was stuck at the top of the ptfe tube and broke off right at the tube when I tried to remove it
so I had to disassemble my machine to get it out
I thought I had a clog
but it was jammed tight

over 3 mm at the widest part
spool id 2105b25a