Sure fire ways to cause a jam!  

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

Heh. Most of those, plus...

1. Forgot I had a 0.25mm nozzle mounted when printing gcode sliced for 0.6mm.
2. Live-Z way too low after swapping sheets.
3. Over-ambitious with speeds on infill.

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

Print with PC Blend, stop and let it sit and cool overnight with the filament loaded.  Then unload the next morning and try loading PLA.  😉

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

Not cleaning the hotend out after switch filaments.  CF can really reduce extrusion.  

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

The only time it happened to me was with the PC Blend.  I'm always switching between ABS/PETg/PLA and never had it jam.

I did learn, however, that when changing 'species' of filament to always run a few cycles of 'Is this the correct color?', particularly when changing from a filament with lots of pigment.  I switched from Hatchbox silver ABS and still had a metallic sheen visible after 3 or so cycles.

Now the last issue I had was a strange one.  I had just unloaded a Paramount Castle Limestone Gray and tried to load another filament and it would not even grab it by the gears although they were turning.  Turns out that the very tip of the removed filament had broken off and remained near the top of the extruder.  I loosened the idler and removed the remnant with a dental explorer.

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

@jsw

I have found that using cleaning filament between “species” helps prevent jams.  I feed 1-2 inches or 25-50 mm of cleaning filament with a stop midway to allow it to cook the cleaning filament and allow better dissolving of the remnants of the previously loaded filament.   

I think the cleaning filament is just a nylon but it really works.  It is over priced, but It is worth it.  I go through about 100 grams every 2-3 months and it has greatly reduced my jams.  It almost behaves like the hot glue gun material.  

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

The cleaning filament I have is this stuff here from eSun:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MVIYNFW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00

It says the material is 'plastic' (Duh!) but does not specify.

I use it for the occasional so-called cold pull, mainly if I notice something wonky such as the worms not flowing straight downward.  I've never had any issues switching between ABS/PETg/PLA at all, but I do make sure it's thoroughly flushed.

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

@jsw

I do not use it for cold pulls.  I use it differently.  

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

This is general, not MINI specific, right? 🤣 

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

Posted by: @charles-h13

This is partially for humor, but I have found some erros by chance.  I have found some way to ensure you have a jam:

1. Use the wrong filament in slicer settings: PLA when printing ABS.  You will get clicking and eventually a jam that causes you to need disassembly.  
2. Printing a filament at too high of a temperature: I loaded PLA and accidentally printed it at PC Blend temperatures.  Printed fine until it stopped and cooled.  JAM.  JAM. JAM.
3. Printing at temps too low: Low temps lead to under extrusion and jams over time.  
4. Over tightening your tension idler screw: You can chew through the filament and cause a jam.  

I am curious, what have you done to cause a jam.  

I tried to print 3DXTech Carbonnylon with a 0.25 nozzle (MK3) -> Jam at first layer. To clean the nozzle i use simple transparent PA12.

RE: Sure fire ways to cause a jam!

@karl-herbert

I do think that is what the cleaning filaments are made of.