How to clean extruder great?
I found some filament stuck with a extruder gear when I loading filament (through a extruder inspection door). I try with sure spray but it not came out. How to clean and how to rotate the gear in right position to clean?
To protect under extrusion what else I need to do weekly?
Thank you 😄
RE: How to clean extruder great?
If you dont want to disassemble your extruder you can open the little hatch on it and clean it with spray and also use the needle that comes with your printer to clean the extruder's teeth thorougly. You can move the extruder from the printers menu manually.
The othe option is to disassemble your extruder and then clean all the debris with the same tools. The difference is that you will have more space and have easier access.
Original Prusa Mini + Smooth PEI
Prusa Slicer 2.6.0
RE: How to clean extruder great?
I use a small toothbrush and a dentist picker (needle on stick) to clean extruder drive and gear on my Prusa printers. Compressed air will only remove loose parts.
Have a look at my models on Printables.com 😉
RE: How to clean extruder great?
@geoper2
thank you 🙂
RE: How to clean extruder great?
@area51
thank you
More question, do i need to clean nozzle and hot end regularly to prevent under extrusion? With needle trough under nozzle and open the top of hot end and clean inside? Please make suggestion. 🙂
thank you
RE: How to clean extruder great?
I used some toothpick and sticky tape to get plastic out of extruder gears. Here's a HOWTO: https://help.prusa3d.com/en/guide/how-to-access-and-clean-the-extruder-pulley-mini_126457
You can try cold pull to get debris from inside hotend. https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/cold-pull-mini_126399/ But if your MINI suffers from underextrusion the problem may be elsewhere, not dirty nozzle. I would take a look into fixing hotend, there may be gap between PTFE and nozzle.
RE: How to clean extruder great?
@atomleef
I mostly print in PETG, so my experience may not apply to your situation.
Have never cleaned the heater block (not necessary) and only done a few inside extruder cleans with cold pulls.
I changed the nozzles to low friction nickel coated ones (from Microswiss) to make it easier to clean off PETG as that filament is very sticky. That works very great and only a wipe with a paper towel or cotton but is all it takes before each print.
If you get under extrusion with the Mini it is properly caused by a too short PTFE tube in the hot end. Some users have experienced that the tube has shrinked after some use and replaced it.
Have a look at my models on Printables.com 😉
RE: How to clean extruder great?
@crawlerin
thank you, i am not yet face under extrusion problem just want to monthly maintenance the machine to avoid future problem. any suggestion?
thank you
RE: How to clean extruder great?
I'd clean and lube rods from time to time: https://help.prusa3d.com/en/guide/printer-maintenance-tips_23200
I also check and clean nozzle (I print PETG but I don't have slick coated nozzle).
RE: How to clean extruder great?
@crawlerin
Thank you.
How do you clean nozzle? Cold pull?
RE: How to clean extruder great?
I heat it to reasonably high temperature (240-250 for PETG), wipe with paper towel, stubborn burn-ins get removed with metal brush.
RE: How to clean extruder great?
@crawlerin
thank you 🙂