Extruder clicking
Hi,
I have had the mini for a while and all has been fine. I recently found that the extruder was making clicking sounds. After researching I have cleaned the nozzle but this has not fixed the issue. What I find a little strange is that the filament purge works fine, with only an occasional click but when trying to do first layer calibration no filament (or very little) is extruded.
Am I now to dismantle and examine the extruder?
Thanks
RE: Extruder clicking
Mine just started doing the same thing. I tried a cold pull and reseated the boden tube in the heat break but it still stops extruding after just a few seconds. I'm considering disassembling the whole hot end but still trying to find another solution first.
RE: Extruder clicking
i print now my PLA with +10 degree (~230) celcius ...less clicking..worth a try to increase printing temps?
RE: Extruder clicking
i print now my PLA with +10 degree (~230) celcius ...less clicking..worth a try to increase printing temps?
Thanks for the suggestion but it extrudes fine while purging. I guess it wouldn't do any harm to try...
RE: Extruder clicking
Mine just started doing the same thing. I tried a cold pull and reseated the boden tube in the heat break but it still stops extruding after just a few seconds. I'm considering disassembling the whole hot end but still trying to find another solution first.
In the end I disaabled the extruder according to the instructions here https://help.prusa3d.com/en/guide/how-to-access-and-clean-the-extruder-pulley-mini_126457
I found some tiny fragments of filament inside, which I removed. I also found some of the troughs in the large cog had PETG from previous prints pressed into them, which I removed using the needle sent with my printer. I then reinserted the cog and tested how easily it turned as per the instructions. I noticed that it stuck fractionally two or three times in a cycle. I then added some of the lubricant sent with the printer and the cogs then turned smoothly. I reassembled the extruder and the clicking had gone.
I have found it frustrating that the advice for the tension on the sprung-loaded wheel basically says not too tight and not too loose', which is not very helpful.
After several attempts at first layer calibration I attempted a print but could not get beyond the skirt before the filament lifted. Today I have upped the nozzle temp and the bed temp to accommodate a very cold room. I tried another first layer calibration but find the clicking is back and the nozzle dribbles so much prior to the calibration that there is always a large lump of filament to try to clear. The calibration failed again...
Also, during the calibration process the initial mesh bed levelling procedure begins before the print head is taken to the right back of the print bed to allow the nozzle to come up to temperature. I have found that the nozzle temp does not rise above 169. I have to turn the printer of and on again to retry the first layer calibration. The temp sometimes rises to 215 but other times does not...
How do I reset the first layer calibration temperature for my filament (PLA)?
Thanks
RE: Extruder clicking
@mcmuckle
I took my extruder apart too and cleaned it. The prints continued to fail after a layer or two. I just reseated the PTFE tube in the heatbreak again, being very careful to push everything together tightly when tightening the set screws. It's better and no clicking but still doesn't extrude well. I see the teeth in the extruder are really dirty again so I'll probably take it apart again and make sure I get it good and clean. I agree the idler tension recommendations need work. I really liked this printer at first. I bought this one because I was tired of the constant tinkering required with my Flashforge and it printed for hours like a champ. And now it's back to tinkering. Hopefully I'll get it going again soon.