Getting filament out of bowden tube
I got a prusa mini last week and ran a couple of prints. After a while my extruder clogged so I tried to unload the filament.
The filament wouldn't fully unload so I opened the idler door and noticed that the filament had snapped at the extruder gear.
Now I'm trying to get the filament out, the "loaded" filament is snapped off after the gear so I can't pull it easily. I tried to find instructions on properly removing the bowden tube from one end so I could pull the filament out but wasn't able to find official instructions. it looks like I can unscrew the two brass fittings that attach the tube to the extruder gear box, but I don't want to try it if that's not the proper way of getting to the filament.
What is the best way of getting to this filament to remove it?
Thanks!
Best Answer by jweaver:
@jweaver
Awesome, thanks for the reply and advice. I figured it would be that, but def wanted a second opinion before I did it.
Its happening to me all the time at the moment and I am constantly taking my tube out... I only have it finger tight at the moment.. Its really easy to get it out and unblock it.. But I think the unloading logic needs to change so that it does more of a purge before unloading.. At the moment when it onloads it often leaves a blob which jams in the tube..
RE: Getting filament out of bowden tube
I had something similar at the weekend.. Just undo the top nuts and the PTFE comes off easily.. You should be able to pull the filament out.. Then just put the tube back and tighten the nut..
RE: Getting filament out of bowden tube
@jweaver
Awesome, thanks for the reply and advice. I figured it would be that, but def wanted a second opinion before I did it.
RE: Getting filament out of bowden tube
@jweaver
Awesome, thanks for the reply and advice. I figured it would be that, but def wanted a second opinion before I did it.
Its happening to me all the time at the moment and I am constantly taking my tube out... I only have it finger tight at the moment.. Its really easy to get it out and unblock it.. But I think the unloading logic needs to change so that it does more of a purge before unloading.. At the moment when it onloads it often leaves a blob which jams in the tube..
RE: Getting filament out of bowden tube
OK. Mini owner here. Been printing like crazy for two weeks. Works great.
Same issue I have noticed.
If I swap filaments while still hot, it unloads just fine every time.
If the printer sits for a long time and cools down all the way, unloading filament fails. Usually grinds a spot in it. If I tell it to load first and push out some fresh thru the nozzle and then unload, it may work.
Today the filament broke in the extruder. So I loosened the top nut in the photo and gently pulled. Nothing moved. Went into the menu and told it to load filament and then pulled. Pulled harder. Nothing. Will not budge. I'm afraid I'll break something on the printer. What now?
RE: Getting filament out of bowden tube
Answered my own problem. Posting pic and solution in that it may help others.
I took apart the extruder and the end of the filament was chewed up and bigger than the tube. So that is why I could not pull it out. I pushed it backwards enough so that I could cut it off. See pic of it. Filament came out.
Put the extruder back together and heated up the tip. Manually pulled the filament out. Fixed.
