Hot end mess - help
Hi,
Let's start this by saying I love my printer. It's been running almost nonstop since I got it going. I started a print before work and left. That was a mistake that I won't make again. I guess I was getting too cocky. I've left with other prints running but they were always prints that I've run before.
There was an adhesion issue and it led to filament attaching to the hot end. It's really stuck on there. What do I do now? Is there an easy fix to this? I bought it assembled so I'm not familiar with taking it apart but it looks like I may have to.
Would this be a good time to purchase and Bondtech and upgrade since I may have to take things apart anyway?
RE: Hot end mess - help
Heated everything up and it popped off leaving this. Any tip/tricks to getting this cleaned up? 
RE: Hot end mess - help
Be very careful,
Some folk say heat up the Hot End, and brush the filament off with a brass brush...
this is likely to damage your controller.
If the bristles cause a short circuit between the thermistor wires and the heater wires, you will be injecting 24 volts, where it doesn't belong...
it would be better to heat up the hot end, then turn the power off, before brushing the filament off. then there is no chance of damaging the controller.
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE:
Would this be a good time to purchase and Bondtech and upgrade since I may have to take things apart anyway?
If you start buying "upgrade" parts every time you take the hotend apart this will become pretty costly. You paid the price already by buying an assembled printer, which deprives you of knowing the individual parts and the assembly... Now, do it the right way, go to the online instructions, remove the hotend from its seat, clean the remaining mess with a metal brush, scraping tool etc., just be careful to not twist or break the heater and thermistor cables in the heater block. In case of heating up the assembly, do as Joan recommened (which is usually a good thing to do anyway, I´d say).
Even better, if you can clean the access to the screws holding the heater cartridge and the thermistor in place remove both parts, then you can put the whole thing on the table in front of you. Otherwise, if some minor residue is left it typically does not hurt and it may even burn off over time. Replacing the heater block itself is a cheap thing to do if you are interested in a shiny heater block, but even better is the use of a silicone sock from E3D for the heater block, which keeps the melted filament off the block in the first place.
Regards
Chris
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Hot end mess - help
Would this be a good time to purchase and Bondtech and upgrade since I may have to take things apart anyway?
If you start buying "upgrade" parts every time you take the hotend apart this will become pretty costly. You paid the price already by buying an assembled printer, which deprives you of knowing the individual parts and the assembly... Now, do it the right way, go to the online instructions, remove the hotend from its seat, clean the remaining mess with a metal brush, scraping tool etc., just be careful to not twist or break the heater and thermistor cables in the heater block. In case of heating up the assembly, do as Joan recommened (which is usually a good thing to do anyway, I´d say).
Even better, if you can clean the access to the screws holding the heater cartridge and the thermistor in place remove both parts, then you can put the whole thing on the table in front of you. Otherwise, if some minor residue is left it typically does not hurt and it may even burn off over time. Replacing the heater block itself is a cheap thing to do if you are interested in a shiny heater block, but even better is the use of a silicone sock from E3D for the heater block, which keeps the melted filament off the block in the first place.
Regards
Chris
You're absolutely right. I just need to dig into this and learn how to work on it.
RE: Hot end mess - help
Once you have your hot end cleaned up, you need to pay some attention to either your z-offset, bed cleanliness, or both. This problem occurred because your print dislodged from the bed at a low height. When the print breaks loose higher up you get a spaghetti monster rather than a blob monster. Breaking loose at a low height means your bed adhesion leaves much to be desired. This forum is a great place to get help for first layer adhesion.
Cheers
-Bob
Prusa I3 Mk2 kit upgraded to Mk2.5s, Ender3 with many mods, Prusa Mini kit with Bondtech heat break, Prusa I3 Mk3s+ kit
RE: Hot end mess - help
I should have read this comment before...
https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/hardware-firmware-and-software-help/i-saw-a-spark
Be very careful,
Some folk say heat up the Hot End, and brush the filament off with a brass brush...
this is likely to damage your controller.
If the bristles cause a short circuit between the thermistor wires and the heater wires, you will be injecting 24 volts, where it doesn't belong...
it would be better to heat up the hot end, then turn the power off, before brushing the filament off. then there is no chance of damaging the controller.
regards Joan
RE: Hot end mess - help
Yes. I am very careful around the wires and will often use a nylon toothbrush.
I should have read this comment before...
https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/hardware-firmware-and-software-help/i-saw-a-spark
Be very careful,
Some folk say heat up the Hot End, and brush the filament off with a brass brush...
this is likely to damage your controller.
If the bristles cause a short circuit between the thermistor wires and the heater wires, you will be injecting 24 volts, where it doesn't belong...
it would be better to heat up the hot end, then turn the power off, before brushing the filament off. then there is no chance of damaging the controller.
regards Joan
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Hot end mess - help
This problem occurred because your print dislodged from the bed at a low height. When the print breaks loose higher up you get a spaghetti monster rather than a blob monster.
what a great yet simple description - it can save hours of frustration and whodunit
RE: Hot end mess - help
A nylon brush probably won't so it. I use a steel small brush from the dollar store. Heat the unit up and then shut off the heater first and then scrub. You don't want to scrub with the heater in because the little metal bristles short the heater. I have done this before and it sparks.
RE: Hot end mess - help
A nylon brush probably won't so it. I use a steel small brush from the dollar store. Heat the unit up and then shut off the heater first and then scrub. You don't want to scrub with the heater in because the little metal bristles short the heater. I have done this before and it sparks.
Nylon stiff toothbrushes work well. I use tweezers to remove larger pieces and the toothbrush or bamboo nylon brush near the wires.
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog