Problems with printing Prusament ASA
I've been having this issue for a few weeks now. The print starts ok, but after a few seconds, the plastic starts coming out uneven and you can hear an audible crackling sound from the extruder area (like a burning fireplace). The prints end up with a very poor bottom finish and they aren't as strong as they should be. I've included a photo to help explain the issue.
Any help with solving this is much appreciated.
RE:
Most likely your filament absorbed to much moisture which evaporates in the hot end resulting in the sound you hear and the poor quality of the print.
If you have some new filament (still vacuum sealed) try that. If it performs normally, you need to dry the other filament before further use. If the new filament generates the same problem there is probably something wrong with your thermistor, resulting in to high temperatures.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
RE:
Crackling is usually a tell tale sign for moisture absorbed in the filament. Google for filament drying and use whatever you want but don't use a regular oven, their temperatures are not controlled enough.
RE:
Yes.. sure sounds like moisture.. I’d dry it in a filament dryer for several hours and then try again. Here in North America it is summer and where I live the humidity is now 98% today.. so every filament I have prints from a dry box (even PLA & PETG). I don’t even print a spool for a few hours ‘outside’ in the wild. I made 8 dry boxes from air-tight cereal containers and they work pretty good with 50g desiccant packs that you can get from amazon. I have to re-dry them out in a microwave (on defrost) about every 4-8 weeks.
RE:
A dry box with desiccant won't be enough for ASA. You need a dryer with heated air, such as a food dehydrator. Also, ASA really wants to be in an enclosure, and you should exhaust the fumes outside. A draft shield (full height skirt) will also help it not lift from the bed. Also, after a lot of ASA printing, the hot end PTFE tube needed to be replaced.
Regards,
Mark