Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps  

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

Sounds like you got the hang of printing, so I suspect it may in need of specific maintenance. Try replacing the hotend PTFE tube. This is a consumable item, and will cause those symptoms, and others, when it fails.

The small PTFE tube in the hotend is slightly compressed, when properly installed. I believe it gradually succumbs to the heat while in that compressed state, losing its elasticity, and eventually can no longer maintain the seal. At that point, flowing filament will begin to escape the intended path through the hotend, resulting in partial, or full clog. This causes the clicking when the extruder gears skip, as it keeps to pushimg filament against the clog. If you can print at all, the quality may show under, and/or over extrusion, as a partial clog will cause under extrusion until enough pressure builds up, and it a small flood of filament comes out causing over extrusion.

I'm very new to this myself. The above is just my theory and may not be accurate. However, I've experienced the very same thing, twice so far, and quickly installing a new hotend tube fixed the issues straight away in both cases. I keep a box of around 30 of these on hand, precut, from the Prusa store. There is an official procedure for replacing the hotend tube which should be followed. The documentation is available through a quick search in the knowledge base. Hope this helps. Good luck!

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

Thanks! I will replace the PTFE tube and report back.

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

My two week old Mini+ has already started the clicking, I'm on the spare PTFE tube. Ive just ordered another 10 as I think this is going to be the main issue with the machine. Starting to regret the purchase, ive spent two days with support to stop the clicking, it worked for a day now its back again. If you guy have done a cold pull can you post a pic if you get chance I'm interested to see how it looks from another mini. The prusa support image is too small to show detail. Thanks 

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

You could also have a bad roll or batch of filament 

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

@raymate

Definitely check your filament.

I absolutely love this thing. Most recently been printing with Bridge Nylon, and PCTPE Nylon. The PCTPE is like a flex nylon, and it is awesome and nearly indestructable. The Bridge nylon is stiffer, and maybe like a indestructible PLA of sorts. I am totally digging this machine. Mine has been reliable. Tons of prints, only on my third hotend tube. At $.80, I'm fine replacing it as needed.

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

@24kjames

Yes I'm going to take the plunged and order some Prusament at some point, my main filament to this point has been (with my older printer) Hatchbox and filaments.ca own premium brand. And yes I have a handful of tubes on the way but I just designed and printed my own chamfer tool as I also got some Capricorn PTFE tube so I may have a bash at making my own.

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

@raymate

I set out with every intention of cutting my own, but as I swore to myself I'd commit the printer to enhancing existing projects, and minimize the extent to which it be a project of its own, I've had to pick my battles.. I would love to hear if the Capricorn tube holds up any better though. If it lasts twice a long or more, that may be enough for me to cut my own, once I finish this box of precut.

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

@24kjames

I shall report back, from what I was reading this capricorn is able to handle more heat 😀 

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

I replaced the PTFE tube in the hotend and all is well. Thanks for the help @24kjames!

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

@raymond-snead

This is excellent news. I'm glad replacing the hot end tube corrected the various extrusion related problems you were facing. I found it quite a relief to discover one easy maintenance step resolved what appeared to be multiple distinct issues. Thanks for reporting back.

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

So mine is fixed, after a week of owning it from new I got the clicking and I spent 2-3 days messing around with it and was not able to stop the clicking and jamming, so I give up and chatted with support. The first person said to check tension on extruder and lower temp of filament down. So I ended chat and did what they said, it worked for about 2 long prints then the clicking returned.

So I chatted back again and got a very helpful different guy and he seems to know his stuff, he told me to check the PTFE tube and if it does not look like it was damaged just follow the guide for getting the tube compressed right BUT do not do a 1/4 turn as per instructions do 3/4 turn instead.

He said the 1/4 is not compressing it enough. He then said with this and getting the extruder tension right you should fixed. Again he advised the trick for the extruder is unscrew the tension bolt until the door can wobble between open and closed, slowly do up the screw until the door no longer moves (this is with no filament in the machine) thats correct tension. Before I finished that I took apart the extruder again and cleaned it out fully and re greased the gears.

I also removed my filament sensor as I feel this is also adding a bit of drag on the filament going into the extruder.

Did that and im now a week into printing, used one and half rolls of filament (not prusament) with no clicking and no jams. The prints are very good. I think I need to level my bed a little and adjust the X skew but thats another job for another time.

Ive got spare Prusa tubes and I have some Capricorn ready also.

So as others have found it seems to be the installation of the tube from factory maybe not done right and the tension on extruder.

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

Posted by: @raymate

...as others have found it seems to be the installation of the tube from factory maybe not done right...

My less than a month old Mini+ also had this problem. I did 8-10 perfect prints and then started getting some weird under-extrusion. Re-compressing the hotend ptfe also fixed mine as well.

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

@draeh

That seems to be a common solution.  

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

Kind of unfortunate for new owners.

I feel lucky in the sense that I am mechanically minded and had no problem diving into the instructions and doing a tear down of a "new" product. Others might feel that the factory should be handling this better. After all, they do charge a little more for the pre-assembled version of the printer and this is one of the components that is already assembled on the X arm.

RE: Problems with Prusament PLA at default temps

@raymate

Awesome. Great info. I am definitely going to try recompressing the hot end PTFE tube next time, instead of replacing it right away. Thanks!