Blockage troubleshooting.  

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Adjustment of unloading speed - which is not something that you can do easily (you need to write your own post-processor...)

Having this configurable on a per extruder basis would probably solve some of my issues. 10-20% faster would probably do it.

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Hello

I just got my MM setup installed and was having blockages on retraction. I tore the hotend down to find there is no chamfer on the PTFE tube. Whats a good way to chamfer it so its uniform?

Hi Michael

Pencil sharpener for the chamfer, Swiss army knife reamer tool for the tapers.

Peter

Thank you. I was able to fix that issue.. Sadly I have one spool of filament that keeps jamming up. I think it may be a quality issue and so I am going to order some better brands like Hatchbox from now on. Has anyone tried Solutech? Ill try another brand in that extruder to see if the problem goes away or stays.

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Sadly I have one spool of filament that keeps jamming up. I think it may be a quality issue and so I am going to order some better brands like Hatchbox from now on. Has anyone tried Solutech? Ill try another brand in that extruder to see if the problem goes away or stays.

Yes, that can happen occasionally. The filaments I use are from Fillamentum, Prusa and my local manufacturer (which is the cheapest at €17 per Kilogram, and works as well as any filament I have used).

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Adjustment of unloading speed - which is not something that you can do easily (you need to write your own post-processor...)

Having this configurable on a per extruder basis would probably solve some of my issues. 10-20% faster would probably do it.

Richard

Many things with this upgrade are counter-intuitive. But you can test it out by editing the GCode and amending (use Replace function) the unload feed rate. It is possible to get speeds up to 7200mm/min at the extruder.

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

My PTFE tube is tapered on the top flat with no taper on the bottom. When cleaned and re-assembled, one first load it will print the wipe line and then nothing. Jammed to where it will not exit through the PTFE. I have to then disassemble - remove the fans, multiplexor, and cover and then pull out the PTFE and cut the end off of the filament to remove it, then reinstall PTFE , cover, multiplexor , and fans.

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

one first load it will print the wipe line and then nothing

It should print more than the initial purge line before attempting to change the filament. Any chance you could zip up the GCode file and add it here as an attachment?

Thanks

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

one first load it will print the wipe line and then nothing

It should print more than the initial purge line before attempting to change the filament. Any chance you could zip up the GCode file and add it here as an attachment?

Thanks

Peter
Peter, it was just the MM v2 calibration PLA gcode.

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

OK, so the blockage occurred at the end of the print during the unload?

That's not so surprising as the unload in that code is a little "raw"; there's no wipe tower and its just set to get the filament out as best it can.

You really need to try printing one of the other models and see how it goes.

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

I have just learned that there is a batch of heat breaks which do not have a chamfer. If you have one of these heat breaks, then the lower end of the PTFE tubing must not be chamfered to match the heat break.

If the end of your PTFE tubing requires chamfering and you do not have proper means to create a good chamfer, then DO NOT attempt to chamfer the tube. A bad chamfer is worse than no chamfer.

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

I have just learned that there is a batch of heat breaks which do not have a chamfer. If you have one of these heat breaks, then the lower end of the PTFE tubing must not be chamfered to match the heat break.

As an end user, how are we supposed to determine which heat break we have? I know you don't have the answer, but I'm sure that question is being asked by quite a few of us.

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

As an end user, how are we supposed to determine which heat break we have? I know you don't have the answer, but I'm sure that question is being asked by quite a few of us.

Richard

I can assure you that I was not best pleased when I found out about this and I was in two minds as to whether to post this information or just give up.

I believe (/hope) that if you look into the top end of the heat break, it should be fairly obvious as to whether there is a chamfered or straight ledge inside.

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

I have just learned that there is a batch of heat breaks which do not have a chamfer. If you have one of these heat breaks, then the lower end of the PTFE tubing must not be chamfered to match the heat break.

If the end of your PTFE tubing requires chamfering and you do not have proper means to create a good chamfer, then DO NOT attempt to chamfer the tube. A bad chamfer is worse than no chamfer.

Peter

I guess this is mine 🙂 I was able to print multicolor models before I getting blockage then I chamfered my PTFE. Now, I can't get anything to print. Pretty frustrating trying to get the MM work again so I just put back my old extruder since I need my printer printing

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Well, this sort of works quite well for chamfering the PTFE ends:

It needs a bit of work to stabilise the blade and when printed, it needs a 4mm drill run through it (in reverse and quite slowly).

Model attached.

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Thanks Peter. I will try that.

Regards Joan

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

I experience blockages in the steel tubes and below the cooling tube. The blockages occur on load and unload both at the end of a stopped print (when unloading all filament) and during color changes on running print. There is no typical extruder that is blocking or being blocked.

My prefered filament is MatterHackers PLA black, white, and yellow. I’ve used this for a long time before multi-material came out with great results. For single color I usually run at 217 nozzle temp 70 bed temp. Since multi-material upgrade i’ve tried hotter and cooler with no success.

Took the PTFE tube out. It was not chamfered or tapered on the bottom end. I added a slight internal taper but this didn’t seem to improve things (or make them worse). With the PTFE tube out I could not tell if the heat break was chamfered or not, so I erred on the side of caution and did not add a chamfer to the tube.

I’ve had this for roughly 1 month now and I haven’t been able to complete a multi-material print yet. Single material prints still work great.

Please help! I love this printer but it's driving me crazy trying to figure it out.

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Way too hot as demonstrated by the string at the end of the filament.

Try at 205 degrees or even lower.

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Thank you very much for the temp advice. When I first disassembled the e3d v6 I could not get the heat break free from the heat sink. I reassembled incorrectly and filament started oooozing from the top of the hot end. After the second break down and rebuild I think I got it right. Finally got the heat break off to find it is tapered (added to ptfe tube) and got everything snug and back together. First print was Marvin and SUCCESS!

I'll work to keep my temps down and avoid further clogs.

Thanks again!

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

First print was Marvin and SUCCESS!

Well that's great news 😀 Thanks for letting us know and please post some pictures of your prints.

Peter

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Had a little stringing but the print quality was spot on with what I saw on the site.

Re: Blockage troubleshooting.

Had a little stringing but the print quality was spot on with what I saw on the site.

Stringing between part and tower; there are a couple of cures for that. You may want to try lowering the temperature by 5 degrees.

Peter