Extruder clicking video
I finally was able to record a video of the extruder clicking where the hobbed pulley stops for a millisecond before resuming, creating objects like that below. The video is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwkriGubDxGnTzlVbU1EQzBuWWc/view
Viewing it online is too slow so it needs to be downloaded to actually see and hear the clicking clearly. It's only 3 seconds long. Can someone please tell me the cause of this? I was there and there is no tangle in the filament, the pla+ filament at that point is clean and straight etc, and I used filament cleaner to make sure the nozzle is clear beforehand. The filament extrudes normally 95% of the time. It's only recently this has happened. This filament seems glossier, is it possibly slipping? Based on the extruder stopping it wouldn't seem so. Note that I reversed the fan so it's facing correctly now.
Re: Extruder clicking video
I would change the nozzle completely for a new one and see how you get on.
Is it better if the hotend temp is raised a few degree's?
Re: Extruder clicking video
Hello Prusayo,
A few days ago we faced very similar problem. Printer had been working fine for weeks, suddenly one day extruder motor starts to make clicking electrical noise full time while printing, next day extruder starts missing steps (like your case) and final day extruder stopped extruding because it was missing almost every step.
This is what we did, hope it helps you:
- We did check the wiring from the motor to the electronics, opening the door and reconnecting the motor plug. Everything seemed fine.
- We measured the distance of the extruder idle screws (it was 13mm). We did unscrew the extruder idle screws and by hand used cleaning filament to clean the hotend (like you have done I guess).
- By hand we inserted the filament we wanted to print and compared its resistance vs the cleaning filament while extruding by hand. We saw it was much harder to extrude, so we increased hotend temperature until it was easier to extrude. It never got as easy as the cleaning filament, but close. (remember that thermistors can have a big temperature error).
- We put the extruder idle screws again, but this time 1 mm further, 14mm. (measuring the length of the spring only).
Since then everything is working nice again, no more cliking noises or missed steps. Actually we have had to decrease a bit the flow ratio at the slicer because now it is extruding more than before.
Good luck! (Maybe this has nothing to do with your problem, but I think it is worth trying)
Re: Extruder clicking video
The extruder stuttering like that indicates that you are trying to force too much filament into the extruder or that the motor has insufficient power.
If you are not already doing so, use the High Power mode (although this only gives a minimal power increase to the extruder).
You could also try increasing the temperature, decreasing the speed or decreasing the layer height.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Extruder clicking video
I would change the nozzle completely for a new one and see how you get on.
Is it better if the hotend temp is raised a few degree's?
Nozzle is in the mail. I tried 205 from 200 and it's only getting worse. (Not due to the temp change just in general).
Re: Extruder clicking video
- We put the extruder idle screws again, but this time 1 mm further, 14mm. (measuring the length of the spring only).
My idler screws are almost 16mm out, so it's basically totally loose.
Thanks for the ideas.
Re: Extruder clicking video
The extruder stuttering like that indicates that you are trying to force too much filament into the extruder or that the motor has insufficient power.
If you are not already doing so, use the High Power mode (although this only gives a minimal power increase to the extruder).
You could also try increasing the temperature, decreasing the speed or decreasing the layer height.
Also, numbers that used to print fine are getting worse and worse. This is with the exact same filament that was working a few weeks ago. Basically same gcode. I used high power previously as a test and it didn't help. Increasing temp to 205 didn't help. Since this was working previously I wish I knew what the underlying cause of this is.
Re: Extruder clicking video
Part blockage looking at the numbers. I had this for a few days. Could not figure out what it was so just pulled the hot end out, stripped it down, changed the nozzle and away I went. Could not figure out what was actually causing it so can only assume some crud in the heatblock-nozzle side.