Hot End will not extrude PLA
A print stopped short and the next print would not extrude any PLA. I did a selftest which failed on Left Hot End Fan. When i raise the wire bundle to the hot end from the power supply the hotted the fan runs. There appears to be a broken wire in the Hot End fan. I is not visible but i can find the location by moving the wire. It is about 2 inch from the fan. I also get an error for the Heater/ thermistor which also comes and goes. I can not Load or Unload the PLA. No PLA exits when loading is attempted. The Wheel spins on the PLA. I have tried pushing and pulling the PLA when loading and Unloading. I have also try preheating at higher temperatures with no luck removing the PLA. Is the nozzle clogged or just not heating the PLA. Can i repair the Hot End or do i need to replace it along with the Hot end Fan? What is my next step the repair the Printer? What caused the problem and what can do to prevent form happing again. Any advice would be appreciated.
Harald Kolter
Re: Hot End will not extrude PLA
Hi Harald,
these days, with the nozzle in mid air, and unobstructed, I tend to simply heat the hot end higher than the normal
(say 240 for PLA)temperature and loosen the hobbed drive wheels completely, then when the extruder is all warmed up, I use my long nosed pliers to grasp the filament a short distance above the top of the extruder body, and press firmly downwards for a couple of seconds, making sure the pressure is directly down the filament, if it moves. I repeat until I see filament coming out of the bottom of the extruder... this usually works for me...
now. you say your extruder fan wasn't working, this probably means that your blockage is due to heat creep up the heat break tube...
if your fan is now working, the heatbreak shouldn't get hot enough to melt filament, so your defeating you efforts to clear the blockage....
do the following at your own risk...
either hold the heatbreak fan still, or remove it from the extruder housing so that the heat can again creep up onto the heat break, to melt the filament,
get the filament moving by hand using pliers, and immediately restore the fan whist you continue to push filament through. this should clear your blockage, cool the cold end heatsink and restore sanity...
you risk
burning your fingers (low risk, now you have been informed)
melting the extruder housing... similar risk to when fault happenned in the first place
breaking the filament.. high risk because it's probably been partially worn away already.
damaging the fan blades if not handled carefully (low risk, now you have been informed)
possibility of having to dissassemble the extruder any way, if this doesnt help...
it's worked for me a couple of times...
best of luck, only attempt if you feel confident.... remember, this is your risk...
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