Stuck filament  

Re: Stuck filament

Keri

Unfortunately, you will most likely have to dismantle the extruder. Start by removing the nozzle (raise extruder temp to 210 degrees first).

Follow the PR build instructions to get the extruder out and then the E3D assembly instructions: http://wiki.e3d-online.com/wiki/E3D-v6_Assembly

Be careful with the heater block and the thermistor wiring, and use the correct tools and watch out for the warnings on the E3D page!

Peter

Re: Stuck filament

Thanks for the help!
I successfully removed the filament, but i am not done yet. I used a 7mm wrench as describeed on that site but did not work on the nozzle, it actually stripped it. I ended up needing vice grips to grab the nozzle while using the wrench to hold the rest of it. Then I was able to get the plastic out of the PFTE tube and the hot end.
I had an error THERMAL RUNAWAY which I assume means that heat is being lost to the tools. Just now I was putting the nozzle back on and the whole thing shut down and won't turn back on. I'm hoping its just a fuse!

Re: Stuck filament

Can you post a picture of the assembled nozzle? When you power cycle the printer, what is shown as extruder temperature?

Re: Stuck filament

Keri

Looks like you may have blown one of the 5 Amp fuses. Possibly shorted the extruder heater cables?

Peter

Re: Stuck filament

It was a 5 amp fuse, luckily I had an extra in the garage. It turns on now.
The nozzle is completely stripped. I can't get it back on. I bought a stainless steel nozzle from Amazon and it will be here tomorrow.

Re: Stuck filament

Keri

It is more likely to be the aluminium heater block that has stripped. You may want to check that out.

Usual cause of this is not tightening the nozzle sufficiently prior to first use and the plastic leaks, gets into the threads, burns and becomes a solid glue.

Peter

Re: Stuck filament

This is what it looks like right now. I can't get it back on. I'm hoping I'll be able to get it off again tomorrow when the new nozzle comes!

Re: Stuck filament

out of curiosity. did you try to remove the nozzle when cold? if you did that definitely why it got stripped. If you did it while hot, what PJR described above could have been the culprit.

Re: Stuck filament

yes, I did heat the nozzle before removing it. I think the problem was a cheap wrench. It was a metric 7mm as described in the link, but it is my husband's from the garage and probably cheap and slightly off.

When I get the new nozzle tomorrow if it doesn't work then I'll know the issue the threading inside.

Re: Stuck filament

I replaced the nozzle yesterday. It looks like the Heat Break was so far in there it was blocking the nozzle from going in completely. I unscrewed that a little and was able to get my new nozzle on. It looks a little funny but seems to be working.

Now that this is taken care of it's time to continue calibrating!

Re: Stuck filament

Keri

You probably got the nozzle inserted wrong.

There are instructions in the manual somewhere, but from memorY (having done it a few times):

First, screw the nozzle into the block as far as it will go, then loosen it half a turn. Then screw in the heat break as far as it will go.

When the printer is re-assembled, heat to 220 degrees and tighten up the nozzle (about 1/8 th of a turn), using the correct spanner on both nozzle and block.

Peter

Re: Stuck filament

Your directions are SPOT ON to the ones on the website. Good memory. The first time I didn't realize there were special directions to re assemble the nozzle. With the new nozzle I read all of the directions a little closer. Pretty big process considering I just had some stuck filament!
Thank you very much for your help though.

Re: Stuck filament

Keri

Pleasure to help. This sort of thing does happen but not that often; hopefully you won't suffer this again for a long time.

Peter