Unable To Load Filament
Hi,
I upgraded my i3 to a MKII around Christmas and have been happily printing since then. I went to print something today, having not printed for about a week or so, and I found that I couldn't load the filament. It starts loading but then there is a clicking from the extruder motor pulley as it carves a notch in the filament. I have removed and cleaned the nozzle but that has made no difference. It's as if there is a blockage somewhere in the extruder.
Has anyone any ideas how I can remove this blockage?
Andy
Re: Unable To Load Filament
You got an idea how far in the filament actually gets blocked?
If it blocks right at the entrance to the "hotend", you could try cutting your filament tip you are about to load at a steep angle before inserting. If i don't do that, the filament will catch on the rim of the PTFE tubing at the entrance to the hot end right past the extruder gear. Align it in such a way that the pointy side ist towards the center of the hole to feed the filament through...
(if that makes any sense.. maybe a picture would've been better)
Other than that, a blockage could be anywhere between the nozzle and that ptfe entrance hole. It is a bit of a pain to disassemble everything to check and fix if that is the case.
Maybe try this: Preheat the nozzle, open the door at the extruder and try to push filament from the side straight down the PTFE tube into the hotend yourself. Notice any blockage that way?
Re: Unable To Load Filament
Hi Stephan,
The filament goes in approx. 70mm.
Andy
Re: Unable To Load Filament
70mm.. thats well and truly in there.. Yeah, so it's not the PTFE entrance but indeed a proper clog.
Well, i'd still try preheat for a few minutes and try gently poking at it, but honestly, i don't think it'll work. My best poking results i get with going in with a small allen key from the top or (uncoated) guitar string or accupuncture needles through the nozzle.
They way to fix this would be to disassemble the extruder (reverse the steps from build manual) and then take apart the hotend. Sounds like the clog is somewhere in the tube or heatbreak area. Hot air gun helps, or hairdryer. PLA gets soft at around 60°C.
Note: when trying to remove the PTFE tube, press down on the black plastic ring that holds the tube in place. Here's some more info on how the hotend it put together: https://wiki.e3d-online.com/wiki/E3D-v6_Assembly
Re: Unable To Load Filament
💡 guitar strings are very useful to clean the extruder and to deal with clogged nozzles.
➡ not only the use of a 0.13 mil inch through the nozzle tip might help, you can use a "fat" guitar string (0.56 or even 0.70 mil inch) through the ptfe tube to clean a clogged heatbreak or nozzle, as described here.
dem inscheniör is' nix zu schwör...
Re: Unable To Load Filament
Undo the filament tension screws and pull the feed roller away. Remove the extruder fan (the 30mm fan on the side). Heat the nozzle to 220 (if las used filament was PLA).
Push a spare piece of filament into the nozzle and keep the pressure on for a couple of minutes, The filament should eventually push through to the nozzle.
Replace fan (being careful not to damage the blades) and reduce temp to 100 degrees. Pull filament out with pliers). Reassemble and continue printing.
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…