Nothing gets printed  

RE: Nothing gets printed

first time print? see if the filament it making it to the gear in the extruder. and check you filament sensor . take out the filament and check the sensors in "support"  see if it says 0 when unloaded.

RE: Nothing gets printed

Yeah - have you ever seen filament come out of the nozzle?

RE: Nothing gets printed

Posted by: tim.m30

Yeah - have you ever seen filament come out of the nozzle?

That is correct, this is my first print after assembling the printer. Self test ends successfully for the axis alignment. 

I did open the small hatch on the extruder and noticed the filament is not going through the small tube of the hot end so nothing ever comes out of the nozzle. I tried adjusting the bondtech gear back and forth but the filament is too curved to be able to fit through the hole. Not sure how this is supposed to go in unless the filament is flat/not spooled.

Thanks!

RE: Nothing gets printed

Can you post a photo of how the filament doesn't go into the bottom PTFE tube?

RE: Nothing gets printed

Posted by: Vojtěch

Can you post a photo of how the filament doesn't go into the bottom PTFE tube?

Here it is. I fed it manually into the tube but I had to push against the filament to manage to get it in. 

RE: Nothing gets printed

ugh, this new interface is terrible. Full size image here:

There looks to be a gap between the motor plate and extruder back body; If these are prusa parts, check that you tightened all the screws that go through those parts, the step says you should be able to close the gaps. 

If they are self printed, check that they did not warp/lift from the plate during printing... 

RE: Nothing gets printed

can you put a small allen wrench in it and see if it's lined up?

RE: Nothing gets printed

Based on the image - the filament isn't centered with the gear teeth - it looks like the gear is not aligned well with the filament path.  It might just be the camera angle, so a photo looking in square with the window could help make that determination.  

ps: Vintage - how did you find the actual image?

RE: Nothing gets printed

I am unable to upload any more pictures, it keeps getting stuck at 50% upload but I did check the bondtech teeth are perfectly aligned with the hot end tube. I've also tightened all screws, more than that and the abs pieces will crack, but the small gap visible in my first picture is still there. To add insult to the injury, my steel plate has been permanently damaged by the nozzle scratching it. 

It looks like I either disassemble the extruder and hope to fix itself or throw this printer in the trash (:

RE: Nothing gets printed

Posted by: crushfx

I am unable to upload any more pictures, it keeps getting stuck at 50% upload but I did check the bondtech teeth are perfectly aligned with the hot end tube. I've also tightened all screws, more than that and the abs pieces will crack, but the small gap visible in my first picture is still there. To add insult to the injury, my steel plate has been permanently damaged by the nozzle scratching it. 

It looks like I either disassemble the extruder and hope to fix itself or throw this printer in the trash (:

Pics here

RE: Nothing gets printed

I zoomed in on the picture of the extruder.

the drive gear on the motor does not look lined up with the drive gear for the idler roller.

RE: Nothing gets printed

Posted by: toaf

I zoomed in on the picture of the extruder.

the drive gear on the motor does not look lined up with the drive gear for the idler roller.

Hmm, I did not think of the idler roller, but yes, at least from the picture it looks misaligned. I'll check it after work.

RE: Nothing gets printed

Posted by: crushfx

or throw this printer in the trash (:

If you go that route I have a lovely trash bin here beside my desk 😛 🤣 ... or if you're more environmentally conscious a printer-sized recycling bin too.

RE: Nothing gets printed

It also looks like the gear is not installed properly.

The set screw MUST be tightened on the motor shaft FLAT. It looks like it was tightened on the shaft round, where it will just sit and spin.

RE: Nothing gets printed

Posted by: tim.m30

It also looks like the gear is not installed properly.

The set screw MUST be tightened on the motor shaft FLAT. It looks like it was tightened on the shaft round, where it will just sit and spin.

Yeah, at the time I wasn't sure what they meant by "flat part of the shaft" but now after taking a look at the assembly manual again it makes sense. I suppose the bondtech gear must be slipping but it's not. 

RE: Nothing gets printed

If the set screw isn't tightened to the flat, the gear is slipping.  Even the belt drive gears with two set screws slip if not on assembled flat first.

It's the only thing - short of total gear misalignment - that fits the symptoms.

RE: Nothing gets printed

Posted by: crushfx

Yeah, at the time I wasn't sure what they meant by "flat part of the shaft" but now after taking a look at the assembly manual again it makes sense. I suppose the bondtech gear must be slipping but it's not. 

The protruding screw may interfere with the other gear to the point of opening the door and releasing the grip on the filament temporarily.

RE: Nothing gets printed

I have disassembled part of the extruder and readjusted the gear, now filament loads correctly and printing as I type!! Thank you gents!

RE: Nothing gets printed

yaa victory!!! although I was looking forward to seeing it on sale on ebay 😀