Catastrophic Print Failure PC-MAX w/Pictures
Using Polymaker PC-MAX filament, I was printing a large print. The print was sticking and seemed OK (7-8 layers), so I left the printer running overnight at the office. When I returned the next morning I had a HUGE BALL of filament encapsulating the hot end destroying the fan shroud, the plastic around the hot end, the and bed sensor. The heater, and heat sensor are completely encapsulated with only the red wire poking out.
Pictures attached so you can get a chuckle out this mess.
Do I try and remove the plastic ball or just purchase all new parts? Keep in mind that this is PC-MAX and its really hard... 😥
Thank you,
Re: Catastrophic Print Failure PC-MAX w/Pictures
Man that thing looks angry 😯
Can you try to heat it up and hack at it and remove it that way?
Re: Catastrophic Print Failure PC-MAX w/Pictures
If you have access to another printer you can use that to print replacements for the damaged plastic parts. The heater block and heatsink should be salvageable. Considering the force required to break the extruder body and cover like that I am not sure if the heat break survived. Due to the insulating sleeving on its leads the heater cartridge are probably OK. The thermistor although it will be OK the leads to it may be a loss.
You will need a heat gun to soften the blob of doom if you decide to savage your existing parts as with the state of the blob until you have reduced it and can confirm that the leads to the heater cartridge are undamaged it would not be safe to put it across at 24V supply to manually use it to melt the blob. However once you have confirmed that the wiring to the heater cartridge is still usable you can use it to heat the blob from the inside.
Deciding if it is worthwhile salvaging the parts is really an exercise in costing the time that would be spent against the price of a replacement. Though as you were using PCmax softening the blob via the application of heat will be very time consuming and remember to wear thermal gloves while using the pliers to pull away the heat softened plastic and place it on either something metal or an oven mat while working on it.
Regards,
Martin
Martin Wolfe
Re: Catastrophic Print Failure PC-MAX w/Pictures
There is a video on Prusa YT channel about dealing with blobs like this but I'm not sure if it'll apply in such an extreme case.
If you try and take a cat apart to see how it works, the first thing you have on your hands is a nonworking cat.
Re: Catastrophic Print Failure PC-MAX w/Pictures
I have a few more printers and can print parts, but from what I can tell I am going to need the hot end as the BLOB has surrounded it and its secure. I can't see where to order the parts I am going to need to replace?
No big deal on the plastic as stated before, I can just print that out.
As for removing with heat 😆 ... PC-MAX ... it is one tough plastic, and the reason I use it. Thanks for the advice, this is going to be a fun project.
Re: Catastrophic Print Failure PC-MAX w/Pictures
Ouch. That looks nasty.
I don't have experience with removing blobs of doom, not yet at least, but I have seen several examples from other users.
With all the other sensors on the Mk3 (crash detection, power loss, filament sensor), isn't it about time we come up with a BLOB sensor? Or is that a thing for Mk4 😉
Re: Catastrophic Print Failure PC-MAX w/Pictures
I suppose it could be done with micro switches being pushed my metal rods when the blob starts forming on the heater block. It would not however I think work with a sock fitted.
Regards,
Martin
Martin Wolfe