Need extruder cleaning advice
Help!
After having a crazy run of great luck without any printing problems, my luck ran out today.
I started a print, left the room to get a drink, came back about 10 minutes later, to see that several of the objects failed to adhere to the plate.
This resulted in a gloppy blob or crap being left on the extruder / heat block.
I bought my printer preassembled, so I'm not experienced in assembly or disassembly, and could really use some pointers on how to start and what to do...
Since I was printing black PLA, it's not obvious to a noob where the blob ends and the printer starts.
Can someone help me give me an idea on how to clean this mess?
Re: Need extruder cleaning advice
I had a similar experience. For mine, I heated it up and cleaned it with a brass brush.
Re: Need extruder cleaning advice
Check this out https://help.prusa3d.com/l/en/article/08OdUoqqdQ-extruder-blob . Be patient and careful and will be fine. Good luck
Re: Need extruder cleaning advice
Thank you!!
I searched and searched, and couldn't find anything.... that link is worth it's weight in filament.
😀
Re: Need extruder cleaning advice
Thank you!!
I searched and searched, and couldn't find anything.... that link is worth it's weight in filament.
😀
I generally use a papertowel to "pull off" the filament.
I use the brass brush to clean the crusty bits off... cause they get crusty after enough time.
This is a big NONO, and it WILL ruin your nozzle over time, but if you LIGHTLY hit it with some 400+ grit sandpaper (the fine stuff)
You can clean "impossible to get off junk" from the nozzle... The bottom of your nozzle MUST be perfectly clean for good prints. If you can't get it off... Get a new nozzle. (Thus why I say use the sandpaper. It does ruin the nozzle if you do it enough, or wrong) Becuase it's basically. "Well, this nozzle is done. Rather than replace it, let's see if I can doctor it up..."
Like I said. BIG NONO. Do *NOT* do it on a "good" nozzle to 'clean' it. Do it on a nozzle causing you problems, that has black/burnt bits on it, that just don't wanna come off.
Hi, I'm Sean. I used to work on CNC machines.
I try to not make mistakes, but the decision is YOURS.
Please feel free to donate to my filament/maintance fund.
Re: Need extruder cleaning advice
I've become a big fan of the silicone sock and brass brush. I saw the E3D tool changing video and they had a setup where the nozzle was wiped across a brass brush before starting to print and is the one thing I would really like to have on my printer... Heat the bed and nozzle, wipe across brass brush, bed level, brass brush again, nozzle purge and print... The one piece of advice I've taken to heart is to stay at the printer until the first layer is fully down then even if I don't print using octoprint, monitor the print via octoprint camera, if I'm out of the house and see something going wrong connecting to the printer via octoprint will kill the print. I know this doesn't help with your immediate issue just something to keep in mind after you get back to printing...
Re: Need extruder cleaning advice
The time I had "The Blob" rather than use a brush after heating and pulling away with pliers I used kitchen towel. Just be very careful not to burn yourself when using kitchen towel to wipe of the remaining molten plastic. IT has the advantage especially around the wires that you will not cause any damage.
Regards,
Martin
Martin Wolfe