Another clicking extruder problem....
My I3V3 has 162 days of trouble free printing accumulated and has been totally reliable. Just lately I have begun to hear the extruder stalling (clicking) and initially assumed it was a new roll of cheap filament I'd recently purchased.
Next print job was something special so I loaded a Prusa filament (PLA) and the print stopped extruding after about 7 hours (14 hour job which I have previously printed fine).
After checking all the adjustments etc and getting the same issue I changed the print nozzle (first time ever).
While it was out I ran filament through the print head, (easiest way to clear any accumulated crud - which has NEVER been an issue for me).
Replaced with a new Prusa nozzle, exactly the same problem.....
Given the absence of any blockage, poor filament or indeed anything that has recently changed I'm beginning to think that the thermistor is no longer reporting true temperatures.
I've read endless threads about extruder gears, filament tension, cold pulls, blocked nozzles etc and I'm fairly happy that it is NONE of these issues.
I'd welcome some pointers....
Thanks,
Gareth
RE: Another clicking extruder problem....
Having 'spoken' with Technical, they suggested that my PTFE tube (which hasn't ever been changed) might be the issue. I have been doing a lot of long PETG prints (weeks of it...) prior to changing back to PLA and meeting this issue. I shall see.....
Gareth
RE: Another clicking extruder problem....
Took the filament sensor/feed mostly to bits and cleaned out a LOT of dust from the fan side of the heatsink unit, possibly 1/3 blocked (162 days and 10 hours worth).
At the moment its back to printing as normal, no clicking or gaps in the extrusion......
Gareth
RE: Another clicking extruder problem....
And pleased to report that it completed a flawless 14.5 hour print.
Although I have been regularly cleaning the fan blades, I never thought about dust accumulating around the hot break heatsink assembly. Think old PC CPU cooler dust accumulation.
Needs to be a regular service items.......
Gareth