Clicking sound coming from extruder
Hey,
Every once and a while when a print is going, the extruder will emit a clicking sound. It seems to mostly happen during x-axis movement. I ran the self test and didn't get any errors. I also used Settings>Move axis for every axis and the only time I got the sound was from x-axis movement. Here's a video of it happening: IMG_2595
RE: Clicking sound coming from extruder
My experience with the dreaded-clicking-sound is mostly build-chamber temperature related. If don't leave the door of my enclosure wide open for a clear PETG print that doesn't give the parts much cool-down, i'll start hearing the click. At first it tells me to open the door. If I don't, it starts (20 to 40 min) to progress to a nearly constant loud CLICK CLICK CLICK. And the printed part starts to show the impact of what the clicking means - the extruder has lost grip temporarily on the pre-PTFE-tube filament.
I think it's the print head backing up a run-away temperature stack - causing the filament at the fancy-named gears that the extruder uses to grip the filament to soften cuz it's gotten so darned hot.
RE: Clicking sound coming from extruder
@dan-rogers
Thanks for the response. What do you mean by the door to the enclosure?
RE: Clicking sound coming from extruder
@poperigby
My printer lives in an enclosure - a 2x2x2 (foot) box with a hinged door on the front that I can close. Closing the door raises the temperature by holding in heat - so when I say open the door, it is to lower the temps at the print bed by letting out heat. Usually if I can get the clicking to back off by lowering the temperature of the print head, I can save the print
RE: Clicking sound coming from extruder
I don't have an enclosure, so I wonder what's causing the heat build-up.
RE: Clicking sound coming from extruder
@poperigby
Hello, Did you check out the Clogged Hot End guide? I faced a similar issue today, and didn't find that article until I made the problem worse by attempting a Cold Pull. I learned the hard way — start with the Clogged Hot End guide when the extruder is clicking.
For reference, here's what happened to me:
My extruder started clicking using the awesome new Ironing feature of Prusa Slicer RC 2.3.0 to print smooth-out surfaces of coins for frontline workers.
The ironing article helped me understand why it happened — a clogged hot end.
If you're ironing a big surface area, on some machines you might experience heat creep and eventually, a clogged hotend because the extrusion is very small and slow during ironing. This might a problem mainly when printing with PLA, because of its low temperature resistance.
I wish I had read the clogged hot-end guide first — instead I read and attempted the Cold Pull — which didn't work for me. My PLA snapped-off near the extruder gears, so there's no filament left to grab onto and pull out.
I hope one of those guides helps. Prusa really does a good job providing detailed support.
Good luck!