Extruder clogged [newbie]  

RE: Extruder clogged [newbie]

Some news... I disassembled everything (and I broke the heat cartridge wires...) The clog seems to be on the ptfe tube. The filament doesn't ove inside I cannot take it out.

My current hypothesis is that the filament was too thick? At the entry of the ptfe tube I measure 1.86mm...

Anyhow, two questions still remain:

1) With no project of MMU, will replacing the prusa heat break for the original E3D design be an improvement?

2) how can I clean my current nozzle and heat break? (They have PETG inside) should I heat them at 285C? Lets say with a hot air blower? A clothes iron? A soldering iron? An oven?

RE: Extruder clogged [newbie]

I replaced the Prusa heatbreak with an E3D titanium version. It's working well, but I never had problems with the older Prusa version either.

If you get another jam, try this:

• Raise Z to max.
• Heat nozzle to 285C.
• Remove any loaded filament. 
• Open the extruder door.
• Remove any filament stuck in the PTFE tube if you can using needle-nose pliers. If filament is stuck in the PTFE, proceed.
• Insert a 1.5mm rod ideally about 15cm long into the top of the extruder assembly, down past the Bondtech gear and into the PTFE tube. See if you can gently push down the stuck filament to get it to extrude. Don't push too hard, and brace the extruder assembly with your free hand to avoid any twisting.
• If you can't force the filament out from the top, remove the fan shroud and nozzle, clear out the hotend (some stranded wire works) and try poking the rod up from below to see if you can get the filament to poke up out of the PTFE tube below the Bondtech gears far enough to be removed with needle-nose pliers.

If you don't have a suitable rod, check at hobby stores for brass rods. Your hex wrench can be used in a pinch, but it's not very long. I've got some pics of the process here. I'm using a Mk3 (pre S) so my extruder looks a little different in the pics.

Once you get the clog out, try some cold pulls to clean out the hotend and nozzle. Notes on cold pulls here.

RE: Extruder clogged [newbie]

Hi @bobstro thank you for your answer. 

That's basically what I tried, but nothin worked.... Even now, as in my previous picture, I cannot get the filament out of the PTFE tube.

About the E3D "mod" after changing the heat break you still use the same prusa (or prusa length) of PTFE tube??

RE: Extruder clogged [newbie]

I used the same PTFE and heatsink. 

One note: if you're pressing upwards from below at heat, be sure to let the rod heat up to soften the filament. May not work, but it helped me more than once.