Filament jam inside PTFE
Hi,
Seems like I have some filament that has gotten stuck high up in the PTFE tube. I tried to follow this video to try and replace the PTFE tube (or, at least to be able to remove it so I can clean it out):
However, when I try to remove the heatsink as is done at 3:15 in the video, the heatsink will not come loose. I think this is because there is filament stuck in the PTFE tube above the heatsink.
What to do?
Any help would be very very much appreciated!
RE: Filament jam inside PTFE
Answering myself...
I managed to remove the heat sink eventually. Once the heatsink was removed it was easy to clean out the PTFE tube. The problems I had removing it was not due to stuck filament, it was just that it was a bit twiddly to remove it.
RE: Filament jam inside PTFE
Using a hairdyer can help with cleaning the tube. It is fiddly to remove, as you're trying to pull down and out at the same time, without breaking anything, yet it takes some manoeuvring....
RE: Filament jam inside PTFE
For next time, try this before tearing things down:
- Raise Z to max.
- Set nozzle temp to printing temperature of the stuck filament or a bit higher.
- Open the left-side extruder tension screws.
- Open the right-side extruder lid.
- Insert a 6in/15cm length of 1.5mm rod with polished ends down through the top of the filament feed, past the Bondtech extruder gears and into the PTFE tubing. In a pinch, the hex wrench that comes with the printer can be used to get partway there.
With any luck, you'll be able to push the stuck stuff down into the hotend where you can extrude it with continue pressure, or by loading more filament on top of it.
If filament is just torn off below the Bondtech gears and is visible in the PFTE tube but you can't quite grab it, you can do the same procedure, but remove the nozzle and press from below.
Here's the general idea:
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