Help with issue/resolution - PETG Sperm Balls?
Hey guys, I need help identifying a particular issue, it's driving me a bit nuts. Molten balls have squiggly tales on the end, hence the title of the post LOL.
Hardware and print settings: Prusa i3 MK3S+, .25 Nozzle, PETG. I have tried playing with bed temperatures and extruder temperatures with no improvement. I'm fairly certain my first layer calibration is great.
Basically, at random times during the print strange molten balls of PETG appear at random locations sometimes in between components sometimes stuck to them. When the balls wind up stuck to a component it often causes a failure of the entire print because the next time the nozzle goes over the part it pushes the part off of the board. Balls seem to be more prevalent/appear more often on print layers with more surface area, like the final top surface of a flat object.
I'm thinking something along the lines of "wiping" and "retraction"
In my mind when the nozzle wipes a larger surface area it could build up this molten ball and deposit it wherever it falls off the hot nozzle... Make sense?
I have attached a photo below with several squiggle friends in the bottom left corner to show you what I mean....
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RE: Help with issue/resolution - PETG Sperm Balls?
My guess would be you have an improperly installed nozzle, check the top of the heat block for filament oozing, as well check the area around the lower section.
Regards
Swiss_Cheese
The Filament Whisperer
RE: Help with issue/resolution - PETG Sperm Balls?
Nope. I change nozzles often. Nozzle is properly installed.
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So check it again. Repeated changes can cause scratches faces and even worn threads, both of which might leave micro gaps for molten plastic.
Cheerio,
RE:
Unless you use "ironing" the nozzle should not wipe the surface at all.
To accumulate that much material during normal operation you need to have quite some over extrusion and your prints do not look like that.
I had a similar problem once and in my case the hot end was leaking on top of the heat block. After several nozzle changes it looked like I damaged the thread of the heat block even though I used the correct torque and procedure ever time (At least I think I did) - heat block needed to be replaced...
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RE: Help with issue/resolution - PETG Sperm Balls?
Reporting back. It was indeed the nozzle having a minor imperfection in the meeting service causing a leak through the hot end which was essentially drizzling randomly on the print as the petg melted though and off of the hot end.
I change your nozzles fairly often so I think I am just going to bite the bullet and buy a couple of Revo quick-change hot end and nozzle sets
If my post helps you please consider downloading & making one of my most popular Prusa-Printables 3D models below:1. Ultimate Printer Knob Upgrade - The Best Knob of Both Worlds 2. Prusa MK3S Right…