mk3 Filament won't feed
I will start by saying I am very new to 3D printers. I purchased the Mk3 kit and was able to assemble it with no issues and have been printing with it for several months. About a month ago I purchased new PLA from 3D Solutech (black if it matters) and switched from the Prusa provided silver PLA to the black - with no issues. I have been using the black for some time and decided I wanted to switch back to the silver Prusa PLA for some prints I wanted to do. Heated the hot end to 215 and unloaded the black 3DSolutech with no issues. Loaded the silver Prusa and it got to a point where it just made some weird grinding noises. So I unloaded it and tried to go back to the Black 3DSolutech - same issue. Got out the needle that came with the kit and it was able to go into the nozzle with no issues whatsoever. Tried numerous times - same result. Tried contacting support, sent them a video and was told they would consult a colleague and get back to me via email tomorrow. Needless to say I am fairly annoyed and frustrated. I have had the hot end up to 285 in an attempt to get whatever clog might be in the hot end out of there - no luck. I am going to try and embed a link to my video from imgur showing the issue. If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. I am really hoping I do not have to disassemble the hot end - the assembly is really nice and clean but disassembly looks to be a real bugger and a PIA.
Re: mk3 Filament won't feed
Hi Travis,
how far does your filament go into the extruder?
does it get captured by the bondtech gears? or can you easily lift it out after loading stops?
have you trimmed the end of the filament? I can't tell from the video
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
Re: mk3 Filament won't feed
Does this sound like your problem? I had filament jam below the extruder (so the gears wouldn't catch it) but above the hotend (so it wouldn't melt and get pushed through). I panicked the 1st time it happened. By the 2nd time, I knew enough to slow down and look around. They key was spotting a bit of loose filament protruding up from the PTFE tube. I'd previously thought it was the tube itself being mangled.
It's now happened to me a few times, and I can clear it quickly as follows:
With any luck, a bit of filament will poke up that you can remove with needlenose pliers.
Skim the referenced thread for more detail, and good luck with it.
Re: mk3 Filament won't feed
That was exactly the issue. After I walked away and calmed down, I began to disassemble just as you mentioned - except that I took the whole hot end out before I saw the jam. My issue was twofold - there was a piece of filament broke off in the PTFE tube (not close enough to the hot end) like you mention, but the PTFE tube had also gotten mangled a bit which was making it nearly impossible to get the filament started to push that piece through. Once I popped that out, I used some needle nose pliers to straighten up the PTFE tube and reassembled everything. Works good as new now. I think what happened was I did not trim the tip of the new filament good and when it started in the PTFE tube the tip broke off and jammed. My first break down and all is back to being right. Thanks for the replies!
Re: mk3 Filament won't feed
That was exactly the issue. After I walked away and calmed down, I began to disassemble just as you mentioned - except that I took the whole hot end out before I saw the jam.
I think it's a rite of passage. I got so far as my extruder falling out, then backed up. Was very relieved to realize it only required loosening 3 screws for next time.
My issue was twofold - there was a piece of filament broke off in the PTFE tube (not close enough to the hot end) like you mention, but the PTFE tube had also gotten mangled a bit which was making it nearly impossible to get the filament started to push that piece through. Once I popped that out, I used some needle nose pliers to straighten up the PTFE tube and reassembled everything. Works good as new now. I think what happened was I did not trim the tip of the new filament good and when it started in the PTFE tube the tip broke off and jammed. My first break down and all is back to being right. Thanks for the replies!
Glad you're back up and running. And wiser. JP stresses cutting filament to a point before loading, but I've gotten a little slack in that regard. The PTFE tube does seem to be a common problem.
Re: mk3 Filament won't feed
I was stuck 8.5 CM in.. I tried replacing the nozzle after a nasty clog. Pulls got some of it out, needle some from bellow. Still couldn't get past 8.5cm.
THANK YOU to whoever in the thread posted the suggestion to unscrew the nozzle again and poke up with the tiny allen wrench.
That hit the clog from bellow and moved it up a bit. Then I used a super straight paper clip to push it the rest of the way up.
Printing the Whistle now, and it's looking good!
RE: mk3 Filament won't feed
Used the MK3s for less than 2 days,
I have the same issues... clogged PTFE tube ( after maybe 6 hrs ) ... I replaced the first one, couldn't clear out the clog... the second one clogged again after maybe an hour of printing.
What is the real issue here?