Printer Jams
Hi all,
I'm sure this has been covered before but I seem to get random jams on long prints...when I say random some will finish and complete perfectly but then others wont. If I try to reprint the item it will usually work. As I say it only appears to be during long prints and fails after around 8hrs of printing.
I spent sometime in the support chat and they have suggested I send the printer back to them so they can check it!! I don't really want to have to do this if it is something I can fix. Tried all the usual things even replacing the hotend for another Prusa v6 but still have the same issue.
If anyone has any suggestions I'd be greatful!!
RE: Printer Jams
Hello, it is hard to advice you when you do not write what of the usual things you exactly tried. We will just repeat what you did.
Can you at least write, if all the jams have something in common? Does it happen with all materials, or with some more often? It can be easily a nozzle jam because poor quality of the filament.
RE: Printer Jams
Obvious question: Are you printing in a warm room or enclosure? The air cooled E3D V6 hotend is rated to 40C ambient temps. Any higher and you may encounter problems with PLA softening in the extruder. If you can print PETG but not PLA, this is something to look at.
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: Printer Jams
Sorry I should have added that earlier. It's PLA Eryone filament but have similar issues with other more expensive brands.
Ive replaced the ptfe tube a number of times. Checked the bondtech gear tension, made sure the gear screw is tight to the motor, tried different temps.
Seems to happen on long prints 10hrs+ but not every long print. If I retry the failed print it tends to work.
Example sat a 14hr print worked, last night an 11hr failed...admittedly different designs.
RE: Printer Jams
I'd not thought of that....I'm Printing in the spare room but can get pretty warm....I'll try the same print again and leave a small gap in the window.
I can print in PETG but have only done smaller prints. As I mentioned small PLA prints work fine but longer 10hr+ are hit and miss...I'd say 1 in 4 jam
RE: Printer Jams
Then the question from bobstro is very relevant. Enclosure, especially while printing long time, raises the temperature of extruder. It then soften the PLA and fails to feed the filament.
RE: Printer Jams
Filament removed from jams
RE: Printer Jams
Jams
RE: Printer Jams
Update it's not in an enclosure just open on the desk with space around the printer but ambient temps can can pretty warm
RE: Printer Jams
I was getting similar jams since I upgraded to version with bondtech gears. I found a topic about difference between the "standard" E3D heatbreak and the modified one used by Prusa. It seemed to me like a nonsense, because before I went to bondtech, never had this issue before. However as a last option, I tried to buy new E3D original heatbreak and it helped. Not sure if only this, but I was also very carefull and precise when puting the hotend together. Usually there are many easier reasons and solution for the jams, but nothing helped me.
Also couple of days ago (really couple) there was a post here about how to build the Prusa version of hotend correctly, something about the bottom part of heatbreak coming out of the heat block the right way. So maybe try this first. Because the only thing I did was changing the nozzles from time to time. And this could move a bit the heatbreak position in the heater block and cooler part.
RE: Printer Jams
Thanks I read something about that earlier moving to an E3D heat break. I think I might give that a go as I'm sure it's heat creep causing this. Prusa offered I returned the printer to them for testing but that's a little extreme and last resorts.
Will check out the E3d website in a bit and maybe try using one of the original v6 heat breaks...just not 100% sure on how to correctly assemble this...
If you have any links I'd appreciate it 🙂
RE: Printer Jams
Basic procedure to ensure you get the nozzle and heat break torqued together properly to control seal and heat transfer.
https://wiki.e3d-online.com/E3D-v6_Assembly
MK3 side there are assembly manuals - just work backwards.
RE: Printer Jams
Thanks I think I might order one and try it out. Can you use the Prusa ptfe tube with the original e3d heat block?
RE: Printer Jams
Yes, I replaced just heatbreak, everything else is from Prusa. By doing this you will not be able to use mmu2 or to put it back again.
RE: Printer Jams
It cant hurt to try as I have a spare hotend assembly as the printer arrived with a broken thermistor cable so Prusa sent me a complete hotend.
Trying the failed print from last night again (Matterhackers T-Rex neck bone) with the window open to keep the ambient temp down.
Hard to tell as the jamming is completely random but fed up taking the extruder apart to clear the jams.
RE: Printer Jams
Forgot to add and not sure if this has anything to do with jams / blockages but the extruder squeaks like crazy whilst printing from the feeding filament. Thought this would fade away but is still present after 4 months...
RE: Printer Jams
squeaks are commonly the PTFE tube below the bondtech gears coming unlocked from the heatsink and rubbing on the gears or the idler gear axle sliding to the side and the idler gear rubbing on the idler door
RE: Printer Jams
Yeah I'm going to make a c clip to hold the ptfe tube in place...the axle for the bondtech gear is good. I might even cut of a couple of mm from the top of the ptfe tube just to give it more clearance.
RE: Printer Jams
you want it close to the bondtech to ensure soft ( flex) filaments will feed
RE: Printer Jams
Thanks for the heads up I was about to cut it down....saved me ruining another ptfe tube!!