I need help to identify this problem!
Hi everybody!
I constantly have the following problem printing with PLA: the printer goes well when it comes to print large and plain parts. But when it starts to make many retracts and jumps between distant extrusion points, the filament stops extruding and leaves goops behind. Also when I unload the filament, it has some grinding. Here are some images of what I get (these are cookie cutters):
I randomly managed to print one. Here is a comparison:
I dried my filament, changed the noozle, did the cold pull, reajusted the idler screw and heat temperature above 215ºC, cleaned the noozle with the needle, changed the PTFE tube, modified retraction distance and print speed. I don't know what else to try in order to solve this problem.
If anyone knows or has a hint about what the issue could be, please let me know, I'm desperate!
Thank you very much and have a nice day!
RE: I need help to identify this problem!
Let me point you to this post. Would be great to provide more information, thanks. 😉
even an old man can learn new things 🙂
Standard I3 mk3s, MMU2S, Prusa Enclosure, Fusion 360, PrusaSlicer, Windows 10
PRUSA MINI+ Prusalink + Prusa Connect
RE: I need help to identify this problem!
Sorry, I should have read it before posting the issue.
This is my first 3D printer, I bought it last year. It's a Mk3s, and I built it by my own. I don't have much experience yet, but so far I've started printing stuff for work, such as figures or structures for masks and disguises (I'm a 3D artist). I think I used it about 50 times (maybe more). I've encountered the same issue over the time and managed to fix it by doing the same things I told earlier, but none of them are working this time.
I changed the 0.4 nozzle I had to a 0.6 and I always use prusaslicer with its profiles. For this prints I'm using a 0.20 layer height.
The printer is inside an Ikea Lack Enclosure I made when I tried to print ABS (makes me wonder if it's not a good option for PLA). Also have a dust filter I printed outside the enclosure.
About the 3D model, I made it myself on ZBrush as I always do, exporting a .stl and slicing it on prusaslicer.
RE: I need help to identify this problem!
Just to eliminate the obvious: Are you printing in a warm room or enclosure with temps approaching 40C/104F or higher? PLA can soften prematurely in hot temperatures. Give us more detail on what you're doing and your settings and more suggestions will be forthcoming.
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: I need help to identify this problem!
How about the filament, it really looks like one of the famous "black" with some ingrediences, they are sometimes a cause of troubles. Did yo try to print those nice cats with another filament?
Ikea lack is often trouble for PLA printing, like I described in the post I referred to as it softens and melts before reaching the nozzle due to high ambient temperature.
even an old man can learn new things 🙂
Standard I3 mk3s, MMU2S, Prusa Enclosure, Fusion 360, PrusaSlicer, Windows 10
PRUSA MINI+ Prusalink + Prusa Connect
RE: I need help to identify this problem!
How about the filament, it really looks like one of the famous "black" with some ingrediences, they are sometimes a cause of troubles. Did yo try to print those nice cats with another filament?
Ikea lack is often trouble for PLA printing, like I described in the post I referred to as it softens and melts before reaching the nozzle due to high ambient temperature.
The filament is Prusament PLA Prusa Galaxy Black. I didn't know this kind of filament causes troubles, thanks for the info. I'll try to print it with another material and placing the printer outside the enclosure and see if it works.
Just to eliminate the obvious: Are you printing in a warm room or enclosure with temps approaching 40C/104F or higher? PLA can soften prematurely in hot temperatures. Give us more detail on what you're doing and your settings and more suggestions will be forthcoming.
Yes, I'm printing with the Ikea Lack Enclosure. My setting are the "Original Prusa i3 MK3S 0.6 nozzle" system preset from PrusaSlicer, I didn't change anything of it. I'm triying to print some Cookie Cutters.
As I said, I'll try to print it again placing the printer outside the enclosure.
Thanks for the help!
RE: I need help to identify this problem!
No need to remove the enclosure, just open the enclosure doors. That's usually enough to get enough airflow to cool the extruder down unless you are in a really hot environment. The extruder is air cooled and if it cant get enough cool air then heat creeps up the system and softens the filament prematurely which can cause these sorts of issues.
Once you have confirmed this is the problem (if it is) then there are various things you can do to reduce/remove the issue.
Also would it be possible to get a picture of your nozzle and heatblock from an angle slightly below (so looking from the bed front edge to the extruder) please.
RE: I need help to identify this problem!
A extra test could be , a extra ventilator to blow high in the enclosure. Possible is this already enough, then in the winter the clogs go away by most users. In the enclosure the temp should be not higher then 40, of course better lower.
A extra test, a extra fan on extruder motor, to cool the motor down, so no heat can go to the gears and soften pla, this you can find on thingiverse, I have a mk3 and installed the fan on extruder, and this helps a lot for the heat on the motor, after i did this i had no clogs anymore, I had clogs on abs and pla, and I did not know why this was.
RE: I need help to identify this problem!
A extra test, a extra fan on extruder motor, to cool the motor down, so no heat can go to the gears and soften pla, this you can find on thingiverse, I have a mk3 and installed the fan on extruder, and this helps a lot for the heat on the motor, after i did this i had no clogs anymore, I had clogs on abs and pla, and I did not know why this was.
Oh, I forgot to say it. I already have an extruder motor fan. I moved the printer to a cooler place (it was in a room that reach 31ºC) and now It's working perfectly, or at least it succeeded on the last 7 prints. If it fails again I'll keep you informed.
Thanks you all for helping!