I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
Yesterday I had some issues with my printer but later discovered it was a clog and, after working on it, eventually a bunch of filament poured out from my extruder and I had assumed that was the end of it and it would work fine now. Unfortunately that wasn't the case and now whenever I try to load filament in I get this clicking noise and it doesn't quite accept the filament. I also think I can push the filament way farther down into the extruder than I used to be able to when it worked properly but I cannot tell if that is truly the case.
I don't think anything could be left clogged after all that came out of the extruder yesterday but it still won't work.
Here's a video I took of the clicking noise and what happens to the filament.
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
Is the nozzle plugged? Did you go from a higher temp material like abs or petg to pla?
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
Hi,
I'm relatively new to this so take these suggestions on that basis.
I would turn the filament sensor off while doing the following:
1. Insert your filament and check from both sides that your blockage did not misalign your gear
2. remove the idler screws and lift up the cover to see if there is still a blockage between the gear and the PTFE tube that enters the extruder.
3. Heat up the nozzle and use the acupuncture needle to carefully wiggle it in your nozzle (god that sounds rude!)
Good luck
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
Is the nozzle plugged? Did you go from a higher temp material like abs or petg to pla?
I checked the nozzle and saw it did have a clog in it. I have always used the same temp, the temp for pla, but after the clog occurred I tried to heat it up to a higher temperature in hopes of melting it.
Hi,
I'm relatively new to this so take these suggestions on that basis.
I would turn the filament sensor off while doing the following:
1. Insert your filament and check from both sides that your blockage did not misalign your gear
2. remove the idler screws and lift up the cover to see if there is still a blockage between the gear and the PTFE tube that enters the extruder.
3. Heat up the nozzle and use the acupuncture needle to carefully wiggle it in your nozzle (god that sounds rude!)
Good luck
I have tried pushing a needle into the nozzle as it was heated up and I have even resorted to taking off the nozzle and soaking it in acetone but I think there might be some filament stuck in the hotend and I have no idea how to clear that out.
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
Acetone won't dissolve PLA.
Have you seen this, Tom is good.
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
did you tried a coldpull?
edit: btw it looks like the filament is very soft around the place where the filament sensor is... maybe disable and/or detach the sensor could work (ofcourse there is still the clog) because when your filament is getting hot there the gears will not get enough grip to extrude.
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
Sorry i got a noob question.
On mk2 I will press on the spring to release the extruder gear. How do we do it in mk3 ? if 120C, will the printer prevent motor from moving ?
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
I unscrew the 2 screws that holds the extruder idler in place..
https://help.prusa3d.com/l/en/article/3EMxwPQU0B-bondtech-extruder-gears
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
I also hear a clicking noise when I try to insert my filament. I'm trying to insert a red PLA, however, the previous filament (Hatchbox blue PLA) seems to be clogging things and is coming out *around* the nozzle rather than through the hole.
I was planning on replacing the nozzle with an Olsen one (I have it on the table as I write). Would now be a good time to remove the old nozzle and attempt to clean things out?
Thanks in advance.
-
Jay AKA the NomadMaker
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
Yesterday I had some issues with my printer but later discovered it was a clog and, after working on it, eventually a bunch of filament poured out from my extruder and I had assumed that was the end of it and it would work fine now. Unfortunately that wasn't the case and now whenever I try to load filament in I get this clicking noise and it doesn't quite accept the filament. I also think I can push the filament way farther down into the extruder than I used to be able to when it worked properly but I cannot tell if that is truly the case.
I don't think anything could be left clogged after all that came out of the extruder yesterday but it still won't work.
Here's a video I took of the clicking noise and what happens to the filament.
take a look from the right side of the extruder and see if you see any of the old filament and if the bondtech are aligned or not. post a picture if you can
turn the filament sensor off and run a load with no filament and see if the sound persists and if the bondtech are clashing at the gear end. post another video
next if i was you i would open the bondtech idler (left side loosen two screws and then flip the cover on the right side.
when i had a blockage support suggested some thin wire,like a long paper clip to push through anything that was broken off in the tube.
and lastly if it keeps happening take the video from close on the right side when you insert the filament and load it. that would help a whole lot more if we can see what is going on.
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
I also hear a clicking noise when I try to insert my filament. I'm trying to insert a red PLA, however, the previous filament (Hatchbox blue PLA) seems to be clogging things and is coming out *around* the nozzle rather than through the hole.
I was planning on replacing the nozzle with an Olsen one (I have it on the table as I write). Would now be a good time to remove the old nozzle and attempt to clean things out?
Thanks in advance.
-
Jay AKA the NomadMaker
if it is coming around the nozzle it is not tightened enough. it should never do that.
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
if it is coming around the nozzle it is not tightened enough. it should never do that.
My printer just arrived about a week ago, assembled. I had a few days of wonderful prints, except for the normal amount of fails that I'm used to with a new printer. The prints were a combination of small and large.
I had started a print in red when the filament alarm brought things to my attention. I pulled off a *huge* hunk of blue and red plastic from the exterior of the nozzle. It was only after this that the filament started to "click."
The leakage only occurs when I tried to feed in more red plastic. This leakage is only small and I can't prove that there is leakage around the nozzle, just that this is what it looks like to me. I tried to use the included needle, but I only got a slight amount of liquid plastic that quickly dried. This plastic was blue.
It looks like the leakage is blue (the previous color I used). It could be that the leakage is plastic that has been overcooked. I've tried to feed the red plastic in hoping it would push out the clog. I've tried some "cleaning" plastic which might have worked had I tried it before I stopped being able to feed plastic through.
My current plan is to find a paper clip so that I can try to push things through from the top.
Other than that I have no idea other than to take the nozzle off and see if I can see anything from that angle.
I have a problem with doing a major teardown because I live in a motorhome and don't have a lot of room to do this. Right now everything is messed up inside because I'm in the middle of a major reorganization.
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
if it is not coming from the nozzle end then it is leaking. as far as using the needle you do that to suspend or open the nozzle. perhaps you might break up whatever is blocking but not that likely.
The leakage only occurs when I tried to feed in more red plastic. This leakage is only small and I can't prove that there is leakage around the nozzle, just that this is what it looks like to me. I tried to use the included needle, but I only got a slight amount of liquid plastic that quickly dried. This plastic was blue.
It looks like the leakage is blue (the previous color I used). It could be that the leakage is plastic that has been overcooked. I've tried to feed the red plastic in hoping it would push out the clog. I've tried some "cleaning" plastic which might have worked had I tried it before I stopped being able to feed plastic through.
are these plastics different types? like abs petg pla nylon?
My current plan is to find a paper clip so that I can try to push things through from the top.
if there is a blockage above the nozzle the paperclip might help in pushing through, you might need stronger wire if it is stuck hard enough.
Other than that I have no idea other than to take the nozzle off and see if I can see anything from that angle.
taking the nozzle off is an option but it will not help you with something stuck above it.
for instance, you retracted 4mm with abs then pulled the rest out leaving a blockage and then try to feed pla so the abs is above the heatzone the pla won't be able to push it down and out.
I have a problem with doing a major teardown because I live in a motorhome and don't have a lot of room to do this. Right now everything is messed up inside because I'm in the middle of a major reorganization.
not a major teardown. Needs an adjustable wrench and a 7mm socket. you put the adj wrench on the block in such a way that no wires are getting crimped by it. then you put the socket on and crack the nozzle loose. nothing else needs to come apart.
https://help.prusa3d.com/l/en/article/fJa7GxLSG6-changing-or-replacing-nozzle
this, however, is not my first choice.
figure out what kind of blockage you have.
are you able to extrude anything at all? if so then the blockage is at the nozzle. if nothing comes out then the blockage is higher and needs to be pushed down into the nozzle.
IF you have filament coming out the nozzle just not in a great quantity and not coming out the side of the nozzle. then you can try a cold pull.
the theory behind this is that if slightly heated the filament will loosen from the sides of the nozzle but not melt enough to let any carbonized particles out
best to use is nylon, 2nd best is abs. last is pla
1) heat to 295 get melty this is the time to poke with a needle
2) let cooldown to room temp
3) heat to 70° pla, 160 abs, 140° nylon
4) pull the filament out the top usually using pliers it will usually make a little sucking noise
5) repeat until flow is no longer restricted
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
It looks like the leakage is blue (the previous color I used). It could be that the leakage is plastic that has been overcooked. I've tried to feed the red plastic in hoping it would push out the clog. I've tried some "cleaning" plastic which might have worked had I tried it before I stopped being able to feed plastic through.
are these plastics different types? like abs petg pla nylon?
No, these are both PLA. Though they are PLA from different companies. The blue is Hatchbox and the red is MakerGeeks.
I examined the area around the idler gears. Is there supposed to be a plastic tube coming up from the top of the hotend? If so, that tube is mashed flat. Nothing can get through that area and so the filament is hitting there and stopping with the idler gears trying to move it, which causes the clicking sound.
I have a problem with doing a major teardown because I live in a motorhome and don't have a lot of room to do this. Right now everything is messed up inside because I'm in the middle of a major reorganization.
not a major teardown. Needs an adjustable wrench and a 7mm socket. you put the adj wrench on the block in such a way that no wires are getting crimped by it. then you put the socket on and crack the nozzle loose. nothing else needs to come apart.
https://help.prusa3d.com/l/en/article/fJa7GxLSG6-changing-or-replacing-nozzle
this, however, is not my first choice.
figure out what kind of blockage you have.
are you able to extrude anything at all? if so then the blockage is at the nozzle. if nothing comes out then the blockage is higher and needs to be pushed down into the nozzle.
Nothing is coming out of the nozzle. I don't think that anything can get to hotend now, either because I've munged the tubing or because I've clogged it completely.
IF you have filament coming out the nozzle just not in a great quantity and not coming out the side of the nozzle. then you can try a cold pull.
the theory behind this is that if slightly heated the filament will loosen from the sides of the nozzle but not melt enough to let any carbonized particles out
best to use is nylon, 2nd best is abs. last is pla
1) heat to 295 get melty this is the time to poke with a needle
2) let cooldown to room temp
3) heat to 70° pla, 160 abs, 140° nylon
4) pull the filament out the top usually using pliers it will usually make a little sucking noise
5) repeat until flow is no longer restricted
http://bukobot.com/nozzle-cleaning
Yes, there is definitely a very little plastic coming out *around* the nozzle. I bought this pre-assembled and it printed well for a few days, printing parts both large and small. Then a clog happened and things stopped working quickly.
I will order nylon to have some on hand for this sort of thing. I have one roll of ABS that I acquired accidentally that I could use, once the clog has been removed.
But I can't get anything through the blockage.
Again, is there supposed to be a PTFE tube that reaches from the top of the hotend to the bottom of the idler-gear area? If so, I need to replace this. Is there a reference so that I can replace the tubing or do I need to buy a new hotend? And if so, can I buy an E3D V6 from E3D or Amazon, or do I need to buy it from Prusa Research?
Thanks much for your insight and help.
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
I examined the area around the idler gears. Is there supposed to be a plastic tube coming up from the top of the hotend? If so, that tube is mashed flat. Nothing can get through that area and so the filament is hitting there and stopping with the idler gears trying to move it, which causes the clicking sound.
big snip
If so, I need to replace this. Is there a reference so that I can replace the tubing or do I need to buy a new hotend? And if so, can I buy an E3D V6 from E3D or Amazon, or do I need to buy it from Prusa Research?
Thanks much for your insight and help.
ok from the top
there is a cover with two screws and yes that has pfte tubing http://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/5.+E-axis+assembly/510?lang=en step 43,
then the bondtech gears,
then from below the bondtech gears there is tubing coming up from the hotend. https://e3d-online.dozuki.com/Guide/V6+Assembly/6 step 16, at least 70 mm.
use the first link assembly and disassembly instructions to get to the top of the hot end.
ptfe 2m 4mm od 2 mm id
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D1G7LRO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and here is a picture
I will order nylon to have some on hand for this sort of thing. I have one roll of ABS that I acquired accidentally that I could use, once the clog has been removed.
you only need a little bit of nylon every 2-4 months if that
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4m-Taulman-618-nylon-filament-1-75mm-Rep-Rap-Mendel/222726141360?epid=722911046&hash=item33db8335b0:g:hXoAAOSwqu9VK2rr
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
Chris,
I have done the steps to remove the parts to get to the hotend as stated in https://help.prusa3d.com/l/en/article/fJa7GxLSG6-changing-or-replacing-nozzle until he second part of step 4. I removed the screws, but the Extruder Cover doesn't want to come off. I am afraid to use too much force on this, and the most I've been able to do is to bend it a tiny bit on one side.
Is there a trick to getting this cover off. I don't want to remove the hotend fan because I will almost certainly have to remove the nozzle, which means heating the the nozzle up again. Perhaps I should remove the fan and then put it back on again?
Any help will be appreciated.
-
Jay
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
I finally removed the Extruder Cover. I had to remove the hotend fan in order to get enough of a grip to do this.
There are a few small areas of blue plastic on the outside of the rectangular part of the hotend. I assume this is from the blue PLA that I had used before I used the red PLA (I've only used PLA in this printer). I will take pictures in the morning when there is better light.
I will put the fan back on and remove the nozzle tomorrow, if possible.
-
Jay
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
I finally removed the Extruder Cover. I had to remove the hotend fan in order to get enough of a grip to do this.
There are a few small areas of blue plastic on the outside of the rectangular part of the hotend. I assume this is from the blue PLA that I had used before I used the red PLA (I've only used PLA in this printer). I will take pictures in the morning when there is better light.
I will put the fan back on and remove the nozzle tomorrow, if possible.
-
Jay
don't remove the nozzle if you don't need to. did you get hotend out so you can see the ptfe tubing at the top of the hot end? is it crushed as you suspected?
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
I have almost got the hotend out, but it is stuck now. I believe that it is held in by the plastic tube.
Right now all I can do is to wiggle it back and forth and rotate it a bit to make squeaking noises. I can see that the top of the plastic tube is crushed by looking into the idler gear access panel.
Any advice will be taken.
-
Jay
Re: I hear a clicking noise when trying to put filament in and cannot load it
I have almost got the hotend out, but it is stuck now. I believe that it is held in by the plastic tube.
Right now all I can do is to wiggle it back and forth and rotate it a bit to make squeaking noises. I can see that the top of the plastic tube is crushed by looking into the idler gear access panel.
Any advice will be taken.
-
Jay
check in with support, there is a collar holding onto the ptfe tube so I'm not sure how you release that. Might need to push on the tube from the top with an Allen wrench but support is going to be able to tell you exactly.
Go to the prusa store and in the bottom right you'll see the minimized chat window. Open it up and chat with them.