Atomic method cleaning, take off the extruder cover, correct?
Hello,
I just got my factory built MK2 and trying to learn as much while on holiday break. The printer has done fantastic with PLA but eventually I will want to load some PETG to print with.
If I want to clean with the atomic method once I switch back from PETG to PLA, I would just need to take off the extruder cover, correct?
I was looking the manual page below and once the extruder cover is off I can pull the filament without it catching?
http://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/5.+Extruder+Assembly/114
I thought I would have to take more apart based on the other 3D printer I have which involves removing the extruder stepper, fan, and extruder housing so that I can get to the heater block.
The only time I would need to take part the Extruder Assembly apart on the MK2 is if I get a jam in the nozzle, correct?
Thanks in advance,
David
Re: Atomic method cleaning, take off the extruder cover, correct?
David
You don't take anything off to clean with Atomic Method. Just release the tensioners and pull from the top
You may on occasion have to remove the extruder, but hopefully, that will be a very rare occurrence. You may want to swap nozzles and for that I usually remove the fan cover and fan for easier access.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Atomic method cleaning, take off the extruder cover, correct?
David, I can't even count the number of changes from PLA to PETG and vice versa on my printer and I never needed to do any extruder cleaning. I only follow these rules:
1. Use lower temperature for unloading the filament. I usually set hotend to 180-190 °C for unloading.
2. When changing filament type, always use higher temperature for washing out old filament. For example when changing from PETG (printed at 245°C) to PLA (printed at 210°C) I set the hotend to 245°C. By "washing out" I mean the phase when a few centimeters of filament is pushed through the extruder after loading new string. After that I set lower temperature (210) and push another bit down the extruder by menu command Move axes -> Move extruder, just to wash out potentially overburned PLA.