Extruder stops mid-print
Hello.
So i occasionly need to print longer prints if it matters - beacuse lately with shorter prints there have been no issues.
Butm when starting the print (ASA) everything seems to be normal, but few hours into the print the extruder just stops extruding, but the printer goes on and prints "air" as everything is normal.
I opened carefully the idler (mid print) and discovered that the extruder wheel is not moving.
Stopped the print and tried to extrude some filament via control, setting the temperature and moving E - nothing. Then basically did the same from the filament menu "purge filament" - nothing.
Did a reset for the machine and tried manually again - extruder works which means no blockage and motor is OK ?!
So i started the print again and what do you know it got further into the print (more layers) but yet again it from one point stopped spitting filament and just moved like everything is fine. Not extruding again.
Now is this temperature related (i doubt as i've printed PC with no issues) or is my extruder motor slowly dying ?
Is there any settings i should double check ? I doubt in this one also as i do everything as usually.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
This has happened to others as well. There are a few threads on the forum with the same issue. Supposedly there is a firmware release coming out that fixes this.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
This is such a stupid problem as all SW/FW issues are i guess...
Updated firmware to 6.2.0-alpha2+8702 in hope that this maybe is fixed.
Made the print shorter (reduced instances in the print).
And still the issue continues 1 hour into print - nothing comes out of the extruder.
RE:
This still happens to me in 6.2.0 alpha 2. I can still recover with a power cycle, but I get a layer line/shift as a result.
It occurs about 1 hour or less into the print and sometimes multiple times per print. I have prusa connect turned off and only 2 files on the flash drive.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print (yes this is normal XL behavior)
This is typical behavior on the $4000 XtraLarge pos. Spent months trouble shooting this issue. Mine XtraLarge 5TH POS is inside enclosure with BOFA PrintPro 3 at medium setting to ensure proper air circulation. All kinds of filament will encountered this stop extruding issue and with all 5 tools. All my parts were upgraded according to Prusa support recommendations and still the problem exists 6 months later. Tried no enclosure, new filament, Prusament, PLA, PETG, PC, PCCF, ABS, ASA... they all have stopped mid print are various heights. Prusa support closed the case as it worked for 3 days straight without any issues. But, Like I said, this is typical behavior with the XtraLarge pos. IMO, this is an issue with either the stepper motor used, or the step motor driver, or both. An YouTuber already found an issue where Prusa skimp on step mother driver for the Z axis and failed. He found the specs on the driver Prusa had used was meant for single step motor, but Prusa used it for both Z step motors. His driver board failed but he was able to reflow a brand new driver on the the controller board. Additionally, the main controller does not have any ventilation to keep the controller boards cool, the the placement of the heat bed MCU board directly under the heatbed is also another major design flaw. (I've since modded mine to have programmable thermostat to remedy both of these major design flaws. This is a clear indication this XtraLarge pos was not ready for mainstream release, I would only consider this as an alpha version. This XtraLarge pos is nowhere near the reliability of the MK3.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
Mk3 came a long way to be what it is known for today. Have you tried making adjustments to your retractions?
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
I'm open to suggestions. What would you suggest with retraction?
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
I'd try reducing it. If the retraction is too high it might be pulling the filament too far out of the extruder. It's a wild guess but it's something to try.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
I'll try that, but not sure how that would prevent the step motor seizing up mid print. I will try it out, but most of the filament profiles I use are built-in and I rarely change the retraction unless I know for sure extrusion issue was observed. But back to the step motor seizing up mid print, I hear the motor frees up as soon as I press the reset button, it's a very faint thud sound. However, that's likely just because the voltage is dropped from the step motor.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
Well, bit dissapointed, still no FW fix.
I've been praising Prusa too much i guess with slogans "It just works", "No tinkering needed".
Well it has been so until now. Most frustrating part is that there absolutely nothing that i can do.
Unable to use my second tool gives a punch into the face to my side hustle i'm trying to run with 3D printing.
What would happen if Bambu had an XL sized print bed.....yep.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
I will keep the previous post.
One thing i tried which did not help in my case is to run the prints with fan speed set to 0%
I contacted again support and got feedback that issue might be in the dwarf board, so they will send me an replacement within warranty.
I will leave mark how the replacement goes within this topic.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
Well, bit dissapointed, still no FW fix.
I've been praising Prusa too much i guess with slogans "It just works", "No tinkering needed".
Well it has been so until now. Most frustrating part is that there absolutely nothing that i can do.
Unable to use my second tool gives a punch into the face to my side hustle i'm trying to run with 3D printing.
What would happen if Bambu had an XL sized print bed.....yep.
I don’t know if I’d touch a Bambu sized xl. I’m pretty hard on my printers. Bambu has a great ability to literally destroy itself. It reminds of an Ender with an auto filament changer. The parts are cheap and it’s fast to get it back up. Prints are good but 2 to 3 steps down from Prusa. I did my best to get better results as as tuning but that’s it. Haven’t even seen anyone post better on Reddit.
Sadly if these issues are the board the best you can do is get ahold of support and convince them to replace it. That is one large option we have that bambu exclusive customers do not.
I’ve seen some complaints related to support. Please be patient and try again if you need to. I personally had nothing be good experiences with Prusas support staff.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
I am currently testing a solution to this issue.
https://www.printables.com/model/1124941-secure-xl-nextruder-cable-connector-solution
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
I was using full set of skeleton covers by Kevin248 (very awesome design) but if this connection is the root cause. I figure to original set of cover would provide even greater overall rigidity. I did notice the flickering tool head LED issue also went away after installing this on just TH #1. Thanks for this mod, will report back with extended multitool project.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
I’m using the back and door of the skeleton covers. my test print is going flawlessly.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
Two multicolor prints completed with no issues, I'm feeling optimistic.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
Thats great news. How did you figure out that it was just a "bad connection"?
PS! Still waiting for my replacement dwarf board, part is still stuck in the holiday traffic (shipped 18.12).
Two multicolor prints completed with no issues, I'm feeling optimistic.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
After replacing two buddy boards, I was still seeing the issue happening. I was watching "Monkey Brains Designs" video with all of his issues and saw the one that he fixed his XL by reprinting the cable connector. I then found that mod and installed them.
It's an ongoing process.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
i'm having the same problem, i cant even rely on any of the 5 tool changes as the problem occurs aleatory, on mine it normally stops after the first layer, but i had some cases that on multi colour, one or more extruders don't even work, making a spaghetti mess.
on those last two months, has been just a waist of money trying to print with this printer, i'm unfortunately relying on two kobra 3, not the same quality prints, but enough to have the parts done for my home business.
RE: Extruder stops mid-print
Jim,
Please keep us informed on if you think this has fixed the problem. My rather new XL(2) has started exhibiting these problems on head(1). I cannot print at all at the moment with this head. It stops printing early in the print. I will do this fix also so I can be doing something...