Why is PLA sticking to nozzle and are my prints failing?
Hi everyone,
My Core One (prebuilt) has been acting strange lately. PLA filament keeps sticking to the nozzle, creeping up, and eventually ruining my prints.
Quick facts:
Printing only with Prusament Black PLA, standard settings from PrusaSlicerPre-installed 0.4 mm HF nozzleAmbient temperature: 24 °C, humidity: 65% (yes, a bit high)Test print: standard Benchy included with the printerNozzle cleaned with a brass brush before printing, completely free of filamentNozzle partially clogged during print; purging didn’t help at first. After purging more, filament came out but felt/appeared rough.Purged again the next day and extrusion was smooth.During a paused print, filament was still oozing from the nozzle (~2 cm), rough and bubbly.Top surface layers look very rough.Filament from the nozzle-cleaning step also looked bubbly.
Could all this be caused by high ambient humidity, or does it point to another issue with the printer or settings?
RE: Why is PLA sticking to nozzle and are my prints failing?
Bas,
It sounds like you have successfully self-diagnosed. The description of oozing and bubbling in the filament is classic behavior of wet filament. PLA in general is less hygroscopic than most but even it can retain enough moisture to create issues with the print. I personally have opened brand-new, manufacturer sealed spools that were so wet I couldn't get a good print. If you have a filament dryer available to you put the spool in at 45C for six hours or so and see what happens. If no filament dryer you can use a food dehydrator or even in a pinch the "poor man's method" of a cardboard box covering your spool laying on the heatbed of the printer with the bed temperature set to 45C.
Give that a try and see if you don't get much better results.
Regards,
Steve