Just to add, I have an all metal Mosquito hotend and a direct drive extruder. PLA can be a bit tricky with all metal hotends and the hotend heat break can clog with unheated - and unheatable to the point of flowing - PLA. I purchased an unclog tool from Etsy. Essentially a 1.75 mm diameter steel rod, sharpened at one end and with a 3D printed handle on the other. I Turned my printer on, heated the block, removed the filament and nozzle, then disabled the stepping motors. Then I inserted the rod and applied a steadily increasing amount of pressure, taking care to not bend the rod. Voila! Plug of filament that was stuck in the heat break came out. Just thought I'd leave this comment here in case it's of use to anyone with a blocked all metal hotend rather than just a blocked nozzle. Excellent video, btw. Am definitely investing in those needles!
Good video. You should look up doing an "atomic pull". Bowden printers especially are receptive to this method. A lot of times, cleaning a clog does not remove all the gunk from the sidewalls of the nozzle (bit like an artery). Using a cleaning filament like e-suns, heating up to 200, then backing off to 125, then pulling out (with some force), will clean off the sidewalls. Do this a few times and works like a charm. Great videos though. Love your enthusiasm !
I have found that by forcing the filament directly into the hot end, without the Bowden tube, I have been able to clean any clog without doing a cold pull. That said, thank you for sharing the technique with my viewers I sure it will be helpful.
My printer was not printing and it was driving me nuts so I disassembled it I ran each bit to make sure what was working and what was not it ended up being the extruder was clogged I was getting so frustrated this video saved my life, CHEERS!!
TIP:- use a different colour filament to push through the hot end than what you believe to be causing the clog, that way you know when blockage material has been expelled.
Excellent suggestion. P.S. I have started a new discussion forum at forum.drvax.com where we can all have more elaborate discussions and share pictures on our prints and printers. Check it out. Irv
Very helpfull thank you for a nice easy to follow video. I am new to 3d printing and nearly 79 years old. I need to make some custom brackets for my headlights conversion to L E D lights.I have borrowed my grandsons printer but has an issue with very bad clogging and it is leaking all over the heater head. thinking about stripping it all down to investigate.
Thankyou for making the video. I just purchased a needle kit with a few different sizes. My printer is getting clogged and I think its the quality of the PLA I am using. I am hoping this helps so I dont have to replace the nozzle a bunch of times.
Hmmm...well the video was very clear and easy to understand but I've got stuck at the first hurdle. I cannot get the bowden tube out because the little locking collar will not depress. I tried the other end and that popped out just like you said but at the hot end I can't move anything.
@@MakeWithTech Thanks for the response, yes I followed the instructions as you'd given them so I had the hot end at 220 (been printing PLA at 200). I just took the whole head apart and found some PLA had melted onto the the end of the bowden tube. I got it and the nozzle all cleared and now just waiting for replacement tube.
an easy way to unclog is to use a small hexkey to pull it through followed by a needle push through.. its real simple and easy and quick. repeat until when you pull the hexkey out there is no more plastic left on it. and the needle is also clean.
I am struggling with removing my Bowden tube which appears stuck - I have removed the coupler into the hot end / removed the nozzle but it still won’t budge - any ideas ? I have tried heating to 240 and still no luck
for some reason the filament got jammed inside the extruder on my printer...it's kinda like a freak accident but now am stuck with trying to figure out how to fix the problem. I tried pushing and pulling but the filament broke and now the extruder is stuck with a fragment of the filament inside. I tried a needle but the needle broke...If anyone got any advice besides common sense i would be happy to hear from you.
I watch your wonderful videos and subscribe to your channel. I really like the way you introduce and explain them. This video is good for small issues. I would like to ask if you would start a CRASH COURSE in REPAIRS. With a focus on machine specific issues. Not all machines seem too clog in the same way and those needles DON'T do squat to clear a bad clog. I have aCreality CR-6 SE and I keep getting extreme clogs in the 2 places the hotend and in the Bowden Tube. And I can not seen to fix them other than buying new parts over and over. And then it will clog again with a brand new hotend. There needs to be in-depth videos for repair and upgrades . . . no one wants to do then apparently.
please do the IIIP ultimate 3d printer the big version please. I have a tiny piece of filament stuck in the tubing under my feeder gears and I cant push it in
Unfortunately I only have the Ultimate 2. It is much more difficult to remove jammed filament from direct-extruder systems. Basically you have to disassemble the hot end.
It's not working for me, since no filament is coming out at all. I tried with the needle, but it's not going in. I print PLA at 200-210°C. Should I soak the nozzle in acetone ?
This worked for 2 seconds and then it got clogged right after my second print. I wonder if it’s the pla because I just got the printer 2 months ago but I did just change to a new filament brand
There could be a few issues here. Nozzle is not the right temp for the filament you are using. The nozzle is not maintaining accurate heat,. The filament is old (it is affected by light, age, and humidity factors). The extruder is not pushing the filament through at the correct speed. You're not using the correct filament for your machine. You're using an inferior filament product. Your printer might need a firmware update.
Yep. In fact I just talked my granddaughter through this issue. Good topic for a a future video. First some definitions. The Bowden tube it the tube, usually white, that connects the extruder which pushes the filament to the hot end where the filament is heated and extruded through the nozzle. If you have a bowden style 3d printer then you can pull the bowden tube out of the extruder (the opposite end of the tube from the hot end) by depress the small (usually white) clip on the fitting that holds the tube into the extruder. With the bowden tube removed heat up your printer to about 20 degrees C higher than where you normally print. Then you can pull the filament out of the tube. Put it all back together making sure you get the bowden tube all the way into the fitting. A great place to discuss this is at the DrVax forum located at forum.drvax.com.
you need to show a clouged hot end show how it works that new machine is easy to do but one clouged hot end over run with plastice how to clean it i like your show but people need more information on this thanks t s
I’ve run into this problem multiple times and this is the best solution for me
Thanks so much
If I ever run into you in my world of 3D printing, I owe you coffee. Thank you for fixing my printer!
Just to add, I have an all metal Mosquito hotend and a direct drive extruder. PLA can be a bit tricky with all metal hotends and the hotend heat break can clog with unheated - and unheatable to the point of flowing - PLA.
I purchased an unclog tool from Etsy. Essentially a 1.75 mm diameter steel rod, sharpened at one end and with a 3D printed handle on the other. I Turned my printer on, heated the block, removed the filament and nozzle, then disabled the stepping motors. Then I inserted the rod and applied a steadily increasing amount of pressure, taking care to not bend the rod. Voila! Plug of filament that was stuck in the heat break came out.
Just thought I'd leave this comment here in case it's of use to anyone with a blocked all metal hotend rather than just a blocked nozzle.
Excellent video, btw. Am definitely investing in those needles!
Good video. You should look up doing an "atomic pull". Bowden printers especially are receptive to this method. A lot of times, cleaning a clog does not remove all the gunk from the sidewalls of the nozzle (bit like an artery). Using a cleaning filament like e-suns, heating up to 200, then backing off to 125, then pulling out (with some force), will clean off the sidewalls. Do this a few times and works like a charm. Great videos though. Love your enthusiasm !
I have found that by forcing the filament directly into the hot end, without the Bowden tube, I have been able to clean any clog without doing a cold pull. That said, thank you for sharing the technique with my viewers I sure it will be helpful.
Keep up the positive videos, very cool. Nice to see someone else who loves printing
@@MakeWithTech
Thank you so much, this video really helped me as I was really stressing. Thank you again for the help
omg!! your video helped so much! i was able to unclog my printer! thank you thank you!!!!
My printer was not printing and it was driving me nuts so I disassembled it I ran each bit to make sure what was working and what was not it ended up being the extruder was clogged I was getting so frustrated this video saved my life, CHEERS!!
TIP:- use a different colour filament to push through the hot end than what you believe to be causing the clog, that way you know when blockage material has been expelled.
Excellent suggestion.
P.S. I have started a new discussion forum at forum.drvax.com where we can all have more elaborate discussions and share pictures on our prints and printers. Check it out. Irv
@@MakeWithTechthanks Irv I have signed up! and am looking forward to the discussions.
Very helpfull thank you for a nice easy to follow video. I am new to 3d printing and nearly 79 years old. I need to make some custom brackets for my headlights conversion to L E D lights.I have borrowed my grandsons printer but has an issue with very bad clogging and it is leaking all over the heater head. thinking about stripping it all down to investigate.
Thankyou for making the video. I just purchased a needle kit with a few different sizes. My printer is getting clogged and I think its the quality of the PLA I am using. I am hoping this helps so I dont have to replace the nozzle a bunch of times.
Thank you so much for such great advice.subscribed for further-help . Thank you very much .
Thanks for the sub!
what do you do when the tube is clogged? thanks or should it melt when you put it back in? Thanks
Does using cutters to clean the bottom of the nozzle damage it? I've been doing it for years when I get blobs and never thought about it.
I've been using my cutters like that on the brass hot end. OK I won't do it anymore, but why shouldn't we do that? I'd like to know the reason
Thank You very much for the support! Great job :-)
Thanks for your helpful instructions.
Very helpful, thanks Dr!
Thanks, I really appreciate the simple fix. My FDM printers seem to hate me.
You're a life saver!
Very well explain, thank's
Hmmm...well the video was very clear and easy to understand but I've got stuck at the first hurdle. I cannot get the bowden tube out because the little locking collar will not depress. I tried the other end and that popped out just like you said but at the hot end I can't move anything.
Try heating up the hot end first
@@MakeWithTech Thanks for the response, yes I followed the instructions as you'd given them so I had the hot end at 220 (been printing PLA at 200). I just took the whole head apart and found some PLA had melted onto the the end of the bowden tube. I got it and the nozzle all cleared and now just waiting for replacement tube.
Also some have a locking collar, remove that first.
How come you don’t want to use side cutters to clear the nozzle?
Thank you
Hello can you please give the perfect settings for petg in cura
I've also heard of people using acupuncture needles. I checked around and found these are very cheap, like 100 for $17 on Amazon.
.016 electric guitar string works great, the cheapest you can get, about $1 each (around 1 mtr. )
an easy way to unclog is to use a small hexkey to pull it through followed by a needle push through.. its real simple and easy and quick.
repeat until when you pull the hexkey out there is no more plastic left on it. and the needle is also clean.
I am struggling with removing my Bowden tube which appears stuck - I have removed the coupler into the hot end / removed the nozzle but it still won’t budge - any ideas ?
I have tried heating to 240 and still no luck
You have the right idea. Heat it up then pull hard. My guess is that there is partially melted filament in the bowden tube due to heat creep.
Thank you so much
at 5:40 "Replace" or reinsert the bowden tube?
Reinsert
great video - perfectly laid out - let's see if this novice can play catch up!
Cool! But if mine is direct drive?
Direct drive printers are trickier to unjam. Same approach you just to to remove or open the extruder depending on the model.
Great video!!!
Thanks
Thank you DrVAX. I did it and it works.
Thanks for straightforward advice. I just received my printer and am watching your videos and others to make sure I am approaching things properly.
Thanks for the comment. I basically try to share everything I learn based on the many mistakes I have made.
for some reason the filament got jammed inside the extruder on my printer...it's kinda like a freak accident but now am stuck with trying to figure out how to fix the problem. I tried pushing and pulling but the filament broke and now the extruder is stuck with a fragment of the filament inside. I tried a needle but the needle broke...If anyone got any advice besides common sense i would be happy to hear from you.
Heat the extruder up to about 220c and try using a needle made for cleaning nozzles again. Check amazon for 3D printer nozzle cleaning kits.
How hard do you need to press down on the blue coupler it seems to me I’m putting a lot of force on it and it’s not moving
Some have a ring which prevents the coupler from being pushed down. Remove the ring to undo the coupler; replace the ring when done.
I watch your wonderful videos and subscribe to your channel. I really like the way you introduce and explain them. This video is good for small issues. I would like to ask if you would start a CRASH COURSE in REPAIRS. With a focus on machine specific issues. Not all machines seem too clog in the same way and those needles DON'T do squat to clear a bad clog. I have aCreality CR-6 SE and I keep getting extreme clogs in the 2 places the hotend and in the Bowden Tube. And I can not seen to fix them other than buying new parts over and over. And then it will clog again with a brand new hotend. There needs to be in-depth videos for repair and upgrades . . . no one wants to do then apparently.
I believe normal needles are too short to make that cleaning from above on a normal (not mini) 3d printer.
please do the IIIP ultimate 3d printer the big version please. I have a tiny piece of filament stuck in the tubing under my feeder gears and I cant push it in
Unfortunately I only have the Ultimate 2. It is much more difficult to remove jammed filament from direct-extruder systems. Basically you have to disassemble the hot end.
@@MakeWithTech I have the Ultimate 2 as well, so how can one "disassemble the hot end" for it to clear a clogged nozzle?
It's not working for me, since no filament is coming out at all. I tried with the needle, but it's not going in. I print PLA at 200-210°C. Should I soak the nozzle in acetone ?
Acetone won't work with PLA.
the filament load ok but do,s not flow when printing
This worked for 2 seconds and then it got clogged right after my second print. I wonder if it’s the pla because I just got the printer 2 months ago but I did just change to a new filament brand
There could be a few issues here. Nozzle is not the right temp for the filament you are using. The nozzle is not maintaining accurate heat,. The filament is old (it is affected by light, age, and humidity factors). The extruder is not pushing the filament through at the correct speed. You're not using the correct filament for your machine. You're using an inferior filament product. Your printer might need a firmware update.
My filament snapped when I tried to pull it out, it snapped right at the extruder and I can't fish it out. Does anybody know how I can fix this.
Yep. In fact I just talked my granddaughter through this issue. Good topic for a a future video.
First some definitions. The Bowden tube it the tube, usually white, that connects the extruder which pushes the filament to the hot end where the filament is heated and extruded through the nozzle.
If you have a bowden style 3d printer then you can pull the bowden tube out of the extruder (the opposite end of the tube from the hot end) by depress the small (usually white) clip on the fitting that holds the tube into the extruder. With the bowden tube removed heat up your printer to about 20 degrees C higher than where you normally print. Then you can pull the filament out of the tube.
Put it all back together making sure you get the bowden tube all the way into the fitting.
A great place to discuss this is at the DrVax forum located at forum.drvax.com.
@@MakeWithTech Nevermind, I managed to shove a toothpick in the tube just enough to grab the filament with pliers.
I’m having trouble removing my filament tube
poking around from the top is an bad idea because youre spreading molten plastic into your headbrake zone and the cooled filament clogg the cold zone
you need to show a clouged hot end show how it works that new machine is easy to do but one clouged hot end over run with plastice how to clean it i like your show but people need more information on this thanks t s
Then you get to the point where nothing helps. Then you blowtorch it till red hot and tap har to get the now carobonised crap out. do this twice
Thank you