I've been searching but I can't find any detailed threads on how to clear an extruder gear jam. I'm trying to load some PLA after running some cleaner filament through. The PLA only goes into the extruder a few mm then stops. When I back out the new spool there are only 3-4 extruder gear teeth on it.
What are the proper steps to clearing out an extruder gear jam?
Proper way to clear an extruder gear jam?
Re: Proper way to clear an extruder gear jam?
You might need to adjust the Filament Drive Screw tension (tighten it about a quarter turn, assuming you loosened it for the cleaner filament) to get the PLA to start feeding in. When you feed it, press down lightly on the filament going in to get it to catch. Use PLA temps.
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minusbacon
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Re: Proper way to clear an extruder gear jam?
I didn't adjust the tension screw at all. I've ran cleaner filament through before without having to adjust it.Jules wrote:You might need to adjust the Filament Drive Screw tension (tighten it about a quarter turn, assuming you loosened it for the cleaner filament) to get the PLA to start feeding in. When you feed it, press down lightly on the filament going in to get it to catch. Use PLA temps.
Pressing down lightly on the filament doesn't make it catch and feed any further.
I've tried PLA up to PETG temps. Figured maybe there was a slight clog and making it hotter would break it loose. No luck.
I can see cleaner filament in the small open gap between the extruder and nozzle.
Re: Proper way to clear an extruder gear jam?
Yeah, but the diameter consistency on that cleaner filament is crap. Just because it worked once does not mean it's going to work a second time. You have to be extremely careful with that cleaner filament.
Never, ever, ever take PLA up to PETG temps. That is what carbonizes the PLA into the nozzle and over time, it will reduce the opening size.
The cleaner filament should never be extruded at more than 10 mm at a time. It can wad up underneath the gears.
The fact that the cleaner filament is showing in the gap does not necessarily mean that you have a jam, it would be showing there if you have not extruded it out yet. But it might be wadded up above the gap inside the drive.
1. To check for and clear a jam:
First retract the filament at PLA temps.
Turn off the machine.
If there is a zip tie holding the fan wires to the hotend wires, (to the right of the fan assembly), carefully snip it without cutting the wires.
Use the shortest allen wrench to remove the screw in the left corner of the extruder fan. Carefully set the fan assembly, with the white spacer and screw on the X-rail to get it out of the way.
Look around the gear to see if you have a wadding situation. Remove that with a pair of tweezer nose pliers. If there's still filament locking the hotend into place you can cut the filament with a thin knife/razor, in the gap between the filament drive and the hotend mount to remove the hotend.
Disconnect the hotend Heater and Extruder wires. Diassemble the hotend and remove the nozzle from the barrel. If you carefully twist/pull on it, you will pull the remaining plastic out of the barrel. Then the plastic can be rotated/pulled out of the nozzle by using leverage against the edge. If you break the plastic off in there, but there does not appear to be a clog, just reattach the nozzle and it will melt at the next go-round. If there is a clog (black carbonization - not clear or white cleaner filament) then use a blowtorch or solvent to clear the clog out of the nozzle. (There is a write-up on how to use a blowtorch to clear a nozzle clog in the How-To section.)
Remove the drive if needed for further cleaning. Use your pliers. Reassemble everything when you're done.
2. Then load up your PLA, make sure the tension is correct for it, and extrude it through slowly, 10mm at a time, for a total of about 100mm. If it doesn't start extruding after about 60mm, STOP. Retract again, check the bite marks on the PLA filament end. Adjust the tension if needed. Try again.
And that's it. Keep doing that until you have cleaned out the drive and the nozzle successfully. If you adjust the tension on the filament drive screw when you switch between filaments (particularly with the cleaner filament) it keeps jams from happening.
Never, ever, ever take PLA up to PETG temps. That is what carbonizes the PLA into the nozzle and over time, it will reduce the opening size.
The cleaner filament should never be extruded at more than 10 mm at a time. It can wad up underneath the gears.
The fact that the cleaner filament is showing in the gap does not necessarily mean that you have a jam, it would be showing there if you have not extruded it out yet. But it might be wadded up above the gap inside the drive.
1. To check for and clear a jam:
First retract the filament at PLA temps.
Turn off the machine.
If there is a zip tie holding the fan wires to the hotend wires, (to the right of the fan assembly), carefully snip it without cutting the wires.
Use the shortest allen wrench to remove the screw in the left corner of the extruder fan. Carefully set the fan assembly, with the white spacer and screw on the X-rail to get it out of the way.
Look around the gear to see if you have a wadding situation. Remove that with a pair of tweezer nose pliers. If there's still filament locking the hotend into place you can cut the filament with a thin knife/razor, in the gap between the filament drive and the hotend mount to remove the hotend.
Disconnect the hotend Heater and Extruder wires. Diassemble the hotend and remove the nozzle from the barrel. If you carefully twist/pull on it, you will pull the remaining plastic out of the barrel. Then the plastic can be rotated/pulled out of the nozzle by using leverage against the edge. If you break the plastic off in there, but there does not appear to be a clog, just reattach the nozzle and it will melt at the next go-round. If there is a clog (black carbonization - not clear or white cleaner filament) then use a blowtorch or solvent to clear the clog out of the nozzle. (There is a write-up on how to use a blowtorch to clear a nozzle clog in the How-To section.)
Remove the drive if needed for further cleaning. Use your pliers. Reassemble everything when you're done.
2. Then load up your PLA, make sure the tension is correct for it, and extrude it through slowly, 10mm at a time, for a total of about 100mm. If it doesn't start extruding after about 60mm, STOP. Retract again, check the bite marks on the PLA filament end. Adjust the tension if needed. Try again.
And that's it. Keep doing that until you have cleaned out the drive and the nozzle successfully. If you adjust the tension on the filament drive screw when you switch between filaments (particularly with the cleaner filament) it keeps jams from happening.