Interesting note to my previous post about temps.
I have been having some unusual printing issues and have felt like I would need to make adjustments to the software every print to get good prints. The prints are looking a bit "starved" of plastic, so I would keep upping the temps to get good flow or tweaking first layer heights to get good adhesion, thinking the z-stop wasn't set right. Last night, I started a print and suddenly the perimeters were not adhering well, so I was adjusting that percentage in the Simplify3d too, but couldn't get it to print right.
Then, I read a few posts about nozzle clogging. Maybe I had cloggage? Have I been solving my problems with the wrong answers?
So, I learned to disassemble the v3b extruder. After a bit of searching ('cause I knew it wasn't in the manual
) I pieced together the info I needed. So here it is in one place.
Still got those spare parts? Good! You need two M6 nuts to make a jam nut and a tiny Allen wrench, such as the one that comes with the M2. You need a couple of wrenches and a set of pliers with jaws wrapped in tape. You also need a tiny drill bit or wire smaller than orifice and a pin vise or something to hold it. Lastly, an Xacto, a 1/8"-ish drill bit, a lighter, and a wee bit of Teflon tape.
1. Unplug and remove cooled extruder.
2. Use a wrench to hold the nozzle while you unscrew the plastic tube unit from the brass tube (using padded pliers).
3. Use the Xatco to clean the old Teflon tape out of the threads and then unscrew the heat block.
4. Thread the two M6 nuts onto the brass tube a little ways and tighten them into each other so they lock onto the tube.
5. Using two wrenches, loosen the nozzle from the tube. It will take a little extra oomph to break loose, but is no big deal.
6. Gently heat the nozzle end of the brass tube with a lighter and push the old filament out with the small Allen wrench.
7. Next, heat the nozzle with the lighter and use the drill/pin to push the filament out of the rear of the nozzle. You may have to insert a 1/8"-ish drill bit into the rear of the heated nozzle by hand and give it a twist to get the plug out.
8. Make sure everything is clean and reassemble using new Teflon tape for the plastic parts (which you can hand tighten).
http://www.makergear.com/pages/stepper- ... nd-batch-2 for more info and pics.
Holy Cow, I had some bad cloggulation! I had to immediately dial back the software to compensate for the increased flow and the M2 is back to printing like a champ.
The search engine is your friend!