1 Topic by airsoftfarmer

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Topic: Motor too weak?

About 6 months ago I built the new style filastruder kit, followed the directions to a tee and it worked flawlessly with ABS. Then I tried nylon, got the temp up around 300c and it burnt the remaining ABS in the nozzle. Had to take it apart, clean the nozzle and barrel, and after that I got it to extrude nylon fairly consistently at 305c. When I was done with the nylon I tore it down again to clean it all out real good before switching back to ABS, but when I tried to extrude some ABS it just wouldn't push any out. Temps held steady around 182c same as it was with ABS before, but now it just seams like the motor is struggling more than it did before. When switched on it will turn a couple revolutions before stalling out (or whatever you call it when the controller board stops it from turning). It just sits there and whines for a few minutes while the filament creeps out at a snails pace, then clicks back on and turns a couple times before stalling out again. When it does turn the filament flies right out of there at the same pace it used to, and it doesn't seem like there is any extra resistance. Has anybody had this problem before? Is there some setting I can change on that board to keep it turning instead of stalling out?

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Motor too weak?

How much current is being drawn during these events, as shown by the stall protection board? It is possible you set the limit too conservatively.

If the limit is set correctly, I would guess there is some nylon or something else in the barrel that hasn't been cleaned out properly and is causing extra load.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
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3 Reply by airsoftfarmer

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Re: Motor too weak?

The barrel and nozzle are completely cleaned out, I've done it 3 times. On mine the screen shows 12. I assumed this was voltage because it never changes, even when the motor is loaded. How do I get it to display amps? And how do I change the limit?

4 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Motor too weak?

Pressing the OUT putting, to the right of the display, cycles:

Volts in - volts out - amps - watts - all 4 every few seconds - start at the beginning

The CC adjusts the current (torque) limit, but you should not exceed 1.6 amps or so.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

5 Reply by airsoftfarmer

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Re: Motor too weak?

OK I adjusted the amps to 1.6, it was only putting out 1 amp. It helped some, but it still gets to a point where no more will come out. Before it would extrude a few inches then quit, now it will extrude a couple feet but it still stalls out. I'm not sure what else could be causing this, I'm using good plastic, mg94.

6 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Motor too weak?

1 amp is normal for ABS. 1.6 amps is about the limit, beyond that gearbox wear is accelerated and and other damage can result.

It sounds like something has changed since initial operation, either in the way things were reassembled or the condition of the inside of the barrel/feedscrew.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

7 Reply by airsoftfarmer

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Re: Motor too weak?

If anything the insides are in better condition, I polished the screw and barrel with 1000 grit sandpaper. Also the nozzle gets a real good cleaning and polishing every time I have it out, and I ran a tap through the threads on the coupler to remove any baked on plastic. Everything is reassembled just like the directions said for the first assembly. I have the coupler and the nozzle screwed on all the way so there should be no exposed threads on the inside. If I have to take it apart again I think I'll try countersinking the inside of the nozzle a little so it's more of a funnel shape.

8 Reply by CFTechno

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Re: Motor too weak?

airsoftfarmer wrote:

I polished the ...barrel with 1000 grit sandpaper.

I'm sure I will be corrected when saying something wrong but I thought polishing the barrel will make the plastic turn with the auger (not enough friction between barrel and the plastic blob) and therefor the auger will not be able to push the plastic out of the nozzle.

9 Reply by pricecg44

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Re: Motor too weak?

The motor is tough, it will bend the barrel if you are not careful.