1 (edited by COASTER19 2014-02-10 00:03:36)

Topic: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

My extruder stepper has been clicking a lot recently, and despite adjusting the driver current and trying different filaments, the problem persists.  I would immediately assume it is a partial clog, but I have a relatively new E3D which has never been left up to temperature and idle for more than a minute at a time.  I'm usually printing natural ABS at 240 degrees, and everything works fine for the first 2 hours (apart from clicking) before it goes bad stops pushing filament out of the nozzle.  I do have a fan on my stepper drivers, my psu is upgraded, and the extruder stepper is not hot to the touch.

Any Ideas?  Thanks in advance!

2

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

A clog can occur from many things not just high temps, best thing to do is pull the nozzle off and check/clean it.

3 (edited by Tomek 2014-02-02 02:04:07)

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Try 230 degrees? "2hrs" suggests temperature creep, resulting in some expansion up higher above the heat zone. 240 is also relatively high, for natural ABS no less (natural tends to = slightly lower temp.)


Only time Ihad this problem was when my e3d fan stopped worked. It would work but the wire was broken somewhere so occasionally it'd stop and sometimes an hour or two intot he print it would stop long enough to cause a clog.

4

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Nozzle cleaned out!  One last question before I print anything: My E3D has the Semitech thermistor, so does that mean I actually need to have the thermistor type as TEMP_SENSOR_0 5 in the configuration.h?  I had originally followed the instructions on the wiki (http://www.soliwiki.com/E3D_extruder) and only just saw the blog post about the switch in thermistors (http://e3d-online.com/index.php?route=e … blog_id=19)

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Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

So I changed the thermistor to type 5, and it seems to work just as it did before when it was "TEMP_SENSOR_0 6 //solidoodle patch".  Unfortunately, with 230 degrees, a cleaned out e3d, and some good natural ABS, the motor still clicks.  I'm going to try the stock hot end again to see if the problem is with the hot end or the electronics.  Would having the stock stepper drivers on the Sanguinololu be a problem instead of DRV8825's?

6

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Does it click without filament in it or is the filament stripping on the drive gear?  If it is stripping on the drive gear you should check the alignment of the bearing and the drive gear.  Ensure that is lined up with the hot end and then make sure that you have the tension arm adjusted correctly.  I have found that some filaments are softer than others and if the tension arm is to tight it will actually squish the filament and cause it to strip.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

7

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

It doesn't click without filament.  Depending on the tension in the spring the filament will either strip or the motor click, so I doubt the bearing is to blame.  I don't feel like the alignment is very good, but the E3D wont go any further into the MK5.  I had to create a part to prevent the filament from bending after the stepper and before it enters the hot end, and without it, the filament bends before the motor starts clicking.

8

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

COASTER19 wrote:

It doesn't click without filament.  Depending on the tension in the spring the filament will either strip or the motor click, so I doubt the bearing is to blame.  I don't feel like the alignment is very good, but the E3D wont go any further into the MK5.  I had to create a part to prevent the filament from bending after the stepper and before it enters the hot end, and without it, the filament bends before the motor starts clicking.

Have you loosened the set screw on the drive gear and aligned it with the hole?  Getting the E3D into the MK-5 isn't the issue unless it is not going in at all.  Once you align the drive gear you will then see that the bearing on the tension arm also needs to be aligned with the hole in the top of the E3D.  Give that a try and let us know your outcome.  I find it hard to believe even at 230 degrees that you had a clog.  I just ran mine as a test at 235 for the last hour and no problems.  Although 220 is about where I have the best results.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

9

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Will do in the morning!  Thanks for your help!  It never even crossed my mind to move it.  Is that 220 for ABS?

10

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

COASTER19 wrote:

Will do in the morning!  Thanks for your help!  It never even crossed my mind to move it.  Is that 220 for ABS?

Yes 220 for ABS
Hope you figure it out.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

11

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Well that drive gear is really tight!  Hex stripped before it could come off.  I then decided to try my old hotend from Solidoodle.  It worked just fine.  Not as quick to extrude as the e3d, but there was no clicking, and I didn't even need the little part I made to prevent the filament from bending between the drive gear and peek.

12

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Oh one more odd thing about this E3D prolem: It clicked less when I bumped the temperature up to 230 over the 220, where it barely could extrude at all.

13

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

COASTER19 wrote:

Well that drive gear is really tight!  Hex stripped before it could come off.  I then decided to try my old hotend from Solidoodle.  It worked just fine.  Not as quick to extrude as the e3d, but there was no clicking, and I didn't even need the little part I made to prevent the filament from bending between the drive gear and peek.

That is to bad (Hex Stripped) I hope you can fix that as I believe your real problem with the E3D was an Alignment issue.
I have an extra extruder motor and E3D all mounted to MK-5 That works if your interested in some kind of exchange?
I switched to the Bulldog XL and put a new E3D thinking I might want to switch the hole assembly from time to time.
Just drop me a PM I am willing to help you out if I can and I truly believe once you get an E3D running you'll wonder how you ever printed with out it.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

14

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

http://i.imgur.com/S1U0ch3.jpg

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

15

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Thanks, but I think I'll try to salvage the old extruder stepper and just buy a new drive gear.  I'd worry that I messed something up with the E3D rendering it useless.  Thanks for all your help!

16

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Your welcome,
That little set screw is a pain and I have never seen an easy out that small.  You might try a slightly over sized hex wrench and file it to a taper.  I have also had good luck using torx (star) wrench of the appropriate size.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

17

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

I've been able to get set screws out in the past with a small flat head eyeglass screwdriver.

18

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

They use loctite/cyanoacrylate on/in the grub screw so you have to 'work' the driver bit into it to get a good hold before trying to unscrew it also you can put toothpaste or something with a fine grit on the driver to get a better bite. If it is definitely stripped then if you have to remove it cut it off with a dremel or something similar and get a new drive gear.

Make sure you have the correct driver size and not too small.

19

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Yep!  it is definitely an alignment issue.  I tried printing without the accessory clip with the stock hot end today, and about 10 minutes in, it pushed the peek straight out the front of the MK5.  Thanks all!

20

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Just a quick wrap up of the problem:  I drilled out the old screw which was stuck, somehow managed to preserve the thread, and got a 6mm long 3mm screw at my local Nuts & Bolts for the wallet breaking price of 30 cents.  I'm now printing again without any clicking, and the screw I got to replace it with has a flat head which can be gripped with pliers if needed.  The old piece which I used to prevent the filament from bending out the front of the MK5 is no longer necessary!  Thank you!

21

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

Glad to hear you got it working.  Next time I strip out a small screw and need it drilled out I am just sending it to you.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

22

Re: Extruder Clicking... E3D Clogged?

One advantage of a drill press smile