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SoliForum - 3D Printing Community → Help/Repair/Maintenance → Filament is not extruding during printing, at all.
Hello,
I've recently run into a problem with my Solidoodle 4 printer where the filament isn't extruding.
I'm using the basic Repetier software that comes with the printer and as far as I know there are no clogs in the extruder. I've checked for clogs and haven't seen anything, on top of this filament will continue to leak out when it's in idle mode and at temperature.
I'm attempting to print at a .1mm with the Slic3r settings unchanged.
SO.... does the extruder stepper move when manually telling it to in RH?
Is the filament drive gear clean from stripped plastic?
can you push the filament down by hand when the hotend is up to temp?
You probably won't be able to see most clogs as they happen inside the peek barrel.
-The extruder moves when I tell it to.
-The filament drive gear is clean
-I can push filament down by hand when it's heated up.
Check that the 'dry run' option is not enabled in RH. This is exactly what this button does...
Dry run is not enabled.
I thought the same thing and looked there first..
You might post the stl you're trying to print as it could have problems making it not print, one other thing is put a sharpie mark on the filament drive gear so you can tell if it is really going around or if the motor is stalling or slipping on the shaft
Also if the 'dry run' box is checked it will disable the heaters in both the bed and extruder.
I don't think I'm totally understanding the explanations that are being given because they don't really match up with what I'm seeing whenever I print something. So I went ahead and posted two videos on my signature (because for some reason it's not letting me post the links in this forum) to view. The first video is filament being extruded through the extruder (you'll see it change from black to green, and I apologize for the random hand and loud fan). The second video is a print I've done a few times now with a model I've previously printed using the same code and same settings. The filament seen during the print is filament that was leaked out from melting.
Obviously, it is not sticking well. Increase the stickage. There are many options, hairspray, glue stick, ABS slurry.
Also, it looks like your z-height adjustment screw is a little too close to the bed. If it is too close to the bed, nothing comes out because there is no space for the filament and it stays inside the barrel. Increase the 1st layer space using the z height screw a very tiny amount until you get a good squished layer.
(because for some reason it's not letting me post the links in this forum)
You need to have (I believe) 20 posts before posting links.
You are certainly having an issue with adhesion, though. Is this the first print you've tried?
Regardless, I agree with ggunners for glue, hairspray, or slurry.
I, as most users on here, recommend glass/mirror bed over your kapton and spray a little super extra hold hairspray...no more stick issues. I never could get a successful print on kapton.
And while you want the nozzle close to the bed for a fat and flat first layer, you do not want the nozzle to "kiss" the bed or you will have the issues ggunners mentions.
I don't have issues with sticking, if you look closely at the printing video you'll see it's been scratched up with sandpaper (another trick for sticking that I found people doing), that's helped things stick rather well up until now. I have no idea why it wasn't sticking this time around but that's not really my current problem sadly.
I've looked all over my solidoodle 4 and can't find the z-offset that's outlined in the solidoodle videos. Is it in a different place on 4 then it is on the others?
Side note: Thank you for all the help you've been giving so far, this being my first printer the problems I've been having with it have been pretty frustrating.
I don't have issues with sticking, if you look closely at the printing video you'll see it's been scratched up with sandpaper (another trick for sticking that I found people doing), that's helped things stick rather well up until now. I have no idea why it wasn't sticking this time around but that's not really my current problem sadly.
Sorry...I missed that one.
I've looked all over my solidoodle 4 and can't find the z-offset that's outlined in the solidoodle videos. Is it in a different place on 4 then it is on the others?
It is that little printed bracket with a M3 bolt found immediately to the left of your unthreaded z rods. This can easily be adjusted with the M3 allen wrench that came with your doodle.
Thank you for all the help you've been giving so far, this being my first printer the problems I've been having with it have been pretty frustrating.
We've all been there. Have patience, young grasshopper. 
I have a SD4 too, my understanding is that to adjust the Z axis you use the big black wheel at the back of the case if you look it is directly above the limit switch, sorry not more help than that as I’m new to this too 
)
For us that don't have an SD4, any pictures of the z adjustment?
This is what I use to adjust the z-axis on mine, sorry about the quality is phone pic whilst it was printing
Excellent, and you can adjust it with the case on too.
Okay, so after finally getting some time to fiddle with my printer again I adjusted the z-axis and it's still not extruding filament.
I'd also like to point out that contacting Solidoodle support is even more frustrating then trying to fix the printer.. Not the best technical support I've seen.. probably one of the worst.. But mini-rants caused by frustration aside..
A third video has been posted on my signature of the current problem I'm facing. I'm still able to extrude the filament manually but when I hit print it's not coming out as it should. Dry run is not enabled, settings for .1 have not been altered, the z-axis is set a little low on purpose to show what I'm talking about a little easier, and I'm using a model that I've printed before so g-codes have not been altered.
Edit after seeing the picture offered: Yes I found that out after looking all over for the z-axis on my SD4. I was very confused as to where it could be then my friend pointed that out and how it was sitting over a censor on the print bed. So lets all make a note of that shall we!? the SD4 has a dial for it's z-axis instead of an adjustable bolt.
Have you drawn a sharpie mark on the face of the filament extruder gear that is visible when printing? this way you will be able to see if the stepper is being commanded to extrude filament or not by the slicing software.
The model you are trying to print that was printed before.... are you printing the actual gcode file that was used before or the stl?
7Dsins,
From your video, the extruder with filament is working very well,
it seems the gap between of the nozzle and the bed is not too close,
it is too far, when the nozzle is moving, just pulling the printed lines up,
so you can let nozzle stops at the home position, then you can loosen the 3
springs by turning the wing nuts underneath bed bridge, decrease the gap.
If your bed is leveled perfectly, you don't want touch 3 springs, you can
turn the M3 screw(with a black printed knob) on the Z-tab, it is used with
a limit switch to control the home position of the bed bridge(Z-UP-DOWN
direction).
Just try, very small problem.
-If you look at my other video (#1 I think it is) you'll see me feeding the filament through the extruder. It changes from black to green eventually.
-my print bed is level
- the z-axis is purposefully set high (or low, which ever you prefer) in my video to show that it's not extruding properly.
-The model I'm attempting to print I've done with both an STL and a G-code.
If you think the gap between of the nozzle and the bed is OK,
when the bed temp. reached to 95-105C, you can put some
hair spray on the bed to hold your prints.
Could you please read my previous posts about this problem before you decide to post.. I've already said I don't have any issues with sticking when this issue isn't a problem.
And just for re-clarification for those that are new to this post:
-My print bed is level
-My extruder is manually extruding
-My prints stick when this is not a problem.
-In my videos the filament you see being used is what leaks out during printing
-My z-axis is positioned low on purpose for the video so it does not need to be adjusted.
-I'm using STLs and codes I've used previously so I know they print.
From your video #mov002, I think you have a sticking problem,
or the gap between the nozzle and the bed is too big, if you don't
know where is a Z-tab or an adjusting screw to calibrate the heating
bed(bridge), I don't think you level the print bed properly, so if
you can get the right gap(somebody inserts a metro card to measure it),
and use the hairspray, you will solve this problem. Just try, let us know
the result.
SoliForum - 3D Printing Community → Help/Repair/Maintenance → Filament is not extruding during printing, at all.
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