Newest Soldidoodle S4 Extruders not feeding filament (Page 1 of 2)

I've never had an issue with this on the SD4. Can you post a picture of the front of your extruder motor where the hotend is/where the filament is visible in the drive gear? That might help. Sounds like your spring isn't the right size or something. Really unfortunate that you'd experience that with a new printer...

Also, it's a new printer, so there's no chance your barrel or nozzle is clogged, right? Is it failing to feed, or is it clicking and stripping filament?

Edit: One final thought. When you feed filament through, make 100% sure that it is aligned correctly between the gears, and do not give it any force after the teeth catch. If you do either of these things, you'll have feeding troubles. The first few times I tried to feed filament on this thing, I had it looping all over, busting and sending dust everywhere. Mess.

Ive attached the pic

No thats with the lever forced to the top and screwed there. Anything less and the filament wont feed. Ive taken the feeder gear off and soaked in acetone and brushed it clean but it doesnt help. The only thing I can think off is they started used a different gear and it just doesnt have the bite that the old one did. If you could send me a pic of your gear it would help me out allot and possibly if Im right I will know what the problem is. I just need to see the teeth of the gear and how far beveled in the channel for the filament is. I think on the old design it was just a gear with no channel in the middle......that way I would have to put so much tension on it to get it to bite.

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?actio … mp;preview

1) Check if the spring is in the right position, it seems too high.
2) If the motor works?
3) Clean the filament dust, when hot end temp. Raised to 215c-220c,
Push the filament down by hand, or extrude the filament.
4) Check the quality of the filament, and change the filament to test.

Like I said this isn't a typical issue. If you email support sand can get through their barrage of annoying tests they might replace the idler. (If that's what it's still called).

Oh yeah that hole is HUGE...I mean the washer bearly covers it. I know people have been printing there own extruder mounts for the SD4....maybe I should just try one of those.

Im not sure if it's missing, but there should be one there. Explains exactly why the first few prints were great and then it all went to hell. I build drones and I used one of Hexagonal spacers that are used between plates to stack one on top of of another. Same screw size in the middle and fit snugly in the hole. Now after cleaning it again and putting it back on the lever stays where it should which puts the fulcrum point at the right place to provide the needed pressure without having to Tighten it down constantly.

So what must have happend was it got put on at the factory with the screw in the middle. Then After using the lever a few times switching between colors it slipped and would not feed. I am happy about having one of the newest SD4 printers (my old one broke) because now I have belts that are one piece and there are no screw holed in each one. There also guided better in the new Carriages so the whole thing moves around much smoother. Plus I got the beefy gear holders from the start and they actually used loctite this time!

I think if you printed out the new carriages and got the new belts you could convert to the new style. Plus you can print out the bigger gear holders as well before they fail......because when mine failed the belt got stuck under something and the printer kept yanking on it which bent something. So a bigger holder and a washer is a good idea to do sooner rather then later.

Oh and one more thing....for the z Axis wheel the screw simply isnt long enough, and even all the way down the bed will hit the wheel before it stops. I added another one of my barrels to the screws end and hits the relay much earlier allowing me to have a 1/4" glass bed and still have the springs up. Plus tomorrow my new E3d V6 hot end will be here! Ive been looking forward to that for awhile. The V6 is shorter and is supposed to work miracles so hopefully that is true. The company sells the V6 on ebay for 78.95 Shipped or on the web for $99.

It's not from PLA, it's just a cheap design. I think with minor improvement it could be awesome, but it needs modification from the factory. Better than the acrylic nightmare I keep hearing about, even if it did work better. All these folks need to do is put in a spacer or find a larger spring. Worked for me. The design is so simple that this is really all it takes, once you figure it out. Need a sticky.

Many SD4 fans come broken too. Just the way of the game with these printers. Honestly there are so many differences between prior printers and so many problems with the SD4 that we need a sticky about them. They are a pain. Mine gives me joy most of the time, but luckily I'm running out of components to mod or repair. I think I know how all of it works now...

Soon, I plan to write the missing SD4 manual, but I'm debating it because the press will probably phase it out pretty quick.

Edit: Hahahaha. I forgot I posted in this thread about this never happening to me. Well, it bit me in the ass big time!

seems they not only need packaging help but assembly help as well as quality control.

Can't wait to get an e3d. Even if it does clog, it's not as big a deal if I understand. Plus, definitely gotta start using some more interesting material.

Well Unfortunately my other end is broken so I cant print anything. I would like to wait....but the top 2 rings Im talking about are above the main heat sink and I think are made to help it mount.....And The mounting screw will work just fine to hold it in place. so I dont think it will be much of a problem. That mount is nice though.....