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SoliForum - 3D Printing Community → Help/Repair/Maintenance → New to this machine, gear that feeds the filament is slipping
The filament feeds straight, so I dont think I have a clog, but when the filament is feeding, the gear that feeds it is slipping on the filament. This just started happening and no idea what is causing this. The filament line is also tension free.
Sounds like you need to adjust the tension arm.
there are two bolts, the top is 2.5mm and the other is a bit larger, which one to adjust? I loosened the top one and that didnt do anything
What printer do you have?
SD4, sorry thought I added that
also, extruder temp is set at 215c
See the spring on the left side of your extruder? That needs to be adjusted if my theory is correct.
When you the filament slips, do you notice the bearing on the right rotating?
if its printing OK and feeding enough its likely just retracting between print lines. long as its printing OK you cant really tell much watching as its printing.
but if its not feeding and your just clicking extrude in control menu (extruder heated of coarse) then theres an issue. what filament are you using etc? maybe you tried to move filament b4 head was hot and stripped some making it too thin to grab. which is what Azerate is trying to explain. we need more info to better help. also SD4 tension is tricky to adjust and center. theres another topic posted on this subject a couple days ago 'SD4 trouble' I think he had to add a washer under tension spring.
Check the pivot screw on the tension arm to make sure it is not too tight and limiting the arm's movement...also, take a look at the drive gear alignment to the hot end and make sure it is centered.
I suggest this becomes a Sticky Topic as there have been quite a few issues with this!
+1
I just 2 weeks ago had a similar problem with my SD3 . All of a sudden it would start to click and not feed well, then it would seem to get better then it would start over , my prints got stringy and very very erratic. It wound up being a PARTIALLY plugged nozzle . I took it apart cleaned it out and it is working great again. Bill D
if its printing OK and feeding enough its likely just retracting between print lines. long as its printing OK you cant really tell much watching as its printing.
but if its not feeding and your just clicking extrude in control menu (extruder heated of coarse) then theres an issue. what filament are you using etc? maybe you tried to move filament b4 head was hot and stripped some making it too thin to grab. which is what Azerate is trying to explain. we need more info to better help. also SD4 tension is tricky to adjust and center. theres another topic posted on this subject a couple days ago 'SD4 trouble' I think he had to add a washer under tension spring.
Its not printing ok. During a print, the gear just grinds into the filament and nothing gets fed after a while. Im using filament bought from solidoodle. I bought a roll from them when I purchased this machine. Everytime I rethread the filament, it is full and not thin and I extrude the filament for a good bit to clean out any old filament that may be stuck.. I can heat my extruder and feed for a good bit of time off the plate, but once I go to print, I soon have issues. Like I mentioned, this is a somewhat new issue. I have have yet to get 1 good print off in 3 days, usually I can print about a half a job before something happens. I seem to have everything taken care of and now this started to happen mid print. I have heard of a clogged extruder, but when I am off the plate, it usually extrudes nice and straight and full.
I just 2 weeks ago had a similar problem with my SD3 . All of a sudden it would start to click and not feed well, then it would seem to get better then it would start over , my prints got stringy and very very erratic. It wound up being a PARTIALLY plugged nozzle . I took it apart cleaned it out and it is working great again. I had used about 1/2 of a roll of yellow that came from Solidoodle when this happened . I also tried re feeding filament several times and changing to 4 different filaments didn't help. Cleaning nozzle solved my problem. This was suggested to me by Solidoodle tech after we checked tension and driver settings. Bill D
I just 2 weeks ago had a similar problem with my SD3 . All of a sudden it would start to click and not feed well, then it would seem to get better then it would start over , my prints got stringy and very very erratic. It wound up being a PARTIALLY plugged nozzle . I took it apart cleaned it out and it is working great again. I had used about 1/2 of a roll of yellow that came from Solidoodle when this happened . I also tried re feeding filament several times and changing to 4 different filaments didn't help. Cleaning nozzle solved my problem. This was suggested to me by Solidoodle tech after we checked tension and driver settings. Bill D
Thank you. I will do that tonight. Where can I find good videos of how to do this and other types of calibrations? I am having a hard time finding solid videos and technical guides for this machine. I took apart the spring area last night and cleaned the filament drive gear and the other part of that assembly (guide bearing?) but the extruder has a few wires and looks like it is wrapped in some sort of tape, so I dont want to go in just unscrewing things.
I followed this YOU TUBE video (although I moved jar of acetone ( he used alcohol) to the other side of garage far from torch).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bTfl35 … detailpage
The www.soliwiki.com has all the calibration videos ( links to You tube).
As I stated I have a SD3 similar to SD4 but I believe extruder is somewhat different, this being said , from what I have seen most extruders are basically the same idea , just implemented slightly differently.
The thermistor (temperature sensor) is taped to the nozzle with Kapton tape (special high temp tape) Can be bought on Ebay cheaply . It is very important to use this tape because of the high temps involved. It can be reused if you are real careful and lucky enough to peel it from the end .
Be careful on the reassembly and calibrations on mine it is possible to over tighten (to much tension ) on lever and put to much of a load on stepper motor which causes a very similar condition. I recommend ordering a spare barrel and nozzle as I have done so next time this happens I can just change it out ,keep on printing and clear the old nozzle out ,at my leisure for the next time.
PS . Solidoodle home page also has some good videos of calibrations . Good Luck and good Printing
PSS: I call mine a FrankenDoodle
Bill D
also dont let it sit too long with hot extruder not printing that burns/crystallizes filament into a clog
FrankenDoodle LOL put those printed mods on thingaverse man they are cool
Ok, I took everything apart, pulled up the stock kapton tape and put down blue tape and put acetone slurry on it. Releveled my bed and actually gave it a little more room. And loosed the spring arm a good bit. So far, it is doing really well. One thing I did notice, is that when it completes a new level and starts another, when it traverses across the layer laid, the tip is actually skimming that layer. What are my options to increase my retract distance in Z? Ill post more updates. Thanks for all the help!
Ok, it started acting up, again. Same issue. It got to layer 21 and the part started to look like crap and seems to be the same issue I have been having. There is filament dust on the gear indicating that its starting to slip. The screw that holds the tension spring is somewhat loose so their shouldnt be to much pressure going on. This is the first of the print, which looks great, followed by what it looks like now after 20 layers. http://imgur.com/a/FgCPe
Hi n2ri , most of my mods are on thingiverse or came from there search "solidoodle mods" I will add some more soon as i can
thanks for the LOL
Ok, it started acting up, again. Same issue. It got to layer 21 and the part started to look like crap and seems to be the same issue I have been having. There is filament dust on the gear indicating that its starting to slip. The screw that holds the tension spring is somewhat loose so their shouldnt be to much pressure going on. This is the first of the print, which looks great, followed by what it looks like now after 20 layers. http://imgur.com/a/FgCPe
Try cleaning nozzle your extruder looks very similar to mine so video I linked should help you . Your tensioner assembly looks different
southernrock18 wrote:Ok, it started acting up, again. Same issue. It got to layer 21 and the part started to look like crap and seems to be the same issue I have been having. There is filament dust on the gear indicating that its starting to slip. The screw that holds the tension spring is somewhat loose so their shouldnt be to much pressure going on. This is the first of the print, which looks great, followed by what it looks like now after 20 layers. http://imgur.com/a/FgCPe
Try cleaning nozzle your extruder looks similar to mine . Your tensioner assembly looks different
So, it prints great for 20 layers, then gets messed up? If thats the case, then no since in printing anything at all and putting this machine in the garbage. There has to be some underlying problem if it keeps getting clogged. Sure purging it might fix it for another 20 layers, but whats the point if this destroys the print?
Don't give up take the hot end apart make sure it is cleaned inside and out . all it takes to plug up is a piece of dirt or burnt filament or an impurity that got into the filament .03 mm thick floating around in the molten plastic in the nozzle to muck things up . Relax... breath deep... take it apart ... clean it ... try it again .
PS you can throw it my way if you want
Im not mad, just stating that if this is going to be a common issue 20 layers in, then whats the point?
I understand . I 've been there . But if you think about how much plastic gets squeezed thru that tiny little hole and how many times it goes from room temp to 200 + degrees C , that's over 400 degrees F . A little maintenance and cleaning now and then isn't that big a deal . Get a spare nozzle and barrel because eventually it will wear out or plug up beyond repair . I am fairly certain that you have made some things that your proud of . You will again and many more hopefully in the future ,. I have printed \ used 10 to 15 rolls, big ones, and only had 1 partial clog .It may have been something got in at time of manufacture or dust and dirt built up on filament who knows s_it happens. Bill D
only had this since friday, and nope, nothing to show for yet.
SoliForum - 3D Printing Community → Help/Repair/Maintenance → New to this machine, gear that feeds the filament is slipping
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