How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-13 20:48:10

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Topic: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

I did a search and didn't see it posted anywhere. I am using compressed air to clean out the filament dust as well as wiping them. I find I have to do this every 3 medium sized prints. Is this normal or do I have something set wrong? Is the spring on to tight??

Thanks
Martin

Oh I am using white ABS from Solidoodle.

**muddtt** · 2013-11-13 21:02:55

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

I use abs. Have hardly ever noticed any dust except once when the filament slipped off the roller. Mine is sainsmart.

**2n2r5** · 2013-11-13 22:54:53

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

If you are having to do this more than just on the rare occasion then you probably need to calibrate your extruder and raise your temps up. Check the wiki for calibrations. There are 2 that you will need to do. The extruder cal and the flowrate calibration.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

**muddtt** · 2013-11-13 23:06:19

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

other thing that might be the cause is your retraction settings. maybe it's going to fast and stripping the filament? This could happen if the spring force is low also.

**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-13 23:17:08

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

My Extruder Temp is 200 sould I up it to 205?

**2n2r5** · 2013-11-13 23:28:37

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

You should be fine at 200. I would start with the extruder calibrations. Also, is the fan on the back of the extruder motor running? Sometimes the heat from the extruder motor can soften the plastic which will cause it to strip.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-13 23:32:01

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

Yes it is running. Should I turn it off if so how? The fan control in the program has no effect on it.

**2n2r5** · 2013-11-14 00:51:29

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

The fan should stay on when ever the printer is. It isn't controlled through the software. That is for a fan that you can add.

Have you done your calibrations yet?

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

**RavensCrest** · 2013-11-14 22:12:20

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

Actually, can u post a picture to show us where the dust is... i am still confused to where the dust is... from the tiny hole the filament passed thru? or on the extruder? or between extruder to hotend??
i have "some" between extruder to hotend... but it's nothing. it's not affecting the print or anything.. it's just dust from grinding or scrapping.

Solidoodle2 with Ceramic tile heated bed http://www.soliforum.com/topic/2544/my- … eated-bed/
"1kg should last for an while" is a lie!

**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-15 15:28:31

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

There is no dust there now, its between the two silver wheels. Do you think this is an extruder calibration problem I printed one object perfect (a soap dish) then I tried a coral bracelet and got an failed print twice.

Pic one - soap dish

pic two failed braclet.

Any Ideas?

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1465150_10153515405990204_1841708277_n.jpg 56.48 kb, file has never been downloaded.

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**3d-oodler** · 2013-11-15 20:04:06

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

It looks like the failed braclet needs support material, but didn't have any sliced. Could that be the case?

Perhaps it's this object? http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:88849

If so, you may need to play with print speeds (slow them down) in order to print without support material.

Also, how does it look after slicing? Comments say slic3r does a bad job.

**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-15 21:41:21

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

Yes that's exactly what I am trying to print! You think it's the object? It looked fine after slicing. What do I use if I don't use slic3r?

**3d-oodler** · 2013-11-15 22:24:57

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

The author wrote: "Using MakerWare with High Quality settings (SkienForge) for slicing." And someone else commented: "Mine turned into a big mess using KISSlicer."

So you might try slicing with SkienForge.

On second thought, if it seems to have sliced OK it may be more a factor of your print temperature, speed, and calibrations.

You'll have to try different things to improve the quality.

Click through the makes to see how others' came out, and their comments:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:88849/#made

**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-16 16:10:49

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

I am new at this, I have been hearing alot about SkienForge. Does this replace Repetier how does it work with it. I have been trying to do "Grumpy cat and I am haveing issues with it never slicing ugh.

**3d-oodler** · 2013-11-16 17:16:59

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

SkienForge is an alternative to slic3r, which is integrated into Repeatier Host. RH is still required to print the gcode.

I've always sliced stl files outside of RH (with slic3r), then loaded the gcode to print.

**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-16 17:58:53

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

Thank you for all your help I will have to give that a try. I want to try the other program too. I never thought the learning curve would be so high. I thought creating the objects in 3D would be the pain. I also get this error when I Load the object (see attached photo)

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**elmoret** · 2013-11-16 18:11:00

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

Normal, ignore it.

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**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-16 18:24:15

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

3d-oodler wrote:

SkienForge is an alternative to slic3r, which is integrated into Repeatier Host. RH is still required to print the gcode.
I've always sliced stl files outside of RH (with slic3r), then loaded the gcode to print.

Pardon my ignorance but how do I do that? Find the folder with Slic3r inb it an run the .exe?

**3d-oodler** · 2013-11-16 18:40:24

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

Yes. Though there is a way to launch it from within RH (I'm not in front of my computer). I think it's labelled something about custom/modify profile.

You could start by simply trying to reprint what you already sliced but set the feed rate in RH to 50 (rather than the default of 100).

**MartinFahrer** · 2013-11-16 21:16:49

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Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

Thanks I will try that.

How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

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1 Topic by MartinFahrer 2013-11-13 20:48:10

Topic: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

2 Reply by muddtt 2013-11-13 21:02:55 (edited by muddtt 2013-11-13 21:27:45)

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

3 Reply by 2n2r5 2013-11-13 22:54:53

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

4 Reply by muddtt 2013-11-13 23:06:19

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

5 Reply by MartinFahrer 2013-11-13 23:17:08

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

6 Reply by 2n2r5 2013-11-13 23:28:37

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

7 Reply by MartinFahrer 2013-11-13 23:32:01

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

8 Reply by 2n2r5 2013-11-14 00:51:29

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

9 Reply by RavensCrest 2013-11-14 22:12:20

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

10 Reply by MartinFahrer 2013-11-15 15:28:31

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

11 Reply by 3d-oodler 2013-11-15 20:04:06 (edited by 3d-oodler 2013-11-15 20:08:02)

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

12 Reply by MartinFahrer 2013-11-15 21:41:21

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

13 Reply by 3d-oodler 2013-11-15 22:24:57 (edited by 3d-oodler 2013-11-15 22:27:18)

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

14 Reply by MartinFahrer 2013-11-16 16:10:49

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

15 Reply by 3d-oodler 2013-11-16 17:16:59

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

16 Reply by MartinFahrer 2013-11-16 17:58:53

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

17 Reply by elmoret 2013-11-16 18:11:00

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

18 Reply by MartinFahrer 2013-11-16 18:24:15

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

19 Reply by 3d-oodler 2013-11-16 18:40:24

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

20 Reply by MartinFahrer 2013-11-16 21:16:49

Re: How often do you need to blow out the dust from the print head?

Posts: 20