Long time user of Bambu X1, with over 2000 hrs on these printers. I have been using these printers with no major issues until now. I have had random clogging/skipping issues while using my .2mm nozzle. I have used the .2mm for SO many projects without issue. I have printed 100s of keycaps for many custom novelty keyboards without issue. Now, for the life of me, I can’t even get a purge to come through my .2mm nozzles.
This started as intermittent clogging/skipping extruder motor (randomly over months), which caused me to buy at least 3 new .2mm nozzles, 2 new extruders, new MB, MCU interface board, and bowden tubing. I have upgraded firmware, downgraded firmware, factory reset, tried every filament I own, different temps, cold pulls, hot pulls, etc. I’m not new to 3d printing and I,m really good at troubleshooting. But I can’t figure out what is wrong with using the .2mm nozzle.
I just bought a new Extruder motor, to try this. Yet, I am not confident that this will fix the issue. However, if I take the hotend and extruder off the toolhead and I tell the extruder motor to feed. With the extruder pinion gear visibly turning, I can make it skip by holding the gear with two fingers. Should I be able to hold the gear from moving with 2 bare fingers? I don’t know… The printer can print just fine through a .4mm nozzle but maybe the .2mm is just too small and too much pressure for a weak extruder motor? I can say, I’ve never had an extruder motor give out before, has anyone else?
Apart from submitting a ticket to Bambu, (because I feel I should be able to figure this out) before they get back to me and tell me what the heck is going on!! I thought I would post this here. I see there are many other posts with similar issues, and it looks like none of them have been resolved with certainty.
From the first two paragraphs, I would suggest checking the extruder motor.
Then, your description of the motor is odd. I never tested the X1C motor, but holding it with your fingers in other direct drives was impossible unless you have extreme finger strength.
Can you rotate the motor axis with your bare hands?
Besides the motor, the issue can be in the power transmission, i.e. cable and connectors. You may check continuity and measure voltage/current at the extruder cable terminals.
I also never had an extruder motor die. Still, I also never had problems with cables or connections, and these, despite minor, were the only components I needed to replace in the X1C (both within the extruder assembly).
I hope you find the cause and will be thankful if you share it.
Can I ask what material you use? ASA/ABS or some other high-temp enclosed filament perhaps?
I print almost 100% in ASA and all of a sudden have been getting occasional clogs on my .6 and constant clogs on my .4 nozzle. I print lots, my profiles have not changed. I have tried replacing many parts, like you, and have not been able to solve why this is suddenly happening. The latest part I tried was the extruder motor and it did not help. My reasoning was the extruder body itself seems to get very hot (around 65c) and wondered if the motor was dying but the new motor seems to get the extruder up to the same temps, so I guess thats normal? Support have been no help at all.
Hello, It does seem odd that I can prevent the extruder motors pinion gear from turning, just by holding it with my bare fingers. While I’m waiting for the new extruder to arrive, I want to do some electrical tests. I’m not finding much info on what currents should be where, when testing different electrical connections. So, if someone has some insight on this and what numbers to look for when testing extruder motor connections, this would be appreciated.
I have tried a few other tests to see, like feeding the filament directly into the top of the toolhead, bypassing any bowden tube. Again, have tried using brand new complete hotends. I have replaced thermistors, heater cartridges, different filaments, different temperatures. I would expect NONE of these to be the culprit, since I have done these types of tests and changes long before I got into Bambu printers. They have not been the fix this time, either.
That is a good thought and definitely worthy of a test.
I’m pretty sure the inside of the hotend is reaching the temp needed. I have swapped out the thermistor and heat cartridge many times. I have used the thermal paste accordingly. This procedure has worked with no issues when using any of my .4mm or larger nozzles. I know the filament is molten in the tip, because it does try to ooze out. I can take a .15mm acupuncture needle and insert it into the tip and the pressure built up can push the needle out and ooze a little, all while the extruder is skipping. This is only with .2mm nozzles.
Primarily I use PETG and don’t usually have issues with it. In this circumstance though, I have tried all filaments and still get the same results.
If you are trying to print your filaments at the hottest they will allow, maybe try reducing the print temp a bit. I use to print at the hottest temp possible and that was leading to issues related to clogging, skipping extruder. I think I was getting minor heat creep even with high temp filaments. That, or because I was always printing Petg, PC, Nylon, at high temps. Maybe, it was too hot leading to bits forming in the hotend tip, coming loose and clogging? I have since reduced my printing temps and have had much better results. Maybe this will help you.
Still working on this extruder skipping issue, though.