Greetings.
Until recently I was a proud and happy owner of an A1.
Now I’m not a happy owner anymore.
Looks like filament is somehow leaking through the nozzle. I didn’t have a print since, mostly because it just drags the print along and destroy it. I’ve tried changing the nozzle into the hardened steel one, but that created a whole new issue of destroying the surface of the print plate. I’ve did the calibration from the control panel, but that yielded the same result.
I would be happy if I could just print without previously mentioned issues.
Am I looking at it wrong?
Pictures related.
The hot filament can cool on the outside and then more and more filament extrudes into the balloon inflating it.
A number of things can trigger it. One is filament moisture can cause burps of molten filament instead of smooth extrusion. If the filament curls any and reconnects with the extruder body or nozzle and sticks, you can have the extruder pump molten filament up into the extruder body and encase the extruder and wiring and make for a very frustrating time cleaning it up with a heat gun and other tools.
There are some spectacular examples here posted occasionally. It can break extruder parts, rip out wires, and just cause general havoc.
There is some company that sells a material to paint onto the nozzle exterior to make filament less likely to stick if it curls but I haven’t tried it to know how well it works or what the name is. Maybe someone else knows.
I’ve tried two different filament types from two different manufacturers, with zero different results. Could it be that something happened to the thing that nozzle is attached to?
Calibration didn’t help.
While it gets more unlikely that two different filaments from different manufacturers would have the same issues, in the world of probabilities it could still happen.
You are right that something is happening to the nozzle though. When melted filament sticks to it, it leaves a little behind making the next curl that touches it more likely to stick too unless you clean it off.
But the curling is the symptom. extruded filament should leave the nozzle straight and not be trying to curl back and one reason for that to happen is filament moisture causing extrusion to vary in volume and speed. Another is a clog that could send melted filament out a little sideways. If you suspect a clog, the wiki has how to cold pull and other advice.
Actually, looking at that build plate where the nozzle was rubbing away the PEI, it could also be a little bit of PEI got in the nozzle to cause the curl and tube balloon. Maybe?
I don’t know how bed leveling and homing works on the A1, but I presume it uses the nozzle tip for homing.
I have only an H2D and that uses the nozzle tip for homing and for bed leveling.
In the Machine start G-code there is an additional -0.02mm Z-offset when a Textured PEI plate is used.
I would nod know how to mess that up in the H2D, but possibly the A1 has a different procedure when you replace a nozzle.
If the printer just destroyed the plate because you exchanged a nozzle, the I would definitely contact Support on this.
I’ve submitted a ticket about the destroyed plate, but for time being, I’ve put back the original nozzle after cleaning it up and I’m noticing that the nozzle has a slight wobble when it extrudes. I’ve never seen it work without the cover and the silicone sleeve, but maybe someone can tell me if this is normal or not?
I don’t have that printer but other discussions say not normal and loose screws. You want the extruder rigid. That wobble means the extruder isn’t extruding where the printer thinks it is.
If it’s wobbling check the screws that hold the heating element. If they’re loose that would cause wobbling. It’s the only attachment point for the nozzle.
You may want to do the same for the extruder, although I believe it’s the heating element. That would be consistant across nozzles and filament.
Edit-I see @MZip has already introduced that idea and it’s been discussed. My bad. Too little coffee.
This is the first thing I’ve tried after browsing through this forum. All screws that I could find were tight. Nothing was loose. But to be fair, I haven’t completely disassembled the hotend. Only what was under the cover and visible around it.
Still waiting on the support to get back to me.
