I have a frustrating problem. I am printing with iMetrx PLA Silk… I have printed 3 different colours with it, but when I switch to the green spool, my problems start.
I have tried this both through the AMS (multiple slots) and through the solo back spool. In the AMS, the first attempt, it printed the first layer and then jammed. I removed the jam in the extruder and attempted again. Through the AMS, the filament will not extrude any longer. I can, however, print other colours in the same and other AMS slots… thus, I know my extruder is not clogged.
I switched to the solo spool method… the filament fed in and printed the first layer. When I looked back later, the printer looked like it was printing, head moving and Z-axis moving, but no filament was coming out. I unloaded the side spool and went back to a different colour in the AMS and it printed with no issues.
I have no idea what is going on… any suggestions would be appreciated.
I have found the fast prints to be more susceptible to moisture.
I was halfway to suggesting contamination on the filament/in the extruder as well as worn PTFE’s, but you did mention that other filaments printed afterwards worked fine. So I regard those as unlikely.
I think the end of the filament found its way under another wrap and now when the extruder pulls it is basically tightening an overhand knot until it cannot pull any more. Stop printing, the knot loosens. Start printing and everything is fine again until the slack is taken up.
It can be difficult to find the spot where the filament crosses under itself as that point can move around the spool as it spins. But it teaches a good lesson in spool handling - always keep the end of the filament under control.
