I am not having an issue with my A1 per say, but if I wanted to use the single spool feeder and not the AMS or needed to eventually replace a PTFE tube, I am having issues getting the tubes to release from the Extruder Filament feeder…
I’ve tried a couple printed tools and no soap, I apply what I think is a fair amount of pressure on that black collar to release the tube and the tube will not move… I have not tried tweezers yet, don’t have a pair that I think would work (maybe) but I figured that I’d see if there were any hints and tips out there to get them to come out?
Also, curious if that Filament feeder is a spare part, I don’t see if on the store if somehow it were to be damaged trying to get the tubes out? Is that the correct name for the part…
Two points id like to make if i may, i find the ptf tubes to be a little less obstinate when you remove them from the ams rather than the print head, that way i can just move a tube around, the second is i will usually run the single spool via the ams , as i find it much more convienient than all the fiddling about .
Thanks for that feedback, I’ve tried a few printed tools, I don’t think I tried the one’s you linked, I’ve seen the video on how to remove the tubes, I’ve ordered a set of tweezers similar to whats in the video as I think it may help, we’ll see…
Its possible that the tangs are stuck in the tube, one suggestion I got elsewhere was to after applying pressure to the black collar, push the tube a little then pull and see if it releases… I figured I’d try that once get some tweezers.
The link for extruder maintenance could come in handy some day. I’ve also noted that you can order the filament hub. which I’ve referred to as the filament feeder, which would be the last resort, cut the tubes, and replace the hub.
While it’s not critical at the moment, there could come a day where one needs to be able to remove the tubes and it would be nice to be able to know I can get them out.
They do come out of the AMS much easier, and it would be nice of the Filament hub could be upgraded to make tube replacement or extraction much easier.
Generic, that part does seem interesting, I think I’ve seem something similar in looking around.
It does seem like you’d have to install that at the initial installation of the tubes, if you’ve already installed them, you need to get them out to be able to install that… which might not be a bad idea if one can successfully extract them all… Though as I think about it, could remove them from the AMS Lite and see if it could be installed, as they do remove from the AMS easier…
Lion7718, so your using that Tube Connector as an intermediate connection between the filament hub and the AMS Lite, seems like an interesting work around if I can get the tubes out…
Yes. I wasn’t sure how long the connector would last if I kept disconnecting at the AMS…and disconnecting from the hub is a PITA.
So, now if I want to use the external spool, I can just push down on the black end & the tube comes right out.
I concur, removing the tubes from the filament hub is a major pain. despite several tools, I cannot get them to move… I’ll try a couple more things and if I cannot get them out, I think I’ll order a set of these couplers and cut the tubes back a couple inches and install them… Where you did it just for the external spool, I may do them all so that I can move it more easily perhaps if there is a need to disconnect the AMS-Lite.
If I ever need to get the tube out of the Hub, after that, I’ll see I can use an exacto knife perhaps to slice it enough to get the tube to release if I ever get to that point. Or just replace the hub, an inexpensive but annoying option.
I noticed that the pic you have, the coupler is black on both ends, where the item on the store has black on one end and blue on the other and they specify directionality. is there some markings on yours that show which way to install out of curiosity?
yeah, I had to expand the pic to see the colors… Is each side equally easy to work with to remove, if you wanted to remove the connector from the tube for whatever reason…
It seems like the best option to work around having to try and extract tubing from an A1 Filament hub… thanks
There is a reason you can’t easily remove those tubes. There are some metallic claws that are keeping them in place. You can remove the top with the help of those small clamps you see, then it come right off and easier to remove this way.
I have seen this in a video, however I am not sure how easy it is to remove that top cover from the filament hub, it does not look like it’s intended to come off, once installed, at least not easily.
I have tried a few tools similar to those noted by Bert, and still have not been able to remove a tube… and its possible that those claws have embedded themselves into the tube and the black component that your supposed to be able to push down to release those claws, either does not go down far enough to separate the claws from the tube or the claws may just be embedded into the tube too far to release it, and short of taking it apart as suggested, there are a couple work arounds discussed here… Personally am reluctant to try and separate that cover from the filament hub as I think it will break. Maybe it’s easier than it looks.
I am probably going to get some of those tube connectors to make it easier to replace the tubes or use the single spool feeder. And may also order a spare filament hub should a problem arise where removing the tubes and replacing them is required to fix a problem.
