My prior print on my P1S stopped due to running out of PLA filament mid-print. I decided to start a different print with TPU. Tried to load it with the “Load” command on the LCD. It will not load. The extruder moves to the back left. Every time I “Retry” the extruder comes out a few inches and then loudly slams back to where it started at the back left. I was pushing the filament down the Bowden tube, but it never catches in the extruder. I tried Unload thinking maybe there was filament left from when I ran out. Didn’t help. Is there maybe a piece of the old filament stuck in the extruder or somewhere in the hotend ? Should I try a cold pull. Or get into the extruder and look for a piece of old filament ? Where could I find instructions ?- Newbie Bob
Yes there’s likely filament stuck in the hotend that can’t be pushed through (especially with soft TPU). It’s quite common on these printers unfortunately and I find it’s usually caused by the filament cutter not making a clean cut which causes a burr that won’t pass through the top of the hotend. To fix this you’ll have to remove the extruder and heat up a small allen key with a torch and push it into the filament to draw it out. The different methods to clearing a clog are in the wiki. EDIT: sorry I should have mentioned that this link is for the X1 series but the P1 series procedures are the same apart from the heating of the hotend and moving of the toolhead through the menu.
Thanks for taking the time RMB. I’ll give it a shot.
All the best,
Bob
Since your using the external spool to load TPU, I wonder if it would help to withdraw the old filament then pull the tube off the top of the extruder, heat it up and put a short section of TPU until it all passes. Then reverse extrude it, put the tube back and then load with TPU. ?
Clearing hot end jams is a PITA. But forcing filament into the knife area and clearing that would be a real mess.
Thanks ! I’ll give that a shot too…- Bob
The new filament just doesn’t “catch” when I push it in. So I suspect as per RMB there is filament stuck in the extruder, maybe around the gears, that prevent any further acceptance of filament or cold pulls. I’ve concluded I will need to get into the extruder.
So, since both RMB and Dean448 must have certainly done this (X1 or P1P or P1S), I guess I’d like to know two things.
First, how risky/difficult is it to get a peek at the inside of the extruder, the gears, etc. Particularly since I hear it reported its a P.I.T.A. I guess it has no bearing on whether or not I will, but just a bit of encouragement that its not rocket science and small likelihood I will bitch something up. My P1S is almost brand new !
And secondly, any tips on getting into the extruder ? Taking pictures at each step so I don’t lose any parts and remember how to re-assemble, locating the extruder some magic position first, etc. It looks like a bitch getting at the extruder even from the top.
I’m not a klutz. Just finished a direct drive (Micro Swiss) upgrade to my used Ender 3 yesterday. But it was a $20 machine from Goodwill, not my $800 P1S. So I’m extremely nervous…
Best, Bob
It’s not a really hard job and if you’ve been working on hotends before, you’ll likely find it reasonably easy.
I’ll try to give you a rundown.
- After you’ve unloaded the filament, move the toolhead further to the front and centre to make it easier to work on.
- Turn off the other power and then take off the front cover.
- If you don’t have a hook printed for the cover, you’ll have to disconnect the fan from the board and put the cover aside.
- Remove the PTFE tube where it goes into the extruder.
- You have to move the filament cutter out of the way, to do this you need to unscrew the small retaining screw enough so you can pull the lever out with the cutter.
- Unplug the 2 hotend plugs, remove the 2 bolts that hold in the hotend and take it out.
- Then there’s 4 screws (?) that hold the extruder in and it should just come out.
- Then there’s more screws that hold the 2 halves of the extruder case together. You may have to remove the 2 screws that hold the filament sensor board on also, I can’t remember.
Just found the wiki. Probably best to follow that.
GREAT ! Exactly what I was needing ! Hope to pay forward after graduating from Newbie status. Thanks again RMB for taking the time ! All the best, Bob
ALL FDM printers need to be disassembled! I am cycling between PLA and CF / PTEG filaments, I suspect I am going to get a lot of blockages! GOt upgraded hot end, not got around to installing upgraded extruder yet.