Need help getting Makerbot printer going

Hi

We recently procured a Makerbot Replicator (5th gen) 3D printer and set it up as per the instructions in the manual. We loaded the filament in the extruder and a little bit of molten PLA came out. However, we couldnt print that time as we didnt have a model available in the correct format.
Subsequently whenever we try to print, nothing comes out of the extruder. We have unloaded and loaded the filament multiple times as suggested in the troubleshooting documents but it still doesnt work.
Havent been able to print anything at all! :( Please help!!!

Doers it extrude when you unload and load again?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mjolinor

Doers it extrude when you unload and load again?

---

No it doesnt extrude at on unloading and loading again.

Then it is not loading correctly, leave it longer. It sounds as though the filament may be broken. Does the head tick when you load it? does the filament come out when you unload it?

The filament comes out easily when we unload and gets pulled in on loading. Sometimes there is a knocking sound. The loading process times out but nothing comes out of the extruder. What would you suggest doing? Thanks again.

The filament is broken in the heated part of the head or you are not heating the head up. Do the temperatures read correctly.

From cold using preheat the temperature should start around 20 degrees and climb to 230 or so over about 3 minutes. Do you see that happen?

Yes the temperature does go up to over 200. The head is heating up. We tried touching it when the temp wasnt too high :)

:) Blisters is a good way to know it is hot.

I reckon your filament is broken inside the tube. You will either have to dismantle the head so you can poke it out or heat the hell out of it and see if it runs out.

Keep "loading" it for 15 minutes or so then put the filament in, see if it clears

Thanks. Will try heating its guts out on Monday and let you know how it goes :)

Tried melting it today. Left to heat for 15-20 mins 2 times separately but nothing came out :(

Looks like you are taking it apart then. :)

Did you feel the stepper grab the filament and pull it in?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mjolinor

Did you feel the stepper grab the filament and pull it in?

---

Yes it does grab the filament. Want to avoid opening it up.

Unfortunately you sound like you have a filament clog. the "smart" extruders on the 5th gens are prone to do this currently. Whats worse is with your 5th gen you can't actually open the extruder up to clean it out without voiding your warranty. It is a fairly simple job, (or so it is on other printers and appears to be so on the 5th gen) but its best to contact support and let them know your issues. They will send you another if it is still under warranty.

If you don't want to go the stay inside the warranty route, then this video will be helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8iUA1uVWIs

I currently use a rep 2, but have followed much of the happenings of the 5th gens. (I almost purchased one myself)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wpilgrim

Unfortunately you sound like you have a filament clog. the "smart" extruders on the 5th gens are prone to do this currently. Whats worse is with your 5th gen you can't actually open the extruder up to clean it out without voiding your warranty. It is a fairly simple job, (or so it is on other printers and appears to be so on the 5th gen) but its best to contact support and let them know your issues. They will send you another if it is still under warranty.

If you don't want to go the stay inside the warranty route, then this video will be helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8iUA1uVWIs

I currently use a rep 2, but have followed much of the happenings of the 5th gens. (I almost purchased one myself)

---

We are in India and had the printer imported. We have no warranty or support on it anyway :( Guess we'll have to open it up.

Thanks wpilgrim for this youtube video, nice tutorial, I am waiting for my Z18 and I am a bit of worried from the rumors about the Gen5 Extruders...
Getikas, can you share your experience... was it as simple as in the youtube video?

I bet the 5th gen really does not have that many problems. It probably just looks that way because they are selling 100 times as many printers per week as anyone else, and selling them to beginners, and so 100 times as many people have trouble even though it's the same percentage of printers.

Just like if Ulimaker sold 100 times as much; there would be 100 times as many questions/problems posted here.

Just a guess.

I would hope you are correct, but I am worried you aren't. I know of several non-novice users who have had these same issues with the gen 5 printers. Many of us are very willing to tear into our printers and fix issues and problems we see, but the gen 5 models have attempted to close off the tinkerer by voiding warranties and nulling support if you want to do a medial task like unclog your extruder (which from everything I see has more clog issues due to design than the previous gens). Also I am not sure we can accurately show how many more printers they are selling now than they were before. There is no data that I know of to point one way or another. Definitely more sales will always = more problems, however more problems doesn't always mean more sales.

Everything I have seen on them, these gen 5’s seem to be a step backwards

I was going by the number of Home Depot stores... over 2000... so just one sale a week per store is 2000 printers a week.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Assaf

Thanks wpilgrim for this youtube video, nice tutorial, I am waiting for my Z18 and I am a bit of worried from the rumors about the Gen5 Extruders...
Getikas, can you share your experience... was it as simple as in the youtube video?

---

Watched the video and was able to open up the extruder fairly easily. No major issues except that my screwdriver kept getting stuck to the magnets :) and the spring on top of the nozzle came out as well and had to be put back in place.
Anyway, I removed the clog, closed the extruder and put it back in place. I was able to load the filament and it started extruding. Then I started a test print. It printed a little but then stopped extruding again! :( now I cant unload the filament even. It seems to be stuck inside. Tried loading and unloading several times but no luck :( Please help again!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by geetikas

Watched the video and was able to open up the extruder fairly easily. No major issues except that my screwdriver kept getting stuck to the magnets :) and the spring on top of the nozzle came out as well and had to be put back in place.
Anyway, I removed the clog, closed the extruder and put it back in place. I was able to load the filament and it started extruding. Then I started a test print. It printed a little but then stopped extruding again! :( now I cant unload the filament even. It seems to be stuck inside. Tried loading and unloading several times but no luck :( Please help again!!!

---

Unfortunately I don't know much more to tell you, as I don't have a gen 5 printer. I would imagine it is clogged again, but without having been through that scenario myself I couldn't give you good advice on the direction to take. Over on the site. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/makerbot-users There are many gen 5 users. Hopefully one of them can be of more assistance. Good luck

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 3DPBuser

I was going by the number of Home Depot stores... over 2000... so just one sale a week per store is 2000 printers a week.

---

Ah I see. The Home depot/Makerbot program is in pilot stage right now, there are actually only 12 home depots that are selling Makerbot products at the moment. Obviously more stores means more sales when they do expand but they haven't as of yet.

Is it still getting up to temperature?

If so then you need to unload it but pull it as it is unloading, do not pull hard enough to snap the filament or you will have to pull it apart again to clear it out. Once unloaded then cut off 3 inches and reload it again. The reason it may not unload is that the jam has caused the filament to be stripped so the pull push wheel can't pull it hard enough.

What filament are you using, is it known to be good filament?

It is heating up. Tried pulling the filament while unloading but it didnt come out :( I am using the original PLA that came with the MakerBot. I think the problem could be that when I print the plate is too close to the extruder tip, although I do level it each time. Read somewhere that that can cause melted filament to back up into the unheated part of the extruder and cool.

Guess I'll have to open it up again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mjolinor

Is it still getting up to temperature?

If so then you need to unload it but pull it as it is unloading, do not pull hard enough to snap the filament or you will have to pull it apart again to clear it out. Once unloaded then cut off 3 inches and reload it again. The reason it may not unload is that the jam has caused the filament to be stripped so the pull push wheel can't pull it hard enough.

What filament are you using, is it known to be good filament?

---

You were right. The filament was stripped inside :( had a hard time getting it out, but managed in the end. However now I am having trouble putting the extruder back together. The cover wont snap on. Seems like something isnt sitting properly in the case :(

Managed to get it going! Yippee! Printed the nut & bolt successfully! Thanks a ton for all your help!!! :) :) :)