Quote Originally Posted by Modelworks View Post
put the z axis up high enough so the filament can just free fall out the nozzle and extrude about 10-50mm.
If it doesn't extrude as a single strand that just falls down on its own:
1. If it is extruding but twirling into a ball back up to the nozzle, check the nozzle, the nozzle hole needs to be smooth, any wear and you create an extrude that is rough and the nozzle outlet shape will cause it to be uneven , causing the twisting , curling effect.
2. Raise the temperature 5c at a time till the extrude is smooth.
3. direct extruder need good cooling, filament might melt at 195c but it deforms at 90c so make sure that the filament is cool right before it hits the heat block. Often the cheap fans dont have enough air flow and heat creeps up into the drive mechanism.
4, With the nozzle removed extrude filament and see if you can stop the filament from coming out of the hole where the nozzle mounts, you should have to really push to keep it from coming out.
If you can easily stop the filament then the stepper motor current is too low or the gear doesn't have enough tension.
Finally information the average Person can grasp and understand.

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