Results 11 to 18 of 18
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04-29-2014, 04:28 PM #11
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
- Posts
- 462
Cleaning your hot end should be a regular procedure. The best way I've found to do it is to heat up the hot end to a few degrees over the temperature you would normally print at, let it settle, then reduce the temperature to just above the glass transition temperature of the plastic you're working with. About 90 Celsius works best for me with the PLA I use. Once the lower temperature has settled, back the filament out of the printer. As per jimc, you should see a straw at the end of the filament you backed out, which means that the plastic has been dragged out of the hot end. It should bring any debris / old plastic out with it. Repeat as necessary until you're happy and make it part of your regular maintenance schedule.
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04-30-2014, 04:14 AM #12
- Join Date
- Apr 2014
- Location
- Netherlands
- Posts
- 76
I don't see myself drilling out a 0.4mm in hole by hand, specially in brass. What kind of nozzles do you guys use?
@jimc, I would love to see those pictures if you have the chance to take some next time!
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04-30-2014, 05:57 PM #13
I tend to use a small screwdriver and heat the hotend just enough for the plastic to start to melt then insert the screwdriver and ease the plastic back slowly up the hotend. It usually comes out in one piece that way.
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05-01-2014, 02:42 AM #14
- Join Date
- Apr 2014
- Posts
- 8
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05-01-2014, 06:51 AM #15
- Join Date
- Oct 2013
- Location
- new jersey
- Posts
- 752
small guitar strings work well also
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05-01-2014, 01:26 PM #16
- Join Date
- Apr 2014
- Location
- Netherlands
- Posts
- 76
Right, well I never cleaned my hot-end and I'm not going to anytime soon. I only print in PLA so I imagine that helps a bit.
I did measure the filament string on the cooled down hot-end a few times after reading this thread but it's still 0.4mm
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05-01-2014, 02:16 PM #17
I didn't see your question until now... I don't drill up through the nozzle. I have to take everything apart and usually the 3mm filament is broken off on the top side. I drill that out and kind of grind away all the stuff in there. But I don't push the drill bit into the hole of the nozzle. Sometimes I see some clear crystal like stuff come out. I don't know what that is. But I don't think it should be there and the fact my nozzle is plugged kind of makes me think it is the reason.
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05-01-2014, 02:19 PM #18
New member with print issue
06-11-2024, 08:57 AM in Tips, Tricks and Tech Help