SOLVED nozzle clog

[terryparadise 3]

After printing 1 job I have to use the atomic method to start another print. Doesn't matter if its a 20 hour print or a 15 minute print nozzle is always clogged when I go to print again. Also time in between prints doesn't matter. Happens with both .4mm .6mm nozzles. Using color fab filament or ultimaker fillament clogs with both. Any theory's out there on this problem?

[neotko 1,417]

Hi and welcome!

A couple of Theories:

a) You turn off the machine after a job and the hotend still hot. Is better to wait until it goes down to 40C

b) Does the small fan behind the hotend spin when the hotend is at more than 40C? If that fan fails it might be the issue.

[terryparadise 3]

I have shut off the machine before cool down. also not 100% sure if the back fan is running properly. Thanks for the info. if it is this simple I'm gunna feel really foolish. I'll let you know. Thanks again.

[stu_le_brew 42]

I wouldn't worry about feeling foolish here, most people have made simple mistakes this is how experience is developed

One thought I have had some problems with specific materiel - like HDGlass Form Futura which seems to change its characteristics at the hot end when cooled, so each time I give the filament a little manual encouragement to start flowing then it seems to work perfectly

- good luck

Edited September 26, 2016 by Guest

[terryparadise 3]

ok back fan was not working properly. loose wire. also found a cheerio inside fan area (children are wonderful creatures). back fan working properly. have ran 3 prints in a row no problem. thank you for the advice. look forward to bothering you all in the future. Thanks again.

[neotko 1,417]

Anytime @terryparadise

Lol a cheerio

[terryparadise 3]

Well I'm back. Problem has returned with only being able to make 1 print then i have to use the Atomic Method to run another print. Any more ideas out there? Purchasing the new Ultimaker 3 sounds like a good idea eh......

[Wisar 86]

Are you a UM, UM2, or UM2+? Do you have a hood on your machine? Before I upgraded to the UM2+ I had jams more frequently than I wanted when I was printing PLA and left the cover on the printer. The + upgrade seems to have helped with that though. Have you tried pre-heating to 260 degrees right before your next print and then doing an extrusion to blow the pipes clear? I found that can help as well and can be done as startup GCode.

[DidierKlein 729]

A cheerio in the fan that's a first!

What printer is this? How old is it?

If the nozzle clogs after every print then it might need a very good cleaning, when you do an atomic do you end up with a clean conical tip (on the filament)?

Is it actually clogged? or is it a problem of priming the filament? Does it start to extrude after a while?

Maybe check the teflon coupler

[terryparadise 3]

Its a UM2 bought in Dec 2015. it has 810 printing hours on it. The conical tip after the atomic is clean. reinsert material. start another print. no problem whether its a 20 min run or a 12hr run. will check/replace coupler and see if that fixes it. Thanks for the replies. oh fan area clear of cheerio's.

[terryparadise 3]

Oh forgot to mention. Replaced the stock nozzle with the olsson block, but that was in april of this year.

[terryparadise 3]

Ok folks. Replaced the teflon coupler. Problem definetly solved. On my 10th sraight print. Gunna put the coupler replacement on a 500 hundred hour replacement cycle.

Thanks for the help. 3d printing rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[meduza 191]

Next time, ask your reseller to buy the TFM and the rigid spacer of the UM2+, and you could easily change that replacement cycle to 1000h or more.

Edited October 29, 2016 by Guest