Printing with PETG

[bigone5500 0]

I have an Ender 5 and have upgraded the Bowden to capricorn tubing. What other mods are needed on this printer to be able to reliably use PETG filament?

[Smithy 1,146]

When you say which problems you have printing PETG it would be easier. But be aware that here are not Ender experts, so we can only give you some general advices.

[GregValiant 1,351]

And this is general advice...

It's a "practice" thing too.  I found that nozzle temperature varies more by color using PETG.  Some colors can get pretty stringy and have to be run cooler and slower.  Warping becomes more of an issue as long narrow features want to lift off the bed.

Make sure that your new Bowden tube is cut exactly square, and that the nozzle butts up against the tube just before it makes contact with the inner steel tube of the hot end.  You want a good seal there.

[bigone5500 0]

I havent bought any Petg filament yet but was wondering if anyone here had any info on basic upgrades other than the bowden tube. I understand that the stock bowden will degrade with the higher temps that Petg requires. My hot end will go to 20 so I think I'm ok there. I guess I'll just buy some and play around with it. Thanks! 

Edited May 8, 2020 by bigone5500

[GregValiant 1,351]

If you do a search on ThingiVerse for Mouse Ears you will come across some that you can download.  They are like poker chips.  With your part in the slicer, you add a mouse ear to the end of long thin parts of the print at bed level.  Think of an octopus arm with a catchers mitt on the end.  The poker chip doesn't tend to warp upward although they will need to be trimmed off later.

There is a bit of a learning curve with PETG.  Mostly, you have to learn how not to burn yourself on the bed or nozzle.  You'll be running them very hot.

[Smithy 1,146]

PETG should be no problem for a printer, the bed is 10-20°C hotter than with PLA and the nozzle maybe 30°C, so there is no need to do special upgrades. Also the stock bowden would be enough.

 

The problem or learning curve is to get a good bed adhesion and there are several solutions, like mouse ears or glue stick, sprays and so on.

 

It can also help to put the printer in an enclosure and keep the air warm inside.