Makerbot Rep 2 Ran Out of Filament ... Now I Can't Load More
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Kevin Jarrett
Jan 22, 2016, 1:03:50 PM1/22/16
to K-12 Fab Labs and Makerspaces
Well this is a first - a job exhausted the available filament - and kept printing because I didn't notice.
Tried to load more, but it seems obstructed.
Preheated to 230c and more oozed out but not due to my pressure.
Anything I can try short of disassembling the extruder?
Thanks!
-kj-
-----Kevin Jarrett
Middle School STEAM Teacher
Northfield Community Middle School
"Life changes when you trust kids." - Ira Socol
Diego Fonstad
Jan 22, 2016, 1:17:58 PM1/22/16
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Unfortunately the only option in my experience is to dismantle the extruder. This shouldn't be too challenging. You don't need to take the entire feed assembly apart, simply disconnect that component from the heating block (two lower hex bolts) and use a needle nose pliers to pull out the nub of filament stuck there (preheat the machine).
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Kevin Jarrett
Jan 22, 2016, 1:22:06 PM1/22/16
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Thank you for the quick reply, Diego. So you are saying dissasemble the extruder by removing it from the mount, then removing the nozzle, to gain access to the feeder tube?
Verne Becker
Jan 22, 2016, 2:17:59 PM1/22/16
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I also have a jammed extruder on my Rep 2. I was told by several people to heat it up and then insert an E guitar string (high E) into the extruder, which may clear the clog. I'm going to try that ... will let you know if it works ...
Verne
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/03cb4959-358f-4a23-bd97-8aed3b69e217%40googlegroups.com.
Jaymes Dec
Jan 22, 2016, 2:26:44 PM1/22/16
to k-12-fablabs
If the jam is above the extruder nozzle, you can remove the grill in front of the fan and then remove the heat sink and fan. You should be able to heat up the extruder and then pull the filament out with needle nose pliers.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/CAPPjQ6DNeThYxUG1NX7CDKi%2B9U1oCNxegY_hu36Z%2B1ehaHJZww%40mail.gmail.com.
Jaymes Dec
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Jeremy Sambuca
Jan 22, 2016, 2:29:28 PM1/22/16
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Young Kim, Technologist at Hewitt School, took a heat gun to the extruder tip to clean it out. Make sure to wear gloves!
Jeremy Sambuca
Director of Educational Technology
The Hewitt School
Hewitt empowers girls to discover their full intellectual and creative abilities, to pursue their passions and personal best, and to lead lives of consequence with character, compassion, and conviction.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/CANiWe21W6hyw-h9U5CNUAO%3DEbRfxvrKHKjNRXf1J1uNxRjqorg%40mail.gmail.com.
Joseph Chiu (Toybuilder)
Jan 22, 2016, 4:35:06 PM1/22/16
to k-12-fablabs
Sometimes, it's simply an alignment issue of the incoming filament being deflected away and not being able to push the remaining remnant filament stub that's still poking out of the top of the thermal guide tube just below the drive gear.
Sometimes, it's simply a case of having to cut the tip of the incoming filament square so that it can push down on the stub. If the stub itself doesn't present a square enough face, though, you will need to pull the extruder apart enough to get to the remaining filament and pull it out of the way.
If you have remnant filament in the hot end for a very long time, it's possible you could have cooked the filament and deposited carbonized chunks inside the hot end. If you're lucky, just running fresh filament for a long time will pull the bits out. Or, you may need to do a "cold pull" of putting filament in, then pulling it back out, hopefully grabbing some of the carbonized bits out as you do so. In extreme cases, you'll have to "floss" the nozzle, or simply replace the nozzle.
I hope the group don't mind the following plugs (if they are objectionable, I'd appreciate a public or private message):
You can find replacement wear- and clog-resistant MK8 nozzles here: http://www.toybuilderlabs.com/products/wear-resistant-nozzles
We have cleaning filament that is better able to grab the carbon bits - it's also good preventive maintenance: http://www.toybuilderlabs.com/products/extruder-cleaning-filament
If you think this running out of filament might be a recurrent problem for you, consider our filament monitor: http://www.toybuilderlabs.com/products/tunell-3d-printer-filament-monitor - unfortunately, installations on Rep 2 and 2X's are not quite as straightforward as they are on FlashForge's and original Replicators. The 2/2X mainboards will require some soldering to connect the monitor.
Cheers,
Joseph
On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 10:03 AM, Kevin Jarrett <kevin....@gmail.com> wrote:
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Kevin Jarrett
Jan 25, 2016, 3:31:21 PM1/25/16
to K-12 Fab Labs and Makerspaces
Thanks all. Done! This video helped, too.
Appreciate the assistance! We are back online!
Kevin Jarrett
Feb 2, 2016, 7:38:55 AM2/2/16
to K-12 Fab Labs and Makerspaces, joechiu+t...@gmail.com
Two thumbs up for eSUN extruder purge filament from ToyBuilderLabs! Bought some of this a month ago assuming I'd need it someday. That would be yesterday. My Rep 2 jammed; I used piano wire to clear it, reloaded filament, and it promptly jammed again, indicating a dirty nozzle. I tried a variety of other techniques to clear it, then I remembered I had this stuff at home. Came in today, heated the extruder to 230, ran some of this stuff through ... and presto .... all is right once again in Makerbotland.
Can't recommend this stuff more highly! Thanks, ToyBuilderLabs!
-kj-
-----
Kevin Jarrett
Middle School STEAM Teacher
Northfield Community Middle School
"Life changes when you trust kids." - Ira Socol
Jaymes Dec
Feb 2, 2016, 8:00:22 AM2/2/16
to k-12-fablabs, joechiu+t...@gmail.com
I can add that their 3D print removal tool has been a great addition to our lab.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/7f04227e-4ede-4875-9a02-c2b770d7ac5d%40googlegroups.com.
Joseph Chiu (Toybuilder)
Feb 3, 2016, 3:28:44 PM2/3/16
to Jaymes Dec, Kevin Jarrett, k-12-fablabs, Joseph Chiu
Oh, good to hear that our cleaning filament and the print removal tools are helpful!
I've made a temporary discount code "K12FABLABS" (good till 2/13) for free shipping on our site (toybuilderlabs.com) -- for anyone else interested in trying them out. Buy the print removal tool ($4), use the discount code, and we'll throw in a small sample segment of the cleaning filament.
Cheers,
Joseph
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