Cubex trio non-proprietary filament clicking

[david.e...@gmail.com]

I just started using a cubex printer and was hoping to use it without the cartridges. I had some makerbot filament lying around but when I try to use it the drive motor starts clicking after it extrudes a variable amount. Digital calipers measure the cubex filament in at around 1.7mm or smaller and the makerbot at 1.8mm. Do you know any filament that is GUARANTEED to work (I don't have money to waste). Thanks for any help! (Dang fixed idler wheel!!!)

[Peter Gregory]

Ah, the dreaded filament clicking.
Check your filament print temp range, the default values may not be hot enough.

The filament is thicker than Cubex filament, so the extruder will extrude more material.
Do your prints appear bumpy and mashed?
Does the clicking occur while filling or printing walls?
You will need to adjust the flow rates to compensate for the thicker filament.
I would suggest using KISSlicer. It gives you good control over flow and temperature.

If your spool of filament is old, it may have absorbed a lot of moisture and is not melting well.

As the print heads age, the internals wear out and blockages occur more frequently, causing filament that jets at angles and clicking due to blockages.

You can reduce the drag from the feed tubes by moving the tubes out of the way and feeding the filament from the top directly into the print head.

You can also adjust the filament feed stepper motor voltage up to 1.6 volts to get more push.

[david.e...@gmail.com]

Are you sure it's not more related to the size of the filament, instead of temperature?

[david.e...@gmail.com]

Definitely not about the temperature, just tried manually extruding at 15* above, still clicking.

[david.e...@gmail.com]

Sanded down some MB filament which worked. I think I just need a manufacturer that has a smaller average diameter.

[Peter Gregory]

Good luck finding a supplier that has 1.6mm filament.
I haven't been able to find one - other than Cubex Cartridges.
All the 3rd part suppliers I use have 1.75mm to 1.8mm.
You will need a slicer that gives better control over extrusion / filament settings.
KISSlicer is an excellent slicer that works with Cubex on firmware 1.7 without the need for cartridges.
It has a large Cubex following and support.

[Joe Kuter]

No Guarantees.

Mine works fine with filament I purchased on EBAY from seller my_filament_shop.  Bought several rolls.   They average about 1.65mm.18 bucks for 1kg with free shipping.

My machine also works fine with 1.75mm filament. The extruder wheels take a good bite into the surface of the filament.

Wild guess that your filament has not been stored properly and become brittle and hard.

The stepper motor voltage suggestion is good.

[Giovanni]

Since I'm directly feeding the extruders from the top and I've adjusted the voltage of the extruder to 1.6V I only had once the a problem with a very irregular PVA filament , it blocked the extruder because one section was 1.9-1.95mm , but the sections 1.8-1,85 passed without problem.