clicking noise while extruding

[bwong005]

hey guys,

i've been using the makerbot i have in my office and recently there's been an a loud 'clicking' noise coming from the extruder. it's very evident in the rafts that get placed down. not only is it audible but the raft itself isn't smooth and is bumpy. the raft looks like it's having trouble extruding. sometimes it goes away and then it extrudes smoothly. i'm using a replicator 2 with PLA. 

if anyone's had this problem let me know what you've done to fix it.

[Joseph Chiu]

The clicking is the extruder stalling because it can't push the filament through - it's encountering too much resistance.  The most likely cause: a) you're too close to the bed and, b) the nozzle is not hot enough, c) the filament is much wider than expected by the slicer, d) you have a infeed problem (a tangle/jam), e) you have a nozzle clog.

Given that you describe the raft as being bumpy, I suspect there's so much being fed that it's squirting out and up instead of just being laid down nicely.  Try adjusting your bed, lowering it by about 1/8 turn of the height adjustment screws all around.

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[Bob Kolbasowski]

I had a similar issue when I first received my R2, not sure if this applies to your machine though.  Upon inspection I noticed that the filament drive gear was not properly aligned with the extruder feedtube which was causing the filament to be driven on the outer edge of the gear, making it push the filament at an accelerated speed.  I then realigned the drive gear on the stepper motor shaft by using the feedtube as a sight and have had no problems since.

-Bob

[David Bogenhagen]

I was getting some clicking when the material got cross looped and got stuck making some rounds between the back of the machine and the the spool where the material is supposed to go.  I unloaded material and carefully re-wrapped the material and now i make sure to not let go the end of the fillament anymore when handling it.