Hotend Problems

Hello all,

I'm really excited to get my Foldarap going. Per the kit from Goteo, I have almost everything working. I'm having major problems with the hotend, though. I have been trying on and off for weeks and I can't seem to figure it out. Everything, per my knowledge, is assembled correctly. I have tried to clean out the filament multiple times, and usually it successfully extrudes for about 10 seconds, but then it clogs again and the extruder skips on the gear. I also remember taking out the small PFTE tube inside of the cold-end, and that may be my problem. I know I can find it online, but what size should I buy? Does anyone have any ideas as to what's wrong? I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2014 09:35PM by tyler_waite.

Quote

I also remember taking out the small PFTE tube inside of the cold-end, and that may be my problem.

That seems likely to be the issue. Removing it might have left room for the plastic to expand while heating, clogging it.

I have a similar issue - I've used an all metal hot end, however I fabricated parts myself, it doesn't seem to like any non-smoothness in the routing of filament, and mine would bind up after a few minutes printing - weird really, as when I first assembled it, I did spend some hours calibrating without any issue, and i think the problem developed after some time.

I've now switched to the E3D all metal hotend to try and improve this

Hi
I have some cloging on my goteo kit too.
It clog after some times, and the stepper skipped.
I cleaned the nozzle with a hot air gun and it unclog it
But I think it does'nt extrude very well.


I'll try to document my issue more went i'll have more time

Hi,
Did you found a solution about your clogging problem ?
I managed to print two parts, the first one was great, the second presented some issues at the end on the plastic feeding and I realized that the PTFE tube was ejected from the "push fit" (pneumatic fitting). I fear I have to clean the hot end after every printing...

hi !
For the PTFE tubing, is it the same as the bowden tube ?

For me it appear that the plastic didn't flow right :

it made some bubble and sometime clog completly.

So I decided to use a thin metal string to unclog it
I used a single thread on a bicycle cable (approximatively 0.25mm)
Strangely I had to use soe force to succes (I don't remember which size the nozzle is supose to be)
immediately it start flowing right !
I also increase the general speed as it appears to extrude better at a higher speed.

Hello,

The nozzle is 0,3 mm, regarding the clogging problem I have attached a small piece of cloth held by a clamp just before the extruder motor in order to remove all all the particles on the wire and...it seems to be working, I have no clogging since one month (I had a lot before)... so maybe something to try..