Nozzle Continues to Clog on 3d Printer

We know how frustrating it is when the print stops midway. Everything seemed to go smooth, but suddenly, you heard a knocking or a clicking sound. Whenever this happens, this may be a sign that 3D Printer keeps clogging. However, unclogging the 3D printer is easy. And, If that's what you wish to do, then here is an easy and quick fix!

To unclog your 3D printer, manually push the filament inside the extruder. Another easy fix is the 'Cold Pull' or 'Atomic Method,' which is simply the process in which you unload and reload the filament after heating and adequately cleaning out the nozzle.

Furthermore, to ensure that you don't clog your 3D printer, make sure to:

• Put the nozzle height to an optimal level
• Make your print bed uniform and level it
• Always print at the optimal temperature
• Use a clean and high-quality filament

We will, of course, get into detailed solutions, explain the ways how to clean the 3D printer nozzle, and share some tips to prevent a future clog. But before that, let's check out how to tell if the 3D printer nozzle is clogged.

How to tell if the 3D printer nozzle is clogged?

The most apparent symptom of a clogged 3D printer is that the filament is not coming out of the nozzle. However, there are chances that the hot end can be clogged partially.

Partial clogs mostly reveal themselves mid-print, although you were able to load or unload the printing material. Primitive signs of the nozzle starting to get clogged are that the filament is not being extruded out of the nozzle consistently or curling and sometimes sticking to the nozzle.

The most common sign is that you can hear some ticking or clicking sounds from the extruder's head. This extruder noise means that the stepper motor exerts more force than a specific predefined threshold. And the filament doesn't come out, or the display shows an error.

And it's now jumping back by one or more steps and skipping to relieve the pressure. It can be due to an electrical issue, mechanical issue, software issue, jammed hot end, or a combination of any of the above factors.

Common causes why your 3D printer nozzle keeps clogging

1. The extruder head is too close to the bed
2. There are dust particles on the filament
3. The diameter of the filament is very inconsistent
4. Extruder end temperature is inappropriate; i.e., too high or low

How do you unclog a 3d printer nozzle? Common Solutions

1. Try manually pushing the filament into the extruder

One of the first solutions you may want to try is manually pushing the filament into the extruder. Open the Machine's Control Panel and heat your extruder to the appropriate temperature for your material.

As the extruder motor is spinning, lightly use your hands to help push the filament into the extruder. In some cases, this added force will be more than enough to unclog your 3D printer.

2. The Atomic or Cold Method: Unclog The 3D Printer

The Atomic or Cold Method is simply unloading and reloading the filament after you have heated and cleaned the nozzle. It is a technique that works well if you have a buildup of carbonized material in your extruder that's causing the clog around the nozzle.

It also works great if the clog was caused due to a switch from a high temperature to a lower temperature printing filament. Make sure to let it cool down before you refill the clean printing material.

3. Properly reload the filament

When the filament isn't moving, you should unload the filament. Ensure that the extruder is heated to an appropriate temperature, and then use the machine control panel to retract the filament from the printer extruder.

You might also need to apply some additional force if the filament is still not moving. Once the filament is removed, cut away the melted or damaged portion of the filament with a scissor, knife, or your teeth (jk; we did it, but you should not! It might still be hot). Then reload the filament back and see if you can extrude with the filament.

4. Cleaning the nozzle out is really important

It's necessary to properly clean the nozzle to extrude the new section of filament through the nozzle. We successfully heated the extruder to 100C and then manually pulled the printing material out with the help of the 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit that we got from Amazon (hopefully, it will pull out all the debris present inside, too!).

You can also use the E string from a guitar to push the material backward through the nozzle head. There are many other methods, and each extruder is different. So do consult your printer manufacturer for precise instructions.

5. 3D Printer Clogged Nozzle? The Solvent Method also works wonders

If the filament causing the clog is somewhat easily soluble, then removing the extruder head and soaking it in the solvent can provide a solution to some tough clogs.

Steps to clear the clog:

1. We suggest you look at your 3D printer's manual for the specific ways that apply to your printer. Once the nozzle is safely removed, place it inside a container and fill it with the appropriate solvent.
2. For instance, if you're trying to dissolve a clog caused by ABS.
3. It would be best to use acetone as a solvent in a glass container. Now, leave the nozzle in the solvent for a day and agitate it every few hours.
4. After 24 hours, remove the nozzle from the solvent using a steel guitar string, glass, or stainless steel needle. Remove the material clog; If necessary, repeat the solvent bath for another day and attempt to unclog your 3D printer again.

Tips to keep your extruder head from getting clogged

The best precautions against a clogged nozzle are buying a quality filament, ensuring that your material and nozzle are clean, and double-checking the optimal printer settings for your printing material. You should also make sure that the bed is leveled. All these must be a part of your regular pre-printing checklist.

1. Clean the nozzle when switching between filaments

When it comes to jammed nozzles, any residue left inside the extruder is your enemy. In most cases, there is always a small amount of filament leftover on and inside the nozzle that you cannot pull out after your print has already finished.

Luckily, you can remove the leftover filament by brushing the nozzle from the outside using a simple, cheap wire brush, or better get the 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit that we got from Amazon (It comes with a good quality wire brush). You can also use a brush with soft metal bristles to ensure that your nozzle doesn't get damaged.

2. Always use clean and high-quality filament

It is a good practice to store your filament spools in clean airtight bags. Not only does this prevent any dirt or dust buildup, but it too prevents moisture absorption. The effects of moisture in the material on the 3D printing process have a whole article of its own. Do check it but for now, take our word for it – moisture is horrible news.

More importantly, only pick your filament from trusted sellers. Problems with diameter consistency are often encountered when you buy those cheap printing materials or filaments from unknown retailers. We personally use OVERTURE Filaments for most of our projects. It's affordable as well as reliable.

3. Print at the optimal temperature

Getting the right spot of printing temperature for a filament, especially one that you haven't worked with before, can be a headache and takes a lot of trial and error. Setting the print temperature way too high or too low could lead to various problems – including a clogged nozzle in your 3D printer.

Always take note of the recommended printing temperatures from the guidebook or the manufacturer. We suggest you to with the lowest value and work your way up by 3-5 °C increments until you are satisfied with the texture of the output.

4. Level the print bed

If you are still bumping into problems with a clogged nozzle despite putting in all the necessary settings and using the best quality filament you can find, then it may be time to recalibrate the print bed. It might be due to an unleveled bed, and it will almost certainly result in a not so optimal nozzle height.

Build height leveling is a built-in feature in most of the 3D printers out there. But, you will most likely have to do it manually, with the software helping you with step-by-step instructions. If you have a top-end model, it may come with a self-leveling feature. In any case, bed leveling is something that you should be doing from time to time.

5. Set the optimal nozzle height

After you have ensured that your bed is leveled, you can easily set the Z-setting of your nozzle at the correct height. Setting it too high might cause poor bed adhesion because the filament cools down before touching the print bed. But putting it too low increases the chances of your nozzle clogging up.

Determining the optimal height is a function of the diameter of your extruder head. Also, you should set the nozzle at a size that is 55% to 75% of the nozzle diameter. It will allow the nozzle to exert enough pressure on the filament to favor bed adhesion while not being too close; this can result in retrograde extrusion.

We recommend setting it around 75% and lowering it should run you out of bed adhesion problems.

We hope you were able to unclog the 3D printer!

Your 3D printer would melt and extrude many kilograms of filament over its lifetime. To make things more complicated, all of this plastic comes out through the extruder from a tiny hole that is only as wide as a single grain of sand.

At some point, inevitably, there may come a time when something goes wrong with this process, and the extruder can no longer push the material through the nozzle. These jams or clogs are primarily due to something inside the nozzle hindering its path and blocking the plastic from freely extruding.

While this may be mind-boggling the first time, it happens. But we have already walked you through a lot of easy troubleshooting steps. You can fix a jammed nozzle and unclog the 3D printer!

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Source: https://www.us3dprinters.com/3d-printer-nozzle-keeps-clogging/

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