Hello,
I’m no stranger to electronics or 3D modelling, but the Vertex is my first 3D printer. I followed the instructions without problem, and printed the Velleman keyring as my first print yesterday. It wasn’t entirely without problem: the first few passes didn’t print anything, so I read a tip to lower the temp from 210C to 200C, preheated the nozzle, and manually extruded a little bit to make sure it was flowing ok. After that, it printed really well at 200C.
I tried another project this evening, and the same thing happened even though I was already using the lower temperature of 200C, although this time nothing printed even after my intervention. I tried to unload the PLA and it’s completely stuck in either the nozzle or isolator.
Now, the official advice from Velleman is to increase the temperature (I guess to try to melt it through). I’m a little reluctant to do that: even though they say discolouration of the heat block is normal, my nozzle is discoloured. However, the odd spots of my orange PLA that do come through are dark brown so it may be that rather than a damaged nozzle - but the discolouration of the PLA has me worried that increasing the temperature will cause more harm than good if something’s burning.
I would really appreciate some advice from more experienced users!
Thanks.
For PLA 190C is good.
Also in the Cura slicer settings.
Print top tab
Extrusion lower tab set the retraction to 3mm or 4mm
Retraction Speed 110mm.
To remove the PLA press the red ring that goes around the tube and remove the tube (at the print head)
Heat the nozzle to 210 - 220 (for a short time)
Try pushing the PLA into the nozzle until you see it coming out.
Then pull it out gently (don’t break it) clear the PLA out of the rest of the tubing reload and print with the new settings.
You can also look in this link.
http://www.k8xxx-3dprinters.crimed.be/w/index.php?title=Hotend
Thanks for replying so quickly!
Could I please just clarify…when you say to clear the PLA out of the rest of the tubing, how would I do that? I suppose at temperature…?
Remove the tension (spring) and pull it out of the extruder.
Ok…so there may be a more serious problem. I think the Ext1 connection on the PCB is broken. I connected the extruder to the y-axis momentarily just to verify the motor is working, and I swapped out the cable to rule that out, and I can’t think of anything else it could be. Hopefully you’ll have an idea rather than getting a replacement board…
Could this be the underlying cause of the problem? The PLA has been sitting for too long getting hotter and hotter with nothing pushing it through?
I tried your solution, btw. There was no way I could push it through, so I followed most of the instructions on the website except there wasn’t any blockage in the nozzle, and only a tiny bit in the isolator which came out reasonably easily.
The Extruder will not work until the temp is above 170C
Is the temp going up when you turn the hotend on?
Have you checked the wires for the thermistor and the heating element?
Also make sure the thermistor is properly mounted.
If it is outside of the heating block this can cause problems.
Yes! It’s because I was trying to manually move the extruder while the heating block was cool. It’s working fine now. Once everything’s cooled down I’ll realign the z-axis and try to load and print again. Thanks for all your help so far 
Sorry, but another question. You recommended, and it says on the wiki, that 220C is too hot and that 190C is appropriate. So I’ve changed the settings on the printer: PLA preheat and minimum temperature are both set at 190C. And in repetier, the printing temperature is set to 190C as well (as well as your other suggestions). But when I try to load PLA, it wants to heat up to 220C.
Is this ok, or should I change this as well?
The load temp would have to be changed in the firmware.
For loading and unload this should not be a problem.
Mine is the same way and it doesn’t hurt anything.
Thank you very much - it’s extruding fine, now. You’ve been really helpful
I still have another question, but I’m opening another thread.
