After a 4 hours print i noticed a nozzle blockage. After unloading and loading the filament, I finally had to replace the nozzle. With the new nozzle I restarted the new print but before the end of it, I had the same problem. It turned out that the problem is caused by a bad coiled filament. The filament is a new original velleman white 1,75mm PLA coil. I used already several Velleman coils without problems. Is this filament under waranty and also the dammage to the nozzle(s)?
You should never leave the printer alone.
I do have one in a separate room that when I first started printing I would check on it often.
Then I mounted an IP camera on it so I could check on it with my phone that helped a lot because I stopped it when it messed up.
Now I have a Raspberry Pi running Octoprint with a web cam.
I can not only see the printer but I can control it from my phone.
If I see it messing up I can stop it.
I also have a smoke detector mounted above it.
It is not a problem of checking, it is a problem with the coil. the windings are not right and blocking the feeding of filament. Even if i stay looking at the printer, nothing that I can do to prevent the lock-up…
Hello millecam!
For sure there is something you could do: Unwind the needed length of filament per hand and wind it up again before you start the print job!
Are you sure you got a blocked nozzle from this issue? I think the block is just above the nozzle. so no need to change it. In my opinion it is not a big problem if PLA stays in heated nozzle for a while if temperature is not to high.
unwinding filament for a 4 to 5 hours print? Since the filament was stuck in the coil, I had to unload the filament to solve the coil problem (after a 4 hours print). After loading the filament, it was unable to go thru the nozzle. There is a piece of filament left in the nozzle and it is not going thru with unloading and reloading new filament. I restarted with a new nozzle and after a new print (4 to 5 hours), just before the end, the coil was again locked up… This time, i was able to unload the filament, clear the lock-up in the coil, and load , restart the print.
For a 4 hour print you need about 10 to 12m of filament (depending on your print settings). I think if you dont want to have the problem again I think that is acceptable. Perhaps 20 windings on your coil (if there still more than half of the windings on it) Otherwise you have to stop printing and get a new coil.
“and it is not going thru with unloading and reloading new filament”
Nevertheless I think the nozzle is blocked on upper end (where the PTFE Tube begins) With the automatik loading the filament cant get through because it takes more time to heat that place.
If i got that problem I pulled the PTFE tube out of the coupler, heated the nozzle for a while (about 3 to 5 minutes after the desired temperature was reached) and then pushed in a piece of filament by hand or the upper end of a 2mm drill.
I agree with mcguiver.
The filament consumption is between 3-4 meters per hour. Unwind and rewind 20m is not very hard to make sure you have no twists.