Filament stuck in extruder

Vertex 3D Printer Vertex - Issues while printing
1

Hi everyone,

I tried to print today with the Vertex however, the extruder stopped extruding in the middle of a print.
I thought that it was a clogged nozzle so I tried to unload the filament. Well, that’s impossible! I can’t remove the filament anymore.

Somebody who knows a solution?

Cheers,
Dylan

2

It’s definitely a clogged nozzle (PLA) after a little bit more investigating.
I don’t have any idea how to solve it :open_mouth:

I took the printhead apart and tried to manually push some filament through the nozzle but that’s impossible.

Cheers,
Dylan

3

Knows somebody a procedure to clean the Vertex nozzle?

Cheers,
Dylan

4

Hi,
I heated the nozzle with a heat gun and pushed a metal wire <= 0.3 mm from outside.
And removed old PLA with a drill (1.8 mm) carefully by fingers from the other side.
Then I manage to push fresh PLA trough the nozzle.

5

Hi dylan

First thing to try with a blocked nozzle is to unload and load the filament. If that doesn’t work, then you can usually push it through manually by heating the nozzle. I’ve never had a blockage I could clear this way.

So you pre-heat to PLA, then release the extruder wheel that presses the filament against the extruder’s toothed wheel and push upwards. It can require quite a bit of force and you need to be careful not to snap the filament at the base of the bowden tube. If this doesn’t force it clear, then you can try either raising the temperature via the manual controls in RH or Octoprint and trying again.

The absolute last resort is to take it apart and use wire and stuff to clean it. Thankfully on the Vertex I’ve never had to do that, I suppose because I’m quite the snob when it comes to choosing filaments!

PLA is usually pretty easy to clear. ABS is the one that can really give you grief. It was one of the many reasons that made me stop using ABS.

6

Well I tried these tricks… The filament was stuck in the nozzle but it was impossible to unload and load the filament.

I took everything apart and cleaned the nozzle with acetone and and needle (0.3mm) from the pharmacist…
They cost only ± 2 euro / 10 pieces and are available in all sizes you want :slight_smile:

I only need to mount and calibrate the Vertex again now…

Cheers,
Dylan