Isolator guide clogged

Vertex 3D Printer Vertex - Issues while printing
1

After assembly, I managed to get one decent print, after which filament stopped being extruded.
After some disassembly I realized it was not the extruder nozzle that was blocket but rather the Isolator guide.

HKEbQiB.jpg2448×2448

As you can see its a rather big clog of PLA. I do not know the fate of the 23 mm PTFE tube, could it have melted together with the PLA?

Would appreciate any ideas of how to get this unblocked, and how to prevent this in the future.
One idea I have is to use an oven and set it to the melting point of PLA (200 degrees or so), and hopefully the isolator wont melt as well?

EDIT:
I managed to clean the isolator clog by heating the part to ca 225 degrees C. The PTFE tube has a melting point above this.
I will reinstall the extruder and try again. Any advice on how to prevent this in the future?

2

This looks like your nozzle was not fully screwed in. It should sit flush against the PTFE tube.

3

Yes you are right, the PTFE tube was slightly too short.

Now I have other problems, but the clogging and filament flowing our from the top of the nozzle is gone.