Dual Extrusion, trouble in paradise...
--I couldn't really find a good topic to attach this post to, so I'm posting a new topic. I did also post to this to a thread about someone having trouble pressing the "unload filament" button several times to get their filament out, which is why you see my reference to that person in this post--
So I decided I loved trying out the PRUSA dual color logo so much, I wanted to do another print with it. I decided since I was going to have more than one spool in use, might as well make a dual color spool bracket for the metal frame. The left extruder on my FF Creator Pro was pretty mangled when I changed out nozzles for hardened plated steel/brass nozzles, so it has been a while since I have been able to print in two colors. Here's what went wrong for me:
I followed all Prusa guidelines for creating dual color g-code and loaded. It got to 4.95mm at which point it was to switch colors, which it did. After I heard the beep, I unloaded the filament--like the previous poster, it didn't come out with the first try and I had to kind of gently pull it through the hole in the top as it may have become deformed on its way out. No biggie! Then I went to put new color in (btw, both were colored PLA, previously printed with both at the same extruder/bed temps) and waited for it to come out the other end... and I waited.... nothing. It asked did it go through, well...no! Tried again, nothing. So I unloaded, cut the filament off above where it stripped the filament down, and tried again, and again, and again. It was obvious I needed to cancel my print halfway through and figure this out.
I cleaned the nozzle on the outside with my small steel bristle brush and used the acupuncture needle to clear it out. Still nothing came out. Then I used aftermarket .4mm nozzle clearing needle tool, it took nothing out, but then broke off in the extruder!! Ugh!! 😥 😡 Thinking now I was in a bit of trouble, I tried to see if I could get the nozzle off and took the extruder assembly apart to access the heater block and nozzle to get it off. I used the Prusa method again, but it just wouldn't budge! Yes, I did preheat the nozzle, yes, I did try to take it off with the supplied wrench and pliers, and yes I changed the heat settings to a few different temps (always higher, not lower temps) to try seeing if that worked. The nozzle is screwed on very tightly (uh oh, flashbacks of my FF creator and replacing those brass nozzles), I let alone, and here I am. I put it all back together for now and give up until I can find a reasonable solution that doesn't involve brute force.
I understand dual extrusion can be a pain in the buttocks, that has always been the case with the FFCP! However, those vids of Prusa unloading and loading in the filament like nobody's business left me with such excitement I immediately ordered a multimaterial upgrade. After a week with the printer, and already trouble in paradise, I'm wondering if it is smarter to cancel my order now. Can anyone shed any light on this and give me renewed hope for dual/multimaterial extrusion on the i3 MK2?