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Clicking, but only on PLA  

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Sinner505
(@sinner505)
New Member
Clicking, but only on PLA

Hello!

I recently recieved a prusa mk3s, for about 3 weeks now I've been having more and more clean prints, I almost exclusively used PLA filament.

Yesterday, as I started a print, I heard the dreaded clicking. Went through all the steps found online, and solved.... until 3 hours later I tried to print something else, and it started again.

After disassembling most of the extruder and finding nothing in the terms of clogs, I tried the cold pull, and as soon as I went over 230°C the PLA was flowing. This prompted me to try and do a small test print with ABS.... no issues.

While I simply could print with ABS I'm puzzled; While I load filament (PLA) it will extrude without apparent isssues and no help needed, but the moment it starts printing it will start clicking and not loading, why is that happening?  And what could I do to fix this? 

Process done to this point:

Cleaned Nozzle without removing it.
Cleaned Nozzle after removing it, heating it up and using a wire.
Re-Aligned bondtech gear
Cold Pull

Many thanks!

Posted : 27/11/2021 7:34 am
Dan Rogers
(@dan-rogers)
Noble Member
Adjust the tension screw?

Did you try adjusting the tension screw on the extruder?  It may be that you are NOT actually printing PLA when you hear the clicking.  If it won't extrude well until 230C then you are likely not using PLA.  Any chance you got a roll of PETG mixed in?

Posted : 27/11/2021 10:11 am
Sinner505
(@sinner505)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Clicking, but only on PLA

I will try to fiddle with the screw a bit. I did touch it while trying to fix it and it might be optimizable, but I had several dozen prints in a row before this started to happen.

I am 100% sure that this specific nozzle (and the printer in general for the past 25ish days) has only seen PLA and now ABS, I should've mentioned that I meant this nozzle and not the printer lifetime as my uncle gave it to me only at the end start of this month. 

My main issue is that I just cannot understand why a higher temp filament loads without issues, if it's a clogged nozzle shouldn't that be either still present, or dealt with it? Changing the nozzle would help? (asking because I do not have a guaranteed clean one at hand, and it takes a couple of days from order to get it here so can't exactly test on the fly)

Posted : 27/11/2021 12:56 pm
Dan Rogers
(@dan-rogers)
Noble Member
Try the school, but check your filament

You don't seem to be understanding what I was trying to say.   It is very strange for PLA to require 230 temp to extrude.  That is way above the normal max range for PLA (220). 

Now, there are a lot of goofy filaments out there labeled PLA (because a lot of people only buy PLA) - such as Silk or PLA Plus.  Those are NOT pla.  They are a blend of PLA and other materials - so they will have different behaviors.  For example, Silk PLA typically needs to be printed at PETG temps.  The slicer does NOT have a setting for Silk PLA, so you either have to adjust the print to use PLA template and then go to the filament tab and elevate the nozzle temp to 230 - so only that one print will have that temp range.

It is also very possible that someone shipped you a mis-filled spool that has PETG on it.

So I am NOT saying "gosh, you should try a different kind of filament".  I am saying your filament is very likely not PLA.

Posted : 27/11/2021 2:18 pm
Sinner505
(@sinner505)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
Apologies for misunderstanding

As title, apologies for misunderstanding, I just managed to come to the forum now but I kinda reached the same conclusion today.

As mentioned, I got the prusa from my uncle, together with an overly reccomended brand of filament to buy, that I did. The print instruction clearly state 190-215 and it is classified as a PLA and nothing more.
I tried using the prusament PLA that arrived this morning(that I should've gone for since the start, honestly, he just had none and I took some time before ordering+5 days shipping time sadly) and all the issues are gone. the filament is picked up perfectly and without any issues!  

Apologies for such a stupid mistake on my end. Thank you very much and happy printing!

Posted : 27/11/2021 10:43 pm
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