feed jam
I tried flexible filament for the first time. Just don't if you're thinking about it.
Print jammed. I can fish a guitar string completely through the feed path but cannot extract the filament. It seems jammed above the hot zone. Filament stretches a lot then snaps off outside the feed path. I'm hoping for a better solution than "take the whole hot end apart." Any suggestions?
RE: feed jam
Open the idler door, heat the hot end to 250c, use a 2 mm minus rod to push down from the top of the extruder until you can't push any more - you want to stop when you feel solid back-pressure so you don't jam the rod into the lower section of the heat break (2.0 mm nominal ID). Then move to a piece of PLA as the plunger.
You can also pop the nozzle off, and while it's hot push some PLA down through the heat break... a bit messy (not really recommended since it will foul the nozzle threads), but might help clear it if the above doesn't work.
Last is disassembly... but you don't want to hear that.
pps: some day I'll learn to proof BEFORE clicking send.
RE: feed jam
After an hour of swearing and getting to know the hot end way better than I wanted to popped over to the suggestions for improvements part of the forum. I made a list. 😉
RE: feed jam
I have good luck with Inland TPE (shore hardness 85 IIRC) as follows:
- Set Maximum volumetric speed in filament settings to a low value (1.5 works). This will keeps speeds down overall.
- Ensure the extruder tension screw(s) are just tight enough to grab the filament, but not pinch it to deformation.
- Ensure the tip is sharp when initially loading.
- Ensure the nozzle tip is clean before printing.
After several experiences just like yours, I've started doing this and can switch between TPE (the really soft noodle stuff) and other filaments without any fuss.