Notifications
Clear all

How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?  

  RSS
valmotis
(@valmotis)
Active Member
How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?

Hi peeps!

I have had issues with the transparent(ish) filaments that I haven't had with the plain PLA material (all Prusa filament but not prusament). I found that sometimes the filament stops being extruded but the printer keeps going and I would typically discover the problem in the morning looking at the printing head "printing" nothing in the air. It looks like a "soft clog" as when I remove the filament it will all come out if I pull firmly but slowly and I don't have to change the tube or unclog the printing head itself. So the problem looks like the filament is not in the printing head itself but above it. The filament looks a bit rough and would not go through the tube anymore. I know it could have happened if the spool got stuck and the filament doesn't come down anymore but it wasn't the case in the past couple occasions. Anyone knows what could be done to avoid these issues? At the moment I'm printing at 225 degrees (recommended temps are 210-230) as I found that lower than 225 tended to under extrude. I would be interested in knowing how others are handling these transparent or almost transparent PLAs which are to be heated between 210 and 230.

Thanks for your time 🙂

Tom

Posted : 19/08/2019 10:45 am
valmotis
(@valmotis)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?

Anyone :)?

Posted : 23/08/2019 10:38 am
--
 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
RE: How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?

Snap a photo of the filament you pulled out after a jam.  If there is a stub that measures 2.2 mm and not 2.0 mm, then you may be having the lower heat break issue.  Here's a few examples.

Posted : 23/08/2019 11:06 am
valmotis
(@valmotis)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?

Thanks for your help 🙂 I got this but I'm not sure that's a classic clog? The end is on the left. Doesn't look much bigger really.

Posted : 27/08/2019 6:31 pm
valmotis
(@valmotis)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?

Ok so it happened again today and now I'm pretty certain it's what you have just described above except that it doesn't become as fat. Any fixes? 🙂

Posted : 28/08/2019 8:19 pm
--
 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
RE: How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?

Contact Prusa support with in-store CHAT.  Prusa made some changes to the hot end that seem to be causing problems for their customers.

 

ps: your filament tip IS larger than 2.00 mm, therefore you are having the heat break jam.  Ask the tech at Prusa how to fix it.

This post was modified 5 years ago by --
Posted : 28/08/2019 8:55 pm
valmotis
(@valmotis)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?

Thank you will do! 🙂

Posted : 28/08/2019 8:56 pm
Mark Driedger
(@mark-driedger)
New Member
RE: How to print well with transparent(ish) PLA filaments?

What was the solution? I seem to be having the same problem with transparent filaments.

Posted : 17/06/2020 3:28 am
Share: