Basics: Cleaning out a clogged nozzle!

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  • Опубликовано: 28 дек 2016
  • As you 3D print more and more frequently, clogged or partially blocked nozzles actually get rarer as you learn how to avoid them. But if you do manage to get yourself a blocked nozzle, here's how to fix it!
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Комментарии • 485

  • @squirtgun_jw
    @squirtgun_jw 3 года назад +36

    I'm a little late to the print party, but this video is the only one that I found that was helpful and simple. I had tried the needle method to break up the clog, but I never tried it repeatedly while intermittently running the filament through. That helped a ton, and the clog was gone after a few tries. It really sucks getting close to finished on a big project only to have gaps in the print. Thanks for taking the time to post this.

  • @SimonBarnsley
    @SimonBarnsley 5 лет назад +7

    By far the best 3D printing information channel around.

  • @mannyzuccarelli
    @mannyzuccarelli 4 года назад +9

    Great video. I tried watching 10 different videoson this topic and this one was by far the most concise and professional. Thank you.

  • @HeidiATX
    @HeidiATX 2 года назад +2

    Just used your technique to clear the hotend and it worked LIKE A CHARM! Thanks so much for the very clear instructions! I also ordered the nozzle/hotend cleaning kit you described, so I have more needles on hand.

  • @3dprintinguk162
    @3dprintinguk162 7 лет назад +454

    I had a print fail 60 hours in, 2 hours away from finishing because of a clog...

    • @scheichajev
      @scheichajev 4 года назад +82

      F

    • @_JustBeingCasual
      @_JustBeingCasual 4 года назад +22

      That sucks :(

    • @alf3071
      @alf3071 4 года назад +46

      you can continue from the last layer but you need to find it in the gcode and delete everything befire that, just make sure the printer doesn't lose the position

    • @rbrazil1000
      @rbrazil1000 4 года назад +7

      That is awfull

    • @EsHenao
      @EsHenao 4 года назад +6

      Been there bro.

  • @northernmoosedesigns888
    @northernmoosedesigns888 6 лет назад +6

    Great video! used both the needle and cold pull. Started printing and so far so good!

  • @DementedMax
    @DementedMax 7 лет назад +1

    Very awesome channel. When I'm staying up all night working making 3d merch, I watch. Helpful because it just came on when I was switching out nozzles. First time, good to hear more about it.

  • @PoodleMaster69
    @PoodleMaster69 2 года назад +40

    I personally take a little fire torch and melt the platic inside until there is nothing left. Always worked for me! I'm relatively new to the hobby tho but it's awesome. I'm an Engineering student so while I suffer in school, I use my printer to feel better haha.

    • @Aikaramba12
      @Aikaramba12 2 года назад +3

      Me too. 3D printing as a therapy to recover from my engineering classes

    • @79ninzombie
      @79ninzombie Год назад +1

      What part do you torch? The nozzle, hot end? My clog looks like the inside of my hotend looks full of burnt filiment.

    • @urgamecshk
      @urgamecshk Год назад +1

      @@79ninzombie remove nozzle. Heat it up until it melts. Reinstall

  • @ottovp
    @ottovp 7 лет назад +7

    i was struggling about using a blowtorch, then your vid made me remember that i have an heat gun.... dude u saved my day! ty!

  • @dracosummoner
    @dracosummoner 8 месяцев назад

    Thanks so much!! I just received my first 3D printer today, a Neptune 3 Pro, and your tip helped me clean out the nozzle's factory-test goo. My first print is printing right now, and the little Buddha/Budai is turning out beautifully.

  • @niallbrown7029
    @niallbrown7029 Год назад

    This video still is one of the best to target simple solutions. Just did two "cold" pulls per your suggested steps and voila, back up and running. Thanks

  • @RiPnShtUp
    @RiPnShtUp Год назад +1

    Thank you for the tips. I common sensed most of this on my own a few days ago, but it’s great to get confirmation that I was doing it correctly. Also, I did not know that needle was for cleaning the nozzle. I suspected it but when it didn’t fit initially I went on to other methods.

  • @skianimal1344
    @skianimal1344 7 лет назад

    Thomas, Thanx again!
    Subtitle Translation into Russian is accessible.
    It was also - my first on RUclips, thanks to You, just because:
    1. this particular maintenance IS very painful and usually unexpected to ANY 3D-newcomer,
    2. it could happen to anyone owning a 3D-printer,
    3. You personally deserved it ;-)
    Keep it Up!

  • @wirekat
    @wirekat 7 лет назад

    Excellent video. Worked perfect for my Prusa with only the idler springs undone. Thank you!

  • @RJMaker
    @RJMaker 7 лет назад +188

    The 'stare down' always works for me.. :-)

    • @blakewarrington8235
      @blakewarrington8235 6 лет назад +8

      I just completed the stare down with my printer. It worked.

    • @unclezeds
      @unclezeds 4 года назад +6

      I thought “the stair down” was when the printer flies from Upper floor to ground floor on its own after overly frustrating it owner.
      Boy was I mistaken about that definition!

    • @wernerhiemer406
      @wernerhiemer406 3 года назад

      @@unclezeds
      If you can't care,
      there is the stair.
      But then all your dreams are crushed;
      you better had it brushed and flushed.

  • @Acheiropoietos
    @Acheiropoietos 4 года назад +2

    Some great logical tips no noob like me could ever think of! Danke!

  • @ecoalex9345
    @ecoalex9345 2 года назад

    Got my first clog 3 hours in to a big project. Bless this video

  • @PeterDalling
    @PeterDalling 7 лет назад +6

    Looking around for a thin enough needle, I found the lancets used for blood tests are the right size for a .04 nozzle. Worked for me, cleared the jam. :)

  • @yiranzhou9491
    @yiranzhou9491 6 лет назад

    Thank you! Coldpull with PLA just solved my clogging problem here! Brilliant!

  • @Zuunky
    @Zuunky 4 года назад

    So I experienced wobbles in the walls of my print, time after time no matter what settings I changed. It seemed to be clogging was the problem after all. That nozzle heating and pull out strategy worked nicely. The wobble artifacts instantly disappeared afther this cleanup. Thanks!

  • @GeekTranslation
    @GeekTranslation 2 года назад +8

    thanks for the tips on how to keep the nozzles clear. I had one clog, again I assume it was because I used really cheap filament. I was going to spend time cleaning the nozzle only to find that amazon sells 36 nozzles(for the ender 3) for $10 CAD... approx 28 cents each... so I went that route. Again appreciate this video....

  • @eiennofantasy
    @eiennofantasy 6 лет назад

    Thank you for this video. Using the heatgun method you really saved me from buying another nozzle

  • @tomluque
    @tomluque 5 лет назад +1

    I had what seemed to be a clog nozzle that turned out to be caused by a fractured solder joint on the small pbc in the extruder head assembly of my FlashForge Finder. The fracture caused a resistance that lowered the current to the heater, which varied the wattage. The LCD does not show the temperature status once the print starts, so you have no idea the temp has dropped the melting point needed to push the filament out the nozzle. Thanks for the quality videos and content.

  • @secretasianman2937
    @secretasianman2937 5 лет назад +1

    Thanks for video actually helped me with my clogged cr-10

  • @ZhakRyuu
    @ZhakRyuu 7 месяцев назад

    Thanks a lot, I was able to successful get rid of my first clog by a combination of needle and cold pulling. The last pull I saw a black fragment in the filament and I knew it worked. Printing as I write!
    p.s what people say about glowing filament is completely true! Be prepared for numerous clogs!

  • @genemaster74
    @genemaster74 4 года назад

    G'day m8...i just got my Ender 3 V2. It has worked flawlessly for a week, but videos like this is really good info for a newby like me! So i know if i have filament issues, ive got the knowledge to fix it...cheers m8 from friendly Downunder!!

  • @michaelkent5485
    @michaelkent5485 7 лет назад

    Thanks - used a 27 G 1 1/4" needle - worked great Thanks!

  • @DDRains
    @DDRains 3 года назад

    Thanks for the help. Was having nothing but trouble.

  • @themastereal8345
    @themastereal8345 Год назад

    The yanking method worked best for me! Thank you!!!😊

  • @eclsnowman
    @eclsnowman 7 лет назад +1

    Nylon Cold Pull FTW! Great video as always Tom.

  • @canadian_blue7267
    @canadian_blue7267 3 года назад

    Thank you so much your favourite of the suggestions worked.
    Pushing the pla in when warm then letting it cool and pull.
    I got the particle on the first try but did it a second time just to be safe.
    Thank you so much.

    • @redmach12003
      @redmach12003 2 года назад

      You can buy individual strings in most guitar shops. They sell them by the diameter size. Just go in and tell them what size you need.

  • @papycoima
    @papycoima 3 года назад

    Omg dude thanks! I was about to change the extruder, but you saved me! Thanks a lot!

  • @goldbunny1973
    @goldbunny1973 6 лет назад +13

    I use guitar wire; The thinnest wire is stiff enough to push up into a blocked nozzle. I also feed it in through the bowden and use the ribbed section of the wire to catch hold of molten plastic blockage and pull it out as it cools then I pull or snip off the wire blob and start again. Works for me although I'll try your Stare Down Technique if I run out of strings.

    • @IDriveAnAudi
      @IDriveAnAudi 5 лет назад +1

      Aha!!! I have tons of guitar strings and last night my printer clogged for the first time and I couldn't think of what to do. Tonight I will try this!

  • @dillpickle7633
    @dillpickle7633 Год назад

    Thank you so much I wish so many blessings on your family. :)

  • @traceyseto5183
    @traceyseto5183 3 года назад

    tHANKYOU! heating up the hot end and sticking a pin in got all the jammed old filament out! I was dreading having to take the nozzle out and not being able to put it together again!

  • @nicktheevilscientist9399
    @nicktheevilscientist9399 7 лет назад

    Thank you so much! So much time and money saved!

  • @sugarspice2042
    @sugarspice2042 3 года назад +1

    Thanks for that Thomas, very useful. Love the FUBAR bit, great. All the best................

  • @krism3163
    @krism3163 7 лет назад +3

    I'm doing cold pull with a Nylon pretty much once a week. Not because of the clog but to keep my nozzle clean for better print quality. Surprisingly there's alway some gunk inside even though I have clean environment and use good quality filament.

  • @LinusDropTips
    @LinusDropTips 4 года назад

    The needle one worked for me. Thanks!

  • @nuketro0p3r
    @nuketro0p3r 5 лет назад

    Thanks. I was about to open up my heat sink, but then I found the pin that came with my Ender. Your suggestion did the trick. Testing now (:

  • @truelazerlight
    @truelazerlight 4 года назад +70

    Also try to avoid doing what I just did and don't knock over your cup spilling acetone over your entire desk while following along the video on your computer.

    • @mickeyripper6976
      @mickeyripper6976 4 года назад

      Pull on filament as the hot end is heating to remove dirt and clip off end, add a very thin coat of olive oil to 1" of end of filament before re-inserting. Force 150mm of filament through once heated. has always worked for me.

    • @MarcAntoineBvl
      @MarcAntoineBvl 4 года назад

      Happened to me too while cleaning my extruder lol

    • @Geolaminar
      @Geolaminar 4 года назад

      could be worse. Acetone is non-conductive right?
      Or you could have had a soldering iron going when you spilled it.

    • @somedude2492
      @somedude2492 3 года назад

      @@Geolaminar yeah but it destroys plastic though

  • @jacobwilliams4293
    @jacobwilliams4293 Год назад

    Thank you your video got my printer printing again

  • @anthonypeverill2326
    @anthonypeverill2326 2 года назад

    Brilliant advice, cold pull did the trick on lk4 pro. Thanks

  • @UFJoy
    @UFJoy 7 лет назад

    most helpful video so far THX!!

  • @AlohaMilton
    @AlohaMilton 7 лет назад +5

    Great helpful video is very much appreciated!
    My favorite nozzle cleaning tool is a small section of a bamboo cooking skewer, like used for cooking on a charcoal grill. It is great for digging out gunk from a nozzle, heat resistant so works well with a heat gun. End can be cut clean or ragged to make it a precise pointed scraper or a bristled stiff brush. Can be put into a drill easily or dremel, less easily, to spin it and really clean out a nozzle nicely. May deposit stuff in the tip final .4mm bore that will need to be removed if pressed into the nozzle hard while spinning it in a drill or dremel. Usually just another bit of bamboo stiff fiber poked through from the other side takes care of that, but it's only for a full servicing and refurbish with the nozzle removed to dig out every last bit of gunk and make it like new. Might work well with solvent as it will hold it and deposit it and carry material away as well.

  • @34mikeymo
    @34mikeymo 4 года назад

    Your videos are top notch

  • @johnabruce
    @johnabruce 3 года назад

    The cold pull cleared my nozzle. There was some white material that came out with the filament. I did it two more times just to make it extra clean. Thanks.

  • @prongATO
    @prongATO Год назад

    Love the “stare-down”. Didn’t work with my Mini and Nozzle X.. cold pull did though. Cleared my first clogged nozzle today.

  • @f.d.6667
    @f.d.6667 3 года назад +1

    I like the option of the "stare-down by a real engineer" ... you should offer this as a service! Anyway, the video gave me the confidence to get my printer going again in mere minutes. BTW: tool tip - the BIONIC WRENCH (AKA the Loggerhead) is a great way to hold hexagonal nozzles while heating them up and getting the goo out. The thermal mass of the jaws distributes and stores the heat so you can work longer w/o re-heating...

  • @sofimerlino8752
    @sofimerlino8752 2 года назад

    It worked! Thank you so much!!

  • @adeharris4457
    @adeharris4457 8 месяцев назад

    I have had very few clogs in the last two years, one bit of advice I learnt was to cool down the hotend to 45c before turning off the printer I believe this has helped a lot in not getting clogs

  • @mr.klassic3566
    @mr.klassic3566 Год назад

    Hey there,
    Just signed in to like and leave this comment (I usually dont, even when signed in) because your tipps made cleaning very fast...
    Am going to do the cold pull in a bit,
    Have a good day and a great time to yall reading this :)

  • @techsavvyhero
    @techsavvyhero 7 лет назад

    Great video! Thanks Tom!

  • @realnerdethan
    @realnerdethan 6 лет назад +1

    Thank you for the guide! It assisted me with getting the Monoprice Maker Select V2 unclogged after attempting our first print with Wood PLA. I think we need to turn the heat down because I pulled out some burnt filament.

  • @drjohn148
    @drjohn148 7 лет назад

    Very good suggestions. Thanks for doing.

  • @michaelporter9940
    @michaelporter9940 6 лет назад

    Thanks. Just what I needed.

  • @bmemike
    @bmemike 7 лет назад +37

    That stare down!

  • @CYellowan
    @CYellowan 8 месяцев назад

    So i had the clog of hell. Used amolen, silk dual color. The clog happened at a certain point every time. I did tons of small cleaning and extrusion tests. And eventually i learned that the speed you run this type of silk filament at is always gonna clog the nozzle at higher speeds. You can compensate with higher temps, but the speed itself matters the most. Max ought to be like 45 but their document say 40. I litterally went and took a piece in and out fast and slow. Smashed it in to force-extrude fast. It always failed when i went fast, but the eureka moment was when i let it pass trough slowly. So this better work, stellar video regardless. Whatever excess grime my extruder had, now ought to be gone 👏

  • @parakhm95
    @parakhm95 6 лет назад

    I used a welding flame to heat the nozzle. That evaporated and melted the material but did not damage the nozzle in any way. Other flames will work too. The melting temps of nozzles are high anyway.

  • @johnm.gerard1718
    @johnm.gerard1718 5 лет назад +2

    Tom, love all your videos. I found stuff call FLOSS filament that cleans your bowben tube and nozzle. I am not sure how I got a cloged nozzle so quickly. Maybe I am just trying to push PETG through my nozzle to quickly. I was trying 100mm/s at .3 layer height. This worked for a couple of decent sized prints. The first symptom was that my first layer was not sticking. My first layer sticks all the time. Then my Titant bowben extruder wouldn't push the filament through the hotend. Previously I had the filament break off. And shortly after I replaced the Bowden Tube. All the above happened. But I still love my Tevo Tornado.

  • @RestorationAustralia
    @RestorationAustralia 2 года назад

    Cool tips, thank you.

  • @passerby5735
    @passerby5735 5 лет назад +5

    When I got a clogged nozzle, I told myself not to worry; just go rewatch Tom's video on clogged nozzles. 10 minutes later and it's all ready to go.

  • @3DPrintedAspie
    @3DPrintedAspie 7 лет назад +2

    Thanks for sharing Tom I haven't had a clog yet but I know I will at some point. 😁

  • @TheFilipFonky
    @TheFilipFonky 4 года назад

    A needle did it. Phew. Thanks for the guide!

  • @medfancreation
    @medfancreation 7 лет назад

    This video helped me soooo much ! Thx mate !!!

  • @ornotermes
    @ornotermes 7 лет назад +2

    I have a piece of sponge to clean my filament, I also put a zip-tie around it to make it wipe a bit better and I have a piece of drinking straw to keep it a bit away from my extruder.
    Another preventive measure I practice is to cold pull my filament as often as possible when changing filament.
    Since doing these things and throwing away the really cheap and bad filament i had there has been no blocking issues for me.

    • @wordreet
      @wordreet 6 лет назад +1

      I have some grey PLA that I could never do that with. It'd beak immediately as it's about as strong as spaghetti, but it prints beautifully!!

  • @memnarch1113
    @memnarch1113 7 лет назад

    Thanks, really good advice!

  • @egoodchild
    @egoodchild 4 года назад

    Helped me out, thanks!

  • @art_kuzmina
    @art_kuzmina 4 года назад

    thank you very much this helped a lot.

  • @Ludiks
    @Ludiks 7 лет назад

    I use flame torch to clean mine, work very great ^^

  • @TotoGuy-Original
    @TotoGuy-Original 7 лет назад

    love your videos and advice thank you very much

  • @apodarkmatter8036
    @apodarkmatter8036 6 лет назад

    Just ran into this kind of problem: Anet A8 nozzle ejecting very low material. It wasn't a coggled nozzle. Turns out the cog attached to the extruder motor loosed itself from the motor shaft, so the extruder wasn't able to pull the filament. It's worth a check, and it's a easy fix!!!

  • @RaymondWolfeTh3ITGuy
    @RaymondWolfeTh3ITGuy 7 лет назад +1

    That cold pull worked like a charm, thanks for the info

  • @mohammedalebrahim3322
    @mohammedalebrahim3322 3 года назад

    THANK YOU!

  • @Alzexza
    @Alzexza 7 лет назад

    Thanks Dude... help much appreciated.

  • @frankvonthienen3862
    @frankvonthienen3862 4 года назад

    I did it with the compressor pistol, heating up the nozzle and then pressing the filament out (from tip site) by air pressure... works fine for me.
    Actually, it was my mistake, was printing steel filament with a 0.4 nozzle while 0.6 was recommended by manufacturer :-)

  • @Side-Quest-Workshop
    @Side-Quest-Workshop Год назад

    Thank you!

  • @josephpk4878
    @josephpk4878 Год назад

    At the end of every print, on my Ender 5 S1, I leave the filament in and let it cool to about 50°c and then do a cold pull. This also works when I'm using PLA and I generally get a full imprint of the nozzle interior.

  • @barryhulce6714
    @barryhulce6714 5 лет назад +9

    As folks mentioned previously, a non-wound guitar string works well in place of a needle. A guitar string size 013 (.013") = .330mm, fits a .4mm nozzle well without been too flexible.

    • @T1bolus
      @T1bolus 2 года назад +2

      E and B works fine :) thanks :)

    • @ShroomedAgain
      @ShroomedAgain 2 года назад

      Thank's I don't need to be buying needles, my family has enough to worry about!

    • @thedude7726
      @thedude7726 7 месяцев назад +2

      ​@@ShroomedAgainlol you must be a real fun guy

  • @pandalarve
    @pandalarve 6 лет назад

    yeah was looking all over for someone to explain the print becoming qriggly just after exiting nozzle, this is the first guy i found mentioning this. and only as a list of things what could be wrong. gonna check if it is some particle in it that is not supposed to be there now.

  • @snaprollinpitts
    @snaprollinpitts 5 лет назад

    thanks Thomas!!!

  • @JasonRobards2
    @JasonRobards2 2 года назад

    My prints suddenly started to come out brittle and thanks to your video I knew how to fix it.

  • @Tommy_Myst1c
    @Tommy_Myst1c 5 лет назад

    Thanks for help!

  • @adammacey
    @adammacey 7 лет назад +1

    +1 for the "Stare-Down" method. :D

  • @MrGrymReaper
    @MrGrymReaper 7 лет назад +9

    Pushing needles up the hot end can be painful :) thanks tom for these video's !!!!

  • @dr.mohsenmarzouk6624
    @dr.mohsenmarzouk6624 6 лет назад

    Very good, Thank you very much

  • @BrainSlugs83
    @BrainSlugs83 7 лет назад +10

    "A GOOD STARE DOWN" -- OMG. THAT WAS AMAZING. THANK YOU THOMAS!! XD

  • @bentlikeitsmaker
    @bentlikeitsmaker 7 лет назад

    look into welding tip cleaners might work extremely well for cleaning the tips you guys use

  • @StL614
    @StL614 4 года назад +1

    When I change my nozzles I do hot swaps then while it’s cooling I use tweezers or a needle you’ll get a strand and it’ll pull a lot of filament out I also use a micro torch if I let it cool too much

  • @johetajava
    @johetajava 2 года назад

    Thanks a lot, you make science for us from these magically appearing errors.

  • @samuelroberts8449
    @samuelroberts8449 5 лет назад

    thank you so much!

  • @sorabh73
    @sorabh73 4 года назад

    I used a head gun and it seemed to work,. Thanks for this video!

  • @kadiryilmaz7378
    @kadiryilmaz7378 6 лет назад

    that sponge is a nice idea, thankx

  • @rd2divenow
    @rd2divenow Год назад

    Thanks… great tips

  • @ElectraFlarefire
    @ElectraFlarefire 7 лет назад +14

    If you do a lot of 3d printing, I highly recommend finding a source of dichloromethane/methylene chloride for dissolving PLA.
    It does a /very/ good job even if it's a little nasty(No more than any other 'strong' solvent) and you need to take care not to dissolve the contained or seals of the container your using. It's also good at dissolving mixed plastic clogs.
    (I distill it from paint stripper using some pretty sketchy equipment outdoors but in other countries you might be able to just buy it.)

  • @PetterBruland
    @PetterBruland 6 лет назад

    That worked for me. Oddly before the blockage, the filament looked like it was liquefied and bubbling at the tip when I pushed it through. Anyhow, clear nozzle and printing now.

  • @alainpainchaud
    @alainpainchaud 2 года назад +1

    It works well with a soldering kit. Just lower the temperature a bit so that it is between 200 and 240C. The PLA melts and you can just clean the nozzle easily. AP

  • @violettracey
    @violettracey Год назад

    Thanks!

  • @SmartieTV
    @SmartieTV 4 года назад

    Super Video! Hat mir weiter geholfen ;)

  • @valshaped
    @valshaped 5 лет назад +2

    A cold pull with PLA at 60-70°C works REMARKABLY well on the Monoprice Maker Select V2.1