[SOLVED] Da Vinci Jr. can't print, can't unload filament...

[LeapfrogTech]

it sounds like bed height likely caused the latter issue, can you set it to change filament, so the head heats up and you can just pull the filament out?

[itopher_cydia]

I heated up the extruder and tried that yes, unfortunately to no avail.

[itopher_cydia]

I thought so as well originally, but I’ve experimented with many different heights high and low, without success. I have also tried to use the change filament options to my advantage, but nothing I’ve done has led to success.

[LeapfrogTech]

It sounds like you are going to have to take apart the head and investigate further inside, it may be that the gears have been jammed with melted plastic which has cooled and hardened. (just a theory) Good luck with it.

[itopher_cydia]

That’s what I’m thinking as well. Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it. I’m not sure how this happened, I may end up waiting for XYZ to get their act together and respond to me haha.

[morlauth]

Hi Itopher, I sometimes get this problem as well.

Luckily, there is a solution to this problem! Firstly, if you try using plyers, then maybe you can force the filament out. Do not try too hard as you may damage your machine.

The other solution is to watch this video here: da Vinci Jr. 1.0 - Drive Gear Cleaning - YouTube

This video by XYZ shows you how to take apart your printer so you have access to the gears that are jammed. There you can manually remove the filament.

In the video, the guy removes the wires in the casing surrounding the gears, I do not advise it. Just keep them plugged in. He only does it so that he has more room to access the gears with. Just keep them attached since putting them back is really frustrating.

Good luck!

[Dkepshire]

You sure you didn’t take the lock off the filament? Sometimes even popping the filament box off, and making sure it’s not tangled would help 2…

[Makerdaan]

Be aware that this is a junior.

The gears are not in the head. The feeder and the nozzle are two seperate units far apart.

The filament feeder and nozzle are separated by a long filament guide tube.

Feeding gears and hot unit are thus separated by about 40 cm.

Most problems with grinding feeder wheel are caused by a blockage in the nozzle unit.

Because of the blockage the feeder cannot push the filament into the tube and starts clicking and grinding.

[erickphd]

Yes, if a Jr. then the head can be easily removed and if you are capable, disassembled to clean and check. I’ve not had one apart, but clearly there is filament stuck in the path or in the hot end section, and clearing this may be a challenge. Take it slow and try to see where the actual sticking place is. It might be necessary to get a new head but most blockages can be cleared - the main thing is to not damage the extruder in the process.

[erickphd]

Yes, this is the best approach outside of a complete extruder head disassembly.

[Makerdaan]

Hello Chris,

I have had the same issue with my Junior.

the filament is stuck in the nozzle.

The solution is simple but requires some hands on work.

1) removing the head

Cut the fillament below the feeder.

Take of the printing head from the carriage (push white button on top to release)

Remove fillament guiding tube from feeder and pint head

you might have to push the filament through the feeder (while pushing the filament release) before you can take off the tube.

Now you should have a loose printing head with about 40 cm of filament sticking out.

just put it down on the bed but leave the electronic flat cable on

2) removing stuck filament

Start the nozzle cleaning cycle via the operating menu.

utilities>clean nozzle

When the temerature is ok, poke the nozzle with the cleaning needle

stop the cleaning cycle by pushing ok

the filament is probably still stuck.

now go to monitor mode in the menu.

When temperature drops to about 100 degrees celsius start pulling hard on the filament while you hold on tight to the printing head.

Now the filament should come out.

3) prevention

by deep cleaning the nozzle on regular basis this can be prevented.

[KNUGA]

yes completely agree with approach. I have done the same with my Da Vinci 2.0. I recommend cleaning the drive gears on the extruder at regular intervals. I usually give a quick clean before a large print just to ensure I don’t have any issues.

Good luck,

Jay

[itopher_cydia]

Thank you so much, this totally fixed my issue!!

[Sara_Scott]

Hi, I’m having problems unloading my spool. I get a chug chug chug when unloading, as if something is stuck somewhere. I’ve tried cleaning the gears with the brush, but to no avail. I’ve tried the steps you’ve listed above but can’t seem to remove the guiding tube from either end or move the filament at all manually. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Update, I did a nozzle clean, go an error 0011 code. Turned it off, then on again, all normal. Attempted to unload nozzle, no sounds this time but was firmly stuck. Removed extruder head, managed to remove feeder tube. About 1 metre of filament manually removed. On inspection of the filament, it appears to be ‘bitten’ in several places and ridged. What could be causing this and how can I fix it?

[Makerdaan]

The teeth of the feeder cause lacerations (or bitemarks) while feeding into the feeding tube. That is normal.

[Makerdaan]

The teeth of the feeder cause lacerations (or bitemarks) while feeding filament into the feeding tube. That is normal.

[Makerdaan]

[Cristian_Cvitan]

I´m having this issue where I´m trying to unload the filament, but I get this grinding noise from the extruder (not the hot end but the gears that push or pull the filament), while the filament is firmly stuck.

Upon inspection, I noticed that the temperature first increases, reaching 186°C, but instead of the gears starting to pull at this temperature, the nozzle starts to cool down.

Afterwards, at 107°C the gears start pulling on the filament, but obviously at this temperature it´ll stay stuck to the nozzle.

Seems to me like a coding issue, as the printer instead of pulling the filament at the highest temperature, it skips the operation an pulls when temeprature reaches its minimum…

[sammcstew]

I don’t have this problem but where is you can’t do it either side of the feed tube out mine pops out on the side near the filament roll. So every time I start a print nothing comes out of the extruder.

Any ideas.

[3Dprntingiscool]

Try popping the extruder assembly back into place.