TAZ 3 not extruding

cmotuliak · 2016-12-15T16:16:39.000Z

Hi, I am a student and I am trying to fix a 3D printer. It is a Taz 3 I think, and the filament isn’t catching to the thing that feeds the filament. We are using ABS. If I manually push on the filament, it will come out without a problem. Everything works correctly, except the filament isn’t getting pushed out with the motors. Can you help me?

Garyg · 2016-12-16T04:31:59.000Z

Hi

Can you see the back side of the motor that should be spinning the extruder big gear?

It’s maybe possible that the small gear is loose on it’s shaft.

If the motor is spinning, but your filament is not moving into the extruder, maybe you have a loose setscrew or broken small gear.

I’m not familiar with how the TAZ3 looks, I’m only familiar with TAZ6.

BUT

If they look pretty much the same, at least you will find out if the motor is trying to extrude filament.

I put a small mark on the back of the extruder motor, so I could tell if it was spinning or not when extruding.

cmotuliak · 2016-12-16T13:00:25.000Z

Thank you @Garyg! I will send a picture.

cmotuliak · 2016-12-16T16:22:56.000Z

@Garyg I am looking at the 3d printer and all the motors are turning, but the silver thing that is supposed to catch and extrude the filament isn’t pushing it.Do you know how I would fix that? [EDIT] I now know this to be the idler wheel

Garyg · 2016-12-16T23:26:39.000Z

Hi again

A picture would be very much appreciated and might generate others to join this discussion, But

Have you been to the Lulzbot web pages?

They used to sell TAZ3 printers that they manufactured.

It appears that Lulzbot does not keep secrets and is willing to share info on any of the printers they have

ever sold.

I found a TAZ3 manual that may help you.

They also are willing to share their drawing files so you would be able to understand exactly how their printers

are and were made.

Since it appears that you are starting from scratch, getting a manual would more than likely help you

in your endevour.

I’m in no way associated with Lulzbot.

I just use their printers and filaments

MrDoggss · 2016-12-18T04:29:04.000Z

Just a simple curiosity, are you loading 3 mm or 1.75 mm filament? I believe the Taz 3 was set up to use 3 mm, 1.75 would probably be too small for the extruder to feed.

cmotuliak · 2016-12-20T16:35:35.000Z

We’re using 3MM ABS

cmotuliak · 2016-12-20T16:37:07.000Z

@Garyg, I am going on a Christmas break soon and after that I can send pictures

So the little latch thing that holds the filament against the idler wheel has a wheel on it that isn’t the idler wheel. that does not spin with the filament, which I believe it should.

MrDoggss · 2016-12-24T01:46:09.000Z

Not sure if this is the same extruder, but this is the building of one from Lulzbot.

https://ohai.lulzbot.com/project/22c225a9-58c4-4fc9-bd7c-9ac011e3200e/