So you can load filament and it will extrude it without issue? I mean when loading it you can see it coming out the nozzle for a while with no issues?
Where is the bed in relation to the nozzle when you hear the clicking?
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Yes, loading and unloading works just fine. The filament comes out nice and easy when loading, just as it should.
The clicking seems to begin when the nozzle moves from the outer edge of the bed towards the middle. I just cannot figure out what I am doing wrong or if some other adjustment needs to be made. All this started after I cleaned out a clog. I didn’t do anything to the bed so I am confused as to what, if any, link there may be.
Ok, the clicking is likely the extruder not being able to extrude due to the nozzle being too close to the bed.
Run your leveling routine to make the bed get up to the nozzle.
Then using the leveling screws - turn them to make the bed move away from the nozzle (down) as far as possible. Don’t force them tight though. I do not mean to make the whole bed assembly move toward the bottom of the printer using the control panel but just with the three screws.
You should have a visible gap between the nozzle and the bed when done.
Now try a print. All you want to see is if it will extrude or if the bed goes up into the nozzle again.
I did that just now. I seem to have gotten the bed to a better area, however, nothing is still extruding. And I still heard a little clicking, though not as much as before. I am able to easily slide a test slip of paper that came with the printer to gauge the distance between the nozzle and the bed. The distance seems good.
I did notice that the nozzle itself, and whatever it is attached to (looks like a square), seem to be moving/wobbling a bit. The wobbling is initially what I thought the problem might be. Perhaps it came loose somehow and it won’t extrude during a print??
Can I send you a video of what I am seeing? Maybe that would help??
I would still just wind the bed down and get it out of the way for now. Leave a good gap.
Don’t worry about an actual leveling for now.
Unload and cut off 5-6 inches of the end of the filament. It may be scarred up from the extruder and not want to extrude.
Re-load fresh and let it extruder a few feet to make sure it keeps going.
If it will extrude like that without issue then it should work to print.
Making sure you have plenty of air gap between the bed and extruder run a print and see what happens.
As far as the block being a little loose it may not matter but it shouldn’t really move easily.
When installing the nozzle you need to thread it in and snug it but just so it isn’t loose. Then heat the extruder to about 230-240 and using something to hold the block I place snug down the nozzle.
I’ll give that a shot. I’m actually having someone stop by my work next week and take a look at it if I can’t fix the problem before then.
I’ve never replaced and/or tightened a nozzle before and I wouldn’t even know how to begin. It took me a while to figure out how to take a few things apart so could unclog the nozzle in the first place.
But I’ll try to lower the bed a bit more without tightening the screws all the way and cut and feed the filament through a good amount.
I’ll let you know how it goes in a bit.
MANY thanks for all of your help! I truly appreciate it!!!
Everything loading and unloading filament seems to be working normally. I tried to lower the bed even more, to the point where the screws are pretty darn tight. Still not much extrudes from the nozzle and the block, which are both still wobbling a little on the bed. Here is a picture of what the bed looks like during a test print:
It is still too close to the bed.
What slicer?
What is the layer height?
Probably need to get the nozzle and block tightened up to get things back on track.
I don’t think I can tighten the screws anymore. They’re all the way tight. Before this issue started, they were not this tight and the gap was smaller.
The slicing program is called Qidi Print. It came with the printer. I have not adjusted any settings at all. I’m not that adept yet.
I can see on the side of the block where it can be tightened, I have just never attempted it before. Is there an easy step by step guide on what needs to removed, etc?
Thanks!
How can I find out about the layer height, though, I have never changed the settings.
I can see where the nozzle and heating block can be screwed and unscrewed, however, there isn’t enough space for me to use the tools I have properly. I think the surrounding parts/area may need to be removed so I can get in there. I don’t see how that can be done, though.
I’m capable of removing the motor, as I said before, to unclog the extruder, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten with my tinkering and engineering.
As far as a machine it really depends on what you need out of it.
Size, materials, budget etc.
As far as layer heights go the defaults in Flashprint are fine. For a 0.4mm nozzle size a 0.2mm (0.18mm in Flashprint) layer height is pretty standard and I wouldn’t deviate much from it until you really have a grasp of settings and what they do. Meaning, going to a 0.1mm height adds a whole new set of issues so if you are working with other printing issue then throwing in a thin layer height will mostly aggravate the other problems.
Going to thinner layer heights can show better print results for some models but also significantly increases print times.
First layer height is more something you get a feel for. A thicker first layer height can be useful when the bed isn’t absolutely, perfectly flat whereas a thinner first layer may get you better adhesion.
Again though. If what you are using works then stick with it as you gain experience.
The biggest thing I think in 3D printing is to make small changes, one at a time and for a specific reason and already have an expected result in mind.
After a test, do the results match what was expected? If so, good, and if not then why not? Figure out why you didn’t get what you expected. Maybe the change wasn’t the one needed for the result desired.