I’ve found that backing out the filament after each print, while a pain, has been helpful in avoiding extruder jams. Or, rather, I have found fewer extruder jams while doing this. 1
I suspect the reason this has helped is that it removes from the PTFE insulator any of the remaining plastic that might have been about to ooze near the barrel top. Have you found that this helps you?
- Not to confuse coincidence, correlation and causation, but I have also found fewer extruder jams when wearing my underwear inside out… [↩]
I have always backed it out when I’m done. I rarely have jams. The problems I always have are caused by deformed insulators and leaking plastic either oozing out of the nozzle threads or down the insulator threads.
Historically, I have not backed out the filament much. But then, I’d normally do several prints right in a row – and then back it out when I’m done with all of the print tasks. I’ve only had two insulator failures – once with PLA oozing down the threads a while ago and once with ABS oozing down the threads a week or so ago. I’ve been very fortunate in only needing 1.5 insulators so far (I was using my original until this last ABS leak/ooze.
I haven’t been backing it out, but I imagine it would help. I noticed that when the plastic is heated up, it expands. If you back it out then there is no way for pressure to build up and there won’t be any jams because of that. Great idea!
I wish I could take credit! I read it on the MakerBot wiki. :)
I haven’t been backing it out, but I imagine it would help. I noticed that when the plastic is heated up, it expands. If you back it out then there is no way for pressure to build up and there won’t be any jams because of that. Great idea!