3D printing is one of the most exciting technologies to have come out in recent years, allowing makers to produce their plastic items.
However, even though 3D printers are getting more popular each day, it still takes time for every aspect of this technology (especially its software) to reach consumer-level capabilities and expectations.
One specific issue that may prevent a consumer from going forward with their 3D printing project is that the nozzle of the printer may get clogged with filament after a while. In this article, we will explain what causes this issue and how you can deal with it.
What causes 3D printer filament to get stuck in the nozzle?
The reason why your printer’s nozzle is getting blocked with filament is not because of a flaw in your machine. It occurs when there are inconsistencies when moving from one layer to another when you’re using a new type or color of filament or if you’ve put too much force on your machine.
If you receive a print order from someone else or if you’re going to use a 3D printer for the first time, the chances are that it will happen to you at some point in the future.
What can I do if my nozzle gets clogged?
At this point, your best option is to try to clean the nozzle with a wire, a kind of thin metal filament, or a drill bit. If you have your 3D printer, it’s always better if you can take off the nozzle and clean it manually by using a brush instead of trying to do so from inside the machine.
However, if you don’t want to remove it or feel comfortable doing so, a drill bit will work. Right now, nothing has been found that gets rid of the filament stuck in your nozzle more effectively than a regular drill, which is why we recommend it as the first solution to try out.
You can use a cheap and small drill from your home depot, or you can use the one that came with your 3D printer. Some owners prefer to use a long drill bit (usually between 5 and 6 inches, depending on how big the nozzle is), while others prefer a short one (around 2 inches).
Once you feel like you’ve done everything you could do to get rid of the filament stuck in your nozzle, get a new piece of filament and insert it into the hole; if you’re using a drill bit, reinsert the filament back in until it comes out clean on the other side.
If you’re using an AIO (all-in-one) type of 3D printer that comes with a filament feeder, the chances are that you will have to change the spare tube at this point. Either way, clean all the parts of your 3D printer and try printing again.
How can I prevent my nozzle from getting clogged?
Some steps may help you get a better print quality in the future. The first thing you should do is to replace the filament that’s stuck inside your 3D printer.
If it’s there for too long, the chances are that the material will get hard and won’t be able to melt or pass through easily during printing.
Next, you’ll have to check out some tips on how to print successfully with your 3D printer. Some of them are going to be quite obvious, but others may surprise you a bit, especially if it’s your first time using a 3D printer or if you had problems with some other printing project in the past.
Among the most important ones are as follows:
- Keep checking your print during its building phase and ensure that the filament is sticking to the nozzle properly. If it moves or there’s a gap between them, you may have an issue with your machine, and you should either contact the manufacturer or seek out alternative solutions.
- Make sure that you’re using a the best filament available and start by loading small amounts of filament to stop the nozzle from getting blocked.
- Ensure that you’re using the appropriate type of filament for your printer, or it will get stuck in your nozzle. You can always ask us for help (we’ll suggest one if you don’t know which one to use), and we’ll also give you some information about specific types of filaments.
- Don’t force your 3D printer too much, or else you will finish up with a clogged nozzle. If it’s getting stuck between the layers, make sure that you slow down the speed of the printing process and change some settings.
All in all, there are two ways to deal with this problem if it happens to you. You can either try to remove the filament from your nozzle manually using a drill, or you can change it as soon as possible.
In some cases, both of these methods will work, and you shouldn’t have any trouble with getting rid of the material that’s clogging your nozzle. If not, then there’s still a chance that replacing the old one will do the trick.
If you don’t want to replace the old filament, then it’s a good idea to keep an AIO 3D printer on hand just in case this issue happens again.
In some cases, they will solve your problem more quickly and efficiently than other machines that have no filament feeder systems or drills attached to them.
Conclusion
3D printing is becoming more and more popular, but despite its popularity it still remains somewhat of a mystery to most people.
3D printing is essentially a process of creating solid objects using additive manufacturing, which is essentially the process of laying down layers of material using special 3D printing equipment and software.
A common misconception is that it only makes simple things, like Rubik’s cubes, dolls, or Batman figures. However, just like any other technology, it can be used for more complex things, like 3D printed rocket engines or 3D printed robots.
Our final word of advice is to keep an eye on the printing process and ensure that your 3D printer is printing with no issues. This way, you won’t have any problems if (and when) it happens again, but at least you’ll know what to do to fix the issue as soon as possible.
If anything goes wrong, don’t be afraid to experiment and look for alternative ways of fixing the issue.
When you’re about to print, make sure that your machine is working correctly and there aren’t any problems. If the filament isn’t sticking to your nozzle correctly or if it’s not following through during the printing process, you need to replace it as soon as possible (or even better – avoid such issues by buying a 3D printer with an AIO filament feeder).
Hello, my name’s Rush Chapman. I’m a 3D printing enthusiast. I started this site to help people choose 3D printing projects and select the best 3D printer for your needs, whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro!
