- To switch filament, remove the old filament and cut a right angle on the fresh filament’s end
- Feed the new filament into the extruder by gently bending it in opposite directions and pushing it through until a solid resistance is felt
- Remove the old filament from the nozzle before you can begin using the new one by going to Move Axis > 1 mm > Extruder in the settings menu and scrolling the axis of the extruder forward or backward by 15-20 mm
- When the new color or material begins to come out of the nozzle, it is time to purge the nozzle
Have you ever encountered an issue while switching filaments?
If so. STOP! You are causing harm to the hotend. Not only will your prints be of low quality, but eventually your hotend will fail and stop extruding. T
o prevent all of this, simply follow our step-by-step instructions for changing 3D printer filament.
How to switch 3d printer filament
Follow the three steps below to successfully switch 3d printer filament:
1. Remove the Old Filament
The filament that is currently loaded must be unloaded first. To accomplish this, heat the nozzle to the point where the filament you’re working with melts. The manufacturer’s recommended temperature range is usually printed on the spool’s side or made available on the company’s website in case you’re unsure.
- Turn on the printer and use the knob to access the temperature settings menu.
- You may adjust the temperature and the nozzle by going to Control Settings > Temperature > Nozzle.
- Turn up the heat with the help of the LCD control panel.
- Hold off on using the hot end until it reaches the ideal temperature.
- To release the filament, pull it back and take the spool out of the extruder by squeezing the lever. The filament can be removed by turning the extruder knob clockwise on the Ender 3 V2 or by hand.
- To use a filament except the one previously installed, your hot end must be modified.
- If your filament spool has holes along the edge, it is recommended that you use these to loop the filament’s end and secure it while storing the spool.
2. Install the New Filament
Now that the old filament has been removed, you may load the fresh filament into the extruder.
- To make it easier for the filament to feed into the extruder, remove it and snip a right angle on one end. To do this, hold the filament in one hand and use the other to make a 45° cut at the end of the filament.
- Put the fresh stuff into the extruder, they say. You should know that the filament will not be completely straight because it is wound on a round spool. Straighten out the last two inches of the strand by gently bending them in opposite directions.
- Squeeze the extruder arm lever and insert the filament between the toothed extruder gear and the idler pulley.
- Maintain arm pressure and manually push the filament through. Those who possess an Ender 3 V2 can reverse the extruder’s direction by turning the knob in a counterclockwise direction.
- The fresh filament needs to be pushed until a solid resistance is felt. This indicates that the fluid has reached the spray tip.
3. Purge the Nozzle
At this point, you can begin feeding your new filament into the nozzle. You’ll need to remove the old filament from the nozzle before you can begin using the new one. This will guarantee that just the fresh filament is being used for printing and that the old filament has been removed from the hot end.
Please note that when switching from a higher temperature material to a lower temperature material, the nozzle temperature should be set to a higher value until the purging is complete.
Cleaning the old filament out of an Ender 3 printer is a simple and quick operation thanks to the software’s built-in tools.
- To adjust the extruder, go to Move Axis > 1 mm > Extruder in the settings menu by clicking the LCD knob.
- Scroll the axis of the extruder forward or backward by 15–20 mm. By forcing material through the nozzle, an extruder may both remove the waste filament and introduce fresh filament.
- You may need to repeat this process multiple times to clear the nozzle of all remnants of the previous filament.
When the new color or material begins to come out of the nozzle, it is time to purge the nozzle.
My own struggles switching filament
It was my first time using a 3D printer and, to be honest, I was a little intimidated by the whole process. It all seemed so complicated – until I read the instructions on how to switch filament.
Removing the old filament and installing the new one was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. All I had to do was snip off a right angle on the end of the filament, insert it between the toothed extruder gear and the idler pulley, and squeeze the lever. It was a little tricky getting the filament through the extruder at first, but after a few tries, I managed to get it in there.
The next step was to purge the nozzle. This can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re not used to using a 3D printer. But with a little patience and some trial and error, I managed to get it done.
Overall, switching filament wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be – but then again, I’m still a newbie when it comes to 3D printing. If you’re having trouble switching filament, don’t worry – just follow the instructions carefully and you’ll be good to go.
In conclusion, it is very important to follow this steps in order to safely switch 3d printer filament.
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!
