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  • How do you clean the nozzle?

How do you clean the nozzle?

3d Printing Help Centre

3D PRINTING HELP CENTRE

In the 123-3D help centre, we answer all your questions about 3D software and printer settings, problems you may experience during or after 3D printing and other 3D-related topics.

How do you clean the nozzle?

During printing, the nozzle may become clogged and believe us, everyone who works with 3D printers has experienced this. It is a common problem, especially among beginners. The causes are diverse:
  • The distance between the nozzle and the build surface is too small. 
  • The wrong temperature was used for printing. 
  • The diameter is inconsistent. 
  • The material is not suitable for the nozzle used.
  • There is a build-up of dust on the filament.
To be able to continue printing, it is necessary to clean the nozzle, but how do you do that? There are several techniques that we explain step by step:
  • Remove the filament with a needle
If the extruder is still warm, you can remove the filament you were printing with. Then bring the nozzle to melting temperature and use a needle to push the remaining filament through the nozzle. Be careful not to burn your fingers and use a needle with a smaller diameter than your nozzle. Thanks to their different lengths and diameters, our metal needles are extremely suitable.
  • Use the 'Cold Pull' technique
If removal with a needle is not successful, you can switch to the so-called 'Cold pull' technique.
  1. First, remove the filament and Bowden tube.
  2. Take as straight as possible a piece of filament of about 20cm.
  3. Heat your printer (180-240 degrees).
  4. When the ideal temperature is reached, insert a piece of filament from above into the print head. Keep pushing until the filament extrudes or can go no further.
  5. Begin the ‘Cold Pull’:lower the temperature to about 90 degrees (PLA) or 130 degrees (ABS).
  6. While cooling, gently push the filament further into the print head, making sure it is fully seated in the nozzle. If nothing comes out of the nozzle, you may stop pushing.
  7. When the nozzle is at the right temperature, pull the filament out firmly but smoothly. Our advice is to test at a low temperature whether it is already moving. If nothing happens, increase the temperature gradually. Then you pull out the filament with a smooth movement.
  8. If the tip of the removed filament is clean and round, the operation is successful! If there is a lot of dirt residue, you will have to go through the above steps again.
  9. When the nozzle is successfully unblocked, place the Bowden tube back in the printer and the nozzle back in the hot end.
  • Heat Print Head
In practice this rarely happens, but if the needle and ‘Cold pull’ method do not work, you can heat the 3D print head with a flame. In exceptional cases, the entire print head must be replaced. It is then easier and cheaper to purchase a new nozzle. If it turns out that the tube is also clogged, you can simply order a new one. Prevention is of course always better than cure! Want to know how to prevent the nozzle from clogging in the future? Read our tips.

Do you have another question?

Have you not been able to find the answer to your question in the overview above? At 123-3D.ie we are busy with 3D printing every day and we like to follow every development. We are happy to share the knowledge and experience that we have built up over the years with you in our 3D printing help centre!
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