When it comes to 3D printing, the nozzle and hot end on your 3D printer machine go through so much of rough work. Therefore, giving it a proper clean is a must. Otherwise, they can bring about issues in quality and uneven extrusion.
3D printers work best when the filament is kept at a low or room temperature, so it is no good to use when it is printing, but it can get clogged if you allow it to come out when it’s hot.
You should try replacing the nozzle if you find that your filament comes out tangled or doesn’t pass through smoothly. You may remove the nozzle to clean it, or push it out, but not both. Printing should run smoothly fine when you’re finished.
1.Cancel the current print job. Select the “Unload” menu option from your 3D printer software. Don’t pull out the filament until the nozzle is sufficiently heated.
Pull out the filament little by little to prevent creating any kind of damage to your machine. If your filament won’t come out, you may want to try heating up the nozzle bit, doing so should make it easier to pull it out.
2. Preheat your nozzle to around 200 degrees Celsius or about 392 degrees Fahrenheit. After removing your filament, the nozzle’s temperature will begin to go down and thus cool on its own.
From your printer’s settings, start heating the nozzle to approximately 200 °C or about 392 °F. This amount of heat should be enough to help facilitate the removal of any remaining filament clogging the nozzle. Allow the nozzle to fully heat up first before proceeding.
Tip: Heat settings in various sections of a 3D printer may be adjusted. When cleaning the nozzle, make sure you heat only that.
3. Insert a nylon filament or transparent ABS into the nozzle and keep it in place for a few seconds. Nylon and ABS plastic share one common attribute, they both have high melting points. This makes them easier to handle when picking up clogs.
Insert the filament end into the cavity right above your nozzle. Gently force the filament as far as it can go via the nozzle before it comes to a halt. Keep your filament in that position for around 10-15 seconds to allow it to slightly melt.
Avoid using products with a lower melting point since they will not hold their shape as well.
4. Check for any dirt or debris deposits after pulling out the filament before cutting it off. After around 10-15 seconds, you can pull the filament out of the nozzle.
Because ABS or nylon is partially melted and has a transparent look, any residue that might have been removed should be visible to you. Using a pair of scissors, measure 2.0 inches or about 5 cm from the filament’s dirty end.
5. Continue the cycle again until you have the filament come out clean. Keep inserting the filament end into the nozzle and let it out after a couple of seconds.
As you work, the filament will pick up less grime, debris, and dirt. Keep going with the nozzle cleaning process until you see the filament is clear when you take it out.
See to it that you cut out the dirty filament to keep it from coming back into your nozzle.
6. With the help of a thin wire or needle, push any clog through the nozzle. Maintain a tight grip on the nozzle using your pliers when poking a wire or needle into it. Clear any residue from the inside of the nozzle’s sides with a scraper.
Continue cleaning the nozzle until the clog is gone until such time you can see through it without any obstruction. Wipe clean the wire and needles to clear them off of any possible residues.
Conclusion:
Nozzle cleaning should be done regularly to maintain printing consistency and to produce parts with smooth surfaces, free of cavities and bumps. Service your 3D printing equipment regularly, or you can just enlist the assistance of a specialist. This is the best way you can ensure that it remains in tip-top shape.