Hi everyone, I’m a new member of DMS and was hoping to lean on some of the experienced makers on how to fix a 3D printer. I own a Prusa i3 MKS3 that I built and have had for a few months. My 3D printer has unfortunately clogged and i’m struggling on how to fix it. I’ve tried heating and letting it sit for a while and poking it with a needle but nothing seems to break it free. I’m tempted to buy a new nozzle and switch it out but I’ve never done it before and it looks like it is a little difficult to do… I’ve also read that if you can remove it and have it soak in acetone it’ll break down all the PLA and can also help removing clogs.
Anyways, I was looking to see if anyone was free to maybe meet up at DMS and help work on my printer. I bought the upgrade for my printer that allows it to print 4 different colors that I will be setting up after I fix the clog. If anyone can help me break the clog free they are welcome to use the mutlicolor print for a few objects of their choice. Maybe a few free beers too?
Future plans for my printer are to finish the multi extruder upgrade and then build a containment box like the ones at DMS.
Hey. Mk3 owner here.
Acetone won’t dissolve PLA at all, acetone is a solvent for ABS. PLA solvents exist… But are really hazardous.
Are you getting a reduced flow, or is it completely jammed?
That’s right… I forgot that acetone won’t dissolve PLA. I was thinking of ABS… I print pretty much only with PLA, my hotbed doesn’t seem to want to get hot enough for ABS. Not sure why, it spits errors when I tried it in the past.
The thing is completely jammed, I’m not able to get it to break free with a needle.
I actually have the MK2S, not the new MK3.
How long have you had the MK3? Do you like it?
ABS works better in an elcosure anyway, it’s pretty picky about temp fluctuations. Nowadays, PLA isn’t much different from abs in terms of mechanical properties.
I’ll have to look up the extruder for the 2s, but if it has a PTFE liner in the hot end, I have had those soften a bit and deform to the point where filament wouldn’t feed through. If that looks good, I’d definitely try an atomic pull. AKA cold pull.
EDIT: It looks like it uses an all metal hotend, and doesn’t have a liner insert along the guide. I’d just try the cold pull
Preheat the extruder and feed in filament, then set it to cool. Once it is about 90C, pull the filament out in one motion. Make sure your steppers are off for this part. You should get a blob
As for the mk3, it is the best printer I have ever owned. I’ve had it for a couple months now, and I am pretty sure I can’t go back.