I was printing a lot of stuff today, with PLA+ in the left extruder and PETG in the right one. When I started the last PETG job, the extruder started making horrible noises and wasn’t extruding filament. Here’s a link to a video with audio of simply running a load operation without feeding filament in, the same type of noise it was making when I discovered the issue.
The left (PLA+) extruder is operating normally. Is there anything that I can do to remedy this other than have Snapmaker service/replace it?
There was no filament in the extruder when I shot the video and there are no mechanics in the hot end. I’m not saying that the hot end isn’t clogged, but the problem is obviously deeper than that. When I get a pause in my current projects, I’ll disassemble the DEM and see if there’s anything obviously wrong.
I’m running 215°C in the extruder for the PETG I’m using (old M3D “ABSR” I had lying around) because it provides the best results with the least stringing. I’ve printed a lot of things before this with those settings and no clogging, even when I overdid the retraction to the point where the controller warned me whenever I started a print. I’m using 2mm retraction (the maximum to avoid warnings) now.
OK, this makes no sense. When I swap them, the right nozzle heater won’t work (with the formerly left hot end). I’ve tried seating and reseating that hot end a multitude of times with the same result. If I swap them back, both heaters work.
Well, there’s the problem with the filament feed. Broken wire on the stepper motor. I looked up the part number for the motor and it’s apparently a custom configuration. I’ll contact Snapmaker support. It still probably doesn’t explain the hot end heater weirdness.
I have to pay for the part ($27 total, $14 of that being shipping cost from China), but they’re sending me a new motor. Before I install it, I plan to use some silicone sealant as a strain relief on both motors to keep it from happening again.
