Post by bvandiepenbos on Sept 22, 2014 13:41:50 GMT -5
Your extruder motor may be running hot enough to soften PLA causing buckling at extruder. Need to check the current setting in firmware and set to correct number which depends on which brand of stepper you have, Wantai or Kysan.
SeeMe hot end I assume? ...John revised nozzle at one point this year which helped printing of PLA with their hot end. You may have the older style, which I never could get to print PLA well at all.
You absolutely must run peek fan 100% of the time, else barrel gets warm enough to soften PLA above heater block causing bulge and jam. Glenn's mount positions fan farther away from barrel than most so I think a fan shroud would be a good idea. a modified version of this repables.com/r/140/ would be good.
PLA also needs a lot of part cooling. The more fans the better. 3 of the SeeMe blower fans on platform work well. 60C bed, glass & hairspray.
Your extruder motor may be running hot enough to soften PLA causing buckling at extruder. Need to check the current setting in firmware and set to correct number which depends on which brand of stepper you have, Wantai or Kysan.
SeeMe hot end I assume? ...John revised nozzle at one point this year which helped printing of PLA with their hot end. You may have the older style, which I never could get to print PLA well at all.
You absolutely must run peek fan 100% of the time, else barrel gets warm enough to soften PLA above heater block causing bulge and jam. Glenn's mount positions fan farther away from barrel than most so I think a fan shroud would be a good idea. a modified version of this repables.com/r/140/ would be good.
PLA also needs a lot of part cooling. The more fans the better. 3 of the SeeMe blower fans on platform work well. 60C bed, glass & hairspray.
I print PLA just fine with the setup I have, 30mm fan blowing on the barrel - no part cooling, no shroud.
Last Edit: Sept 22, 2014 14:12:57 GMT -5 by BeeAmaker
Some things are meant to be closed. Your mind isn't one of them.
your 30mm fan is probably cooling print some also.
Yes, but cooling the print has nothing to do with the nozzle jamming, just better looking prints. It depends some on what your printing too. He is still using the 25mm fan with the Shroud (slightly modified) which I remember wasn't spinning good. I think you might need to replace it or go to a 30mm fan.
Some things are meant to be closed. Your mind isn't one of them.
Post by BeeAmaker on Sept 22, 2014 17:17:46 GMT -5
There is another possibility also, you might be cooling too fast for that 0.35 nozzle. If the temp can't melt the PLA fast enough. You might need to adjust your steps per on your extrude so it's not trying to jam too much plastic into the nozzle too fast, before it can melt.
@brian, also note that he is still using the old original version of repetier firmware. Those thermistor tables weren't the best.
Some things are meant to be closed. Your mind isn't one of them.
Post by jimustanguitar on Sept 23, 2014 9:28:02 GMT -5
I'll take pictures tonight. The screw tab goes on the top though. There's nothing under the platform, it's on top and the side but not under.
It does blow directly on the hot end nozzle though, so I'm thinking about making a cone shaped piece to mount under my light ring that would deflect the air and direct it downwards and away from the nozzle... Stay tuned.
Post by bvandiepenbos on Sept 23, 2014 12:07:59 GMT -5
Looks good Jim. You can also wrap the heater block with silicone tape to insulate it from air blowing. Although, I like your deflector cone idea even better, I think I will steal it! A small metal funnel cut down maybe?