If a clogging issue occurs, you can follow this checklist to troubleshoot step by step from the outside in.
| Step | Inspection Item | Description / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Check the printer status 1. Is the filament finished, broken, tangled, or knotted? 2. Is the temperature displayed on the screen normal? 3. What model is being printed? Are there signs of clogging such as thin or stringy extrusion on the print? |
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| Step 2 | Check extruder motor and wiring 1. Is the extruder motor turning properly? (If it's vibrating but not rotating, check wiring) 2. Is the motor cable securely connected? Any visible breaks? 3. Check the terminal pins and ensure motor wires are intact |
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| Step 3 | Test filament retraction/feeding 1. After retracting, check the filament: is the diameter enlarged? Are gear marks too deep? May indicate filament issue 2. After removing blocked filament, feed new filament: if extrusion is thin or misaligned, nozzle may be blocked or damaged 3. Determine the possible clogging location based on extrusion or filament condition: extruder gear? heatsink? throat? nozzle? |
Normal filament diameter: 1.75mm |
| Step 4 | Component-by-component inspection ▶ Extruder gear - Open effector housing and check if the tension screw on the lever is properly tightened - Is the filament tangled or deformed (thickened or thinned)? - Signs of melting and re-solidification may indicate poor heat dissipation - Check for missing bearings or worn gears ▶ Throat (heat break) - Inspect for melted residues or solidified filament inside - Look for flashing or thickened filament - If the lower part is shiny and thickened, it's likely heat-related; if only the blocked area is thick and rest is fine, it's likely filament quality issue ▶ Nozzle - Remove and clean the nozzle, check for foreign debris - If particles reflect light, they may be metal fragments from the heater block (vs. burnt filament) - Inspect nozzle exterior for wear or deformation |
▶ If heat dissipation is poor, check if the cooling fan is working, and confirm the connection of the adapter board and effector cable ▶ If the filament shows abnormal diameter or reflective debris, it may be due to poor-quality filament or internal wear of the nozzle |
Reference video: https://youtu.be/B3BPM49eLzA