Geeetech A30 User Manual page 57

2. Nozzle is too close to the bed
If the nozzle is too close to the build platform, there will not be enough room for plastic
to come out of the extruder. The hole in the top of the nozzle is essentially blocked so that no
plastic can escape. An easy way to recognize this issue is when the print does not extrude
plastic for the first layer or the 2nd, but begins to extrude normally around the 3rd or 4th
layers as the platform continues to lower along the Z-axis.
To solve this problem, you can use the very handy G-Code offsets which can be found
on the G-Code tab of EasyPrint 3D process settings. This allows you to make very fine
adjustments to the Z-axis position without needing to change the hardware. For example, if
you enter a value of 0.05mm for the Z-axis G-Code offset, this will move the nozzle 0.05mm
further away from the print bed. Keep increasing this value by small increments until there is
enough room between the nozzle and the build platform for the plastic to escape.
3. The filament has stripped against the drive gear
Most 3D printers use a small gear to push the filament back and forth. The teeth on this
gear bite into the filament and allow it to accurately control the position of the filament.
However, if you notice lots of plastic shavings or it looks like there is a section missing from
your filament, then it's possible that the drive gear has removed too much plastic. Once this
happens, the drive gear won't have anything left to grab onto when it tries to move the
filament back and forth. Please see the Grinding Filament section for instructions on how to
fix this issue.
4. The extruder is clogged
If none of the above suggestions are able to resolve the issue, then it is likely that your
extruder is clogged. This can happen if foreign debris is trapped inside the nozzle, when hot
plastic sits inside the extruder too long, or if the thermal cooling for the extruder is not
sufficient and the filament begins to soften outside of the desired melt zone. Fixing a clogged
extruder may require disassembling the extruder, so please contact your printer manufacturer
before you proceed. We have had great success using the ―E‖ string on a guitar to unclog
extruders by feeding it into the nozzle tip; however, your manufacturer should also be able to
provide recommendations.
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