Removing Clogging Of The Extruder; Removing The Nozzle - CraftBot Flow User Manual

8.3. Removing clogging of the extruder

The number one inconvenience that you will run across when 3D printing is clogging of the extruder. But we have good
news for you! This problem can be easily avoided by following a few simple rules of "3D printing etiquette".
• First, always wait until the extruder is fully heated ti its intended temperature before inserting the filament. Inserting
the filament at a lower temperature is just asking for a clog.
• When unloading or changing the filament: always heat up the extruder all the way first. Then "Extrude" for 5
seconds and then immediately press "Reverse" aiding the filament retrieval by pulling a little bit on the filament end
coming out of the extruder with your fingers. The "Extrude" is necessary, because the hotend need to melt the
whole previously melted filament.
• If the extruder is clogged clean out the passageway of the extruder. You can use one of the small hex wrenches
that came with the Craftbot. To do so. Heat up the extruder to 250 °C While the extruder is empty push down any
excess filament out by plunging the hex wrench down into the passageway: Make sure to do adequately but not
in a violent way which would damage the machine, and always take precautions because the extruder is very hot!
• It is especially important to clean out as much old filament leftover between using different filaments, as the
different characteristics of the filaments' properties (even printing the same material in a different color) can cause
clogs from inconsistencies. For example: you must heat up to 250°C to clear out any extra ABS before using PLA.
Clogging is the most common problem in every 3D printer and cannot be prevented 100%, but if you follow these
simple steps you will prevent 95% of occurrences. If you still cannot clear the passage with just this method, you may
want to move onto the next method by following these next steps to actually remove the nozzle itself...

8.4. Removing the nozzle

Remove the filament from the head or cut the filament at
the point closest to the extruder.
• Remove the head only when it completely cooled to
avoid burns.
• In the Navigation menu, lower the bed level for
convenient head access during the process.
• Turn off the printer.
• The fan assembly on the head can be removed using
the 2-2 screws on the sides. The fan unit can then be
easily removed.
• Loosen the screw on the head at the bottom of the
silicone cover, but do not unscrew it. Pull out the
heat cartridge and temperature sensor from the Heat-
block.
• Loosen but not remove the 2 screws on the left side
of the black Heat-sink.
• This allows the bottom head to be pulled out of the
black block.
• Unscrew the nozzle and heat-break with wrenches.
• The two parts can now be cleaned comfortably with
the Cleaning Kit.
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