How to Fix Under Extrusion

Many printer users have faced the problem of under extrusion and are wondering how to fix it. The print job may start out smoothly, with adequate adhesion to the print bed and layering as planned. However, when you return to it, you discover that the print job has gone wrong and that there are gaps, holes, and missing print layers. Under extrusion is a problem that can cause these problems, and if you’re having trouble, you should read this article to learn how to fix under extrusion and solve other issues.

High temperatures

If your printer is having trouble with under-extrusion at high temperatures, you will need to know what the root cause of the problem is. If you’re printing PLA at 240 degrees Celsius and 20mm/s for 60 micron layers, the problem will probably be in the temperature. But if the temperature is too low, the filament may not be able to reach the nozzle properly. In this case, the feeder will skip back and the pressure in the head will increase.

One of the most common causes of under-extrusion is improper hot-end adjustment. When you change filament, you must ensure that the parts fit well together. If they don’t, there’s extra friction and the new thread will not be able to move through the nozzle and the extruder head. If you have this problem, you can try adjusting the feeder motor to prevent the problem.

Blockage in the extruder head

A blockage in the nozzle of an extruder head under the process of printing may result in inconsistent material flow. The filament is not allowed to fully extrude, and this will lead to the printer being inoperable. To fix this, you can use a fine wire or guitar string to poke the filament through the clogged nozzle. Make sure to clean the nozzle inside and out, and repeat if necessary.

Another potential cause of a blockage in the extruder head is uncleaned filament gears. Unclean gears can grind stationary filament and collect filament debris. During the print, a stuck filament can cause blockage problems. If you have short-wire-brushed filament spools, you can fix this problem. Spool knots are inevitable in the 3D printing process.

Tangled filament

There are several simple steps you can take to untangle tangled filament under extrusion. First, unmount your spool and take it closer to the feeder. Pull the filament back through the knot until it is free. If this doesn’t work, stop your print and remove the tangled filament from the spool holder. Then, repeat steps 2 and 3 to reinstall the spool.

If the problem persists, try to unwind the filament to see if it is still tangled. This will further exacerbate the problem. Another option is to use a drill attachment to rotate the spool. You can also make your own hand-cranked winder. There are also off-the-shelf tools available for this purpose. If you have your own device, feel free to share your experience.

The next step is to make sure you do not uncoil the entire filament. If you uncoil the filament to get to the knot, you will only make the tangle even tighter. It’s better to leave enough slack to pull whole loops over the edge of the spool. In this way, you can fix tangled filament with less hassle. While the above-mentioned steps may not work for everyone, they do work for most users.

Blockage in the nozzle

Under-extrusion is the result of filaments that do not fully exit the nozzle. This can result in layers with irregular recesses and weak materials. Under-extrusion is relatively easy to diagnose. The filament has a blockage in the nozzle, and it can be dissolved in acetone to remove it. Replace the nozzle if necessary. Hopefully this article has given you some insight into the causes and solutions to under-extrusion.

The most common cause of a clog in the nozzle is heat creep. This is caused by an imbalance in temperature. As a result, the filament becomes soft within the nozzle and pushes around the outer extrusion path. This can happen when the PTFE tube has become worn or if the heatsink is not working properly to dissipate heat away from the nozzle.