INVENT3D
TM
Printer Operating Instructions and Troubleshooting Guide
AST2 © 10/26/16
Page 27
is cleaned, try to feed the filament back on top of the existing filament in the hot end. If unable
to remove the melted filament, submit a Support Ticket.
Probable Cause 5:
Print board too close to hot end.
Remedy
: If the hot end is touching the print board while printing, the print board may block
the hot end nozzle and prevent filament from extruding. There may be a scraping noise as
the hot end grinds against the print board, and scrapes on the BuildTak. Stop the print and
allow the hot end to cool. Select
“Stop Print”
from the Main Menu, then select “
Prepare
”,
and then select “
Cooldown
.” Remove the failed print from the print board. If the BuildTak
has been significantly damaged, replace the BuildTak. Once the hot end is cooled down, level
the print board and attempt to print. If the problem persists, re-level the board.
Probable Cause 6:
Filament pressure adjustment screw not tight enough.
Remedy
: If the screw is not tight enough, there will not be sufficient pressure placed on the
filament by the extruder motor gear, causing the gear to spin but not drive the filament
forward. Facing the front of the printer, the pressure adjustment screw is on the right hand
side of the filament drive near the silver thumbscrew cap. Tightening this screw tightens the
extruder motor gear against the filament. As the screw is tightened, the slot in the top of the
filament drive will narrow; the ideal width is approximately one business card width. Be
careful not to overtighten as it will create filament shavings in the filament drive or cause the
filament to rupture.
Probable Cause 7:
Filament may be bent.
Remedy
: When inserting filament into the filament drive for the first time or when changing
filament, ensure that the tip of the filament is not significantly bent in one direction. If it is,
the filament may not pass directly from the filament drive to the hole in the top of the hot
end. The filament will not extrude through the hot end, producing a clicking noise as the
extruder motor attempts to drive the filament forward. Back the filament out of the filament
drive and cut off the bent tip. Reinsert the filament back into the filament drive and attempt
to extrude.
Probable Cause 8:
Hot end and filament drive may be misaligned.
Remedy
: If the filament it not passing from the extruder drive to the hot end when replacing
or inserting filament for the first time, there may have an alignment issue of the filament drive
and hot end. Remove the filament from the filament drive and allow the hot end to cool down.
Loosen the silver thumb screws and remove the extruder top. Raise the extruder motor.
Review the position of the hot end in the extruder bottom - the hot end should be fully
inserted into the slot on the hot end and sit flush with the end of the slot. If the hot end does
not sit flush, loosen the small black thumbscrew that holds the “HOT” sign at the front of the
extruder bottom. Once the screw is loose, push the hot end as far as possible in the slot in the
extruder bottom. Replace the extruder motor on top of the extruder bottom. Ensure that the
extruder motor sits flat on the extruder bottom; if the extruder motor is angled it may cause
an alignment issue. Place the extruder top back on the extruder motor and tighten the silver
thumbscrews. Heat the hot end and feed the filament through the filament drive to verify
that the issue is corrected.
