Other Blockages
Gabriel de Holanda avatar
Written by Gabriel de Holanda
Updated over a week ago

Unfortunately, the nozzle isn’t the only place where clogs might occur. If no filament is coming out of the nozzle anymore the actual blockage might not be in the nozzle itself. You’ll have to check the whole filament path, starting from the feeder to the nozzle.

  • Often, blockages occur right after the drive gear, especially when using flexible filaments. This can be common for some printers, so be sure to read up on if your printer is suitable to print flexible filaments. Modifications can also be printed for some extruders, files are available on websites like thingiverse.

  • Bowden tubes like to gather debris, increasing friction, causing blockages. Inspect, clean and replace as needed.

  • Another notorious spot is where the Bowden tube in Bowden extruders (or the PTFE liner tube in certain HotEnds) meets up with the metal bits. If the tip of the tube is frayed, dented, carbonised or cut at anything but a 90° angle, this is inviting trouble. Also make sure your tube is seated firmly as far in as possible. If the tube moves, for example during retractions, chances for a blockage increase.

  • Right around the heat break. Usually a sign of insufficient HotEnd cooling or too high of a retraction distance.

Also read our chapter [Filament not feeding properly]


Did this answer your question?