Inconsistent feed rates http://makerbot.wikidot.com/forum/t-568309/inconsistent-feed-rates Posts in the discussion thread "Inconsistent feed rates" Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:24:39 +0000 http://makerbot.wikidot.com/forum/t-568309#post-1575205 Re: Inconsistent feed rates http://makerbot.wikidot.com/forum/t-568309/inconsistent-feed-rates#post-1575205 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:07:03 +0000 Jetguy 612096 Sorry for my slow response. Anyway, have you pulled the nozzle and red PTFE tube out lately? What happens is that burned ABS leaves a hard substance that can block the nozzle from the inside. Believe it or not, but dust too from the filament can do the same thing as it doesn't pass through the nozzle. One way to try and clean it it to loosen the filament tension screw, get some fresh good ABS filament in a couple of 12 inch pieces cut square on the ends via a sharp blade, and heat the head to 220 C (No hotter!) then hand feed filament enough until it comes out, them pull out fast to suck any contaminates back out stuck to the hot melted filament, It might take once or twice.

Another common issue was that improper cutting of the red tube when assembling. If you cut it off flush with the end of the stainless tube or since you ran the head hotter than 230C melted, it pinches off the end or leaves a gap near the nozzle. The gap condition leaves a large room in the area above the nozzle in which the ABS doesn't flow through against the walls and burns, blocking the nozzle, or the melted PTFE could be blocking the nozzle. I see from the photo your metal plate in the middle is stressed meaning you might have jammed the PTFE into the nozzle and it's closed off from running too hot.

See this thread which is related and has some great pictures of the problems
http://wiki.makerbot.com/forum/t-374079/stepstruder-mk6-issues

]]> http://makerbot.wikidot.com/forum/t-568309#post-1572516 Re: Inconsistent feed rates http://makerbot.wikidot.com/forum/t-568309/inconsistent-feed-rates#post-1572516 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:19:12 +0000 Rixus2 1447621 This piece of crap website wont let me include the image link. I had to break it up, you'll have to fix it when you copy/paste.

imageshack dot us/a/img195/9059/feedproblem.jpg

]]> http://makerbot.wikidot.com/forum/t-568309#post-1572513 Inconsistent feed rates http://makerbot.wikidot.com/forum/t-568309/inconsistent-feed-rates#post-1572513 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:16:22 +0000 Rixus2 1447621 I'm having inconsistent feeding on my ToM w/ mk6 extuder. As you can see in the picture, sometimes it flows well.. other times it doesnt. I used to get jamming issues all the time until I switched to the higher quality internal plastic tube in the extruder. I cleaned out the extruder gear etc, so I dont think thats the problem. I also upped my temp from 225 to 230.. still doing it.

Its most obvious on the raft layer.. but on normal print it ends up giving me random unfilled layers, so the prints snap in half easily. Any help would be appreciated.

Also, is there an upgrade I can print or something for the mk6 extruder? I feel like if it just had a better tensioning system this crap wouldnt happen.

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