Extruder maintenance is required when the printer keeps entering the Pause mode due to material jams in the extruder material ducts. It is indicated by the errors: Material jam in hotend A and Material jam in hotend B. Sometimes material residues that remain on the extruder motor sprocket wheel can make it impossible or more difficult for the printer to load materials. Also, if your printer has extrusion problems during the printing process and you notice lower quality of prints, for example there are material deficiencies on them, the extruder needs maintenance work. Follow the steps from this manual to properly disassemble the extruder and clean it from material residues.
Unloading the Materials
Unload both materials with the options from the menu; open the Tools menu, then choose which material you want to unload first and select the Unload material option. Unload the other material in the same way. Detach both material guides from the extruder cover. Next, turn the printer off and unplug the power cable.
Extruder Top Cover Removal
Remove the extruder top cover by pulling it upwards (1) and remove the front cover (2).
Unplugging the Extruder Cable
Unplug the extruder cable.
Unplugging Cables from Extruder PCB
1. Unplug the extruder motor cable (the big white connector in the upper left-hand corner of the PCB).
2. Unplug the capacitive sensor cable (the beige connector in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCB).
3. Unplug the upper fan cable (the small white connector in the upper right-hand corner of the PCB).
4. Unplug the bottom fan cable (the blue connector in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCB).
1. Unplug the extruder motor cable (the big white connector in the upper left-hand corner of the PCB).
2. Unplug the capacitive sensor cable (the beige connector in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCB).
3. Unplug the upper fan cable (the small white connector in the upper right-hand corner of the PCB).
4. Unplug the bottom fan cable (the blue connector in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCB).
Extruder Removal
Unscrew the two screws that secure the extruder in the slide carriage. Next, remove the extruder from the printer.
Extruder PCB with Hotend Module Removal
Unscrew the three screws that secure the extruder PCB with the hotend module to the extruder block. Next, remove the extruder PCB with the hotend module.
Extruder Motor Sprocket Wheel Cleaning
Remove the brass module with encoders and clean the extruder motor sprocket wheel from material remains. Use a flathead screwdriver.
Brass Module Cleaning
Check if the ducts behind the encoders in the brass module are not clogged with material. Use a small Allen key to unclog the ducts.
Extruder Block Cleaning
Check if the material ducts above the sprocket wheel in the extruder block are not clogged with material. Use a small Allen key to unclog the ducts.
Hotend Module Cleaning
Unscrew the two blue screws that secure the hotend module to the extruder PCB, and then separate both components. Next, check if the material does not stick out of the brass sleeves. Use pliers to cut the remaining material.
Extruder PCB Cleaning
Check if the ducts behind the extruder PCB are not clogged with material. Use a small Allen key to unclog the ducts.
Extruder PCB with Hotend Module Assembly; part 1
Secure the hotend module to the extruder PCB with the two screws.
Extruder PCB with Hotend Module Assembly; part 2
Install the brass module with encoders in the extruder block. Next, secure the extruder PCB with the hotend module to the extruder block with the three screws.
Extruder Installation
Install the extruder in the slide carriage and secure it with the two screws.
Plugging Cables into Extruder PCB
1. Plug the bottom fan cable in (the blue connector in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCB).
2. Plug the upper fan cable in (the small white connector in the upper right-hand corner of the PCB).
3. Plug the capacitive sensor cable in (the beige connector in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCB).
4. Unplug the extruder motor cable (the big white connector in the upper left-hand corner of the PCB).
1. Plug the bottom fan cable in (the blue connector in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCB).
2. Plug the upper fan cable in (the small white connector in the upper right-hand corner of the PCB).
3. Plug the capacitive sensor cable in (the beige connector in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCB).
4. Unplug the extruder motor cable (the big white connector in the upper left-hand corner of the PCB).
Plugging the Extruder Cable
Plug the extruder cable in.
Extruder Top Cover Installation
Place the extruder front cover in its place and reattach the top cover. Next, attach the material guides to the top cover.