I'm still pounding out problems whereby the extruder starves in larger prints.

3D Printing
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I’m still pounding out problems whereby the extruder starves in larger prints. I suspect it has something to do with the Bowden binding things up. Thinking back, it’s been in fairly heavy use for 8 months or so, and I’ve gradually snipped one end or the other off when it would no longer stay in the fittings.

Who sells e3d components on the US side of the pond? Their PTFE tubing was considerably nicer than what I purchased from McMaster, and I’d like to pick up a couple of push fit fittings and a couple of nozzles while I’m at it.

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I don’t know if it is connected to what you describe, but I just solved this problem on my Makerbot Replicator 2x. I found out that starving of the Extruder is directly connected to the temperature of the filament next to the entry of the Extruder. During longer prints the filament heats up and expands to dimensions it can no longer fit into the Extruder. The solution I found is to control the temperature inside the printer so it will be uniformal and won’t exceed 55C.

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I’ve got a fan blowing on the print area (it’s a Delta, and freely open, and the room isn’t more than 75F)

I’d like to think I’ve changed everything BUT the bowden, but you know that just isn’t the case. :wink: It’s still limiting what the printer can print, and I’d really like to move past it.

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I had a similar issue with my e3d after 7 months. It turned out that after all that a gap had formed between the break and nozzle in the block. I tore the whole hot end down to components. Did an acetone soak to clean everything up and hit it with a soft wire brush. Ran an m6 tap though the block by hand and cleaned out all kinds of gunk. After everything was shiny again I reassembled and it runs at 230 with no issues like brand new. I did need to re-season the break to run pla effectively

Just take your time and don’t force anything.

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I’ve had good luck wtih MSC for tubing and sleeving I could get or didn’t like from McMaster. I find the selection to be better as well. http://www.mscdirect.com

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Whelp, the 2mm ID PTFE tubing there is only available in 50 foot rolls for $83US. :smiley:

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@Mike_Miller holy cow, the Chinese on Ebay will sell you 3 feet of this PTFE tube for a couple of bucks!