Hotend Clumping, also called Hotend Blob, which is a mass of plastic accumulated around the hot end, is one of the most challenging issues you may face when 3D printing. Removing it can be tricky, but there are methods you can try to clean it up.
In order to help and guide users to complete the cleaning operation, we have prepared this WIKI, hoping to help you confirm the damage and reduce secondary damage to the parts on it.
Raise the X-axis and move the heatbed forward
Raising the X-axis creates more working space, while moving the hot bed forward helps prevent debris generated during the process from falling into the Y-axis gap and causing any other anomalies.
Once in maintenance mode, you can safely remove the hotend without encountering any errors. Additionally, the hotend can continue to heat for a period of time while in the heating state.
Enter printer maintenance mode
After stopping the printing process, the material attached to the hotend tends to cool down and harden, making it difficult to remove. Therefore, before cleaning, it is necessary to heat the hotend to a temperature slightly higher than the printing temperature of the material. Taking PLA as an example, the hotend can be heated to around 250 degrees Celsius.
Heating the hotend
Note: For safety reasons, when the printer is not in its normal working condition, the hotend will automatically stop heating after being maintained at a high temperature for a certain period of time. If you have not completed the necessary processing within this time, please remember to reheat the hotend.
IMPORTANT!
When you perform maintenance or troubleshooting on the printer, please first confirm the temperature of the hot end and hot bed to avoid operating at high temperatures. If you must operate at high temperatures, please wear heat-insulating gloves to ensure safe and effective execution.
If you have any concerns or questions about following this guide, open a new ticket in our Support Page and we will do our best to respond promptly and provide you with the assistance you need.
After completing the aforementioned preparations, you can proceed to clear the clumping from the hotend.
Heating the hotend makes it easier to remove a minor cluming near the hotend. Therefore, it is advisable to first try removing the clumbing directly before and after removing the fans.
The silicone sock can be easily cleaned at high temperatures, so it should be processed promptly after removal.
Clean the hotend silicone sock
In the heated state,removing the hot end becomes effortless. Remember to cut off the printing filament beforehand. If you encounter difficulty unlocking the quick-release device or extracting the hot end, verify that the hot end has ceased heating; in such cases, simply reheat it.
The quick-release device adds a level of complexity to cleaning the heating components. Verify the hot end's temperature status and position the quick-release device near the base of the heating component. Utilize the material in its softened state for more convenient cleaning.
Clean the hotend heating assembly
If the blob is stubborn and won't come off, an alternative approach is to apply heat to soften it. Since hair dryers are widely available, we recommend using them for this purpose. Remember to use the hair dryer at higher heating temperatures and maintain the heat for several minutes.
Additionally, cease heating the hot end at this point to prevent the risk of burns during the operation.
Once the treatment is completed and there is no apparent damage, reinstall the previously removed parts.
Assembly
After completing the assembly, refer to the maintenance mode setup instructions from the preparation stage to exit maintenance mode.
If any damage is detected, acquire the necessary accessories through the online store.
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We hope that the detailed guide we shared with you was helpful and informative.
We want to ensure that you can perform it safely and effectively. If you have any concerns or questions regarding the process described in this article, we encourage you to reach out to our friendly customer service team before starting the operation. Our team is always ready to help you and answer any questions you may have.
Click here to open a new ticket in our Support Page.
We will do our best to respond promptly and provide you with the assistance you need.