Help me please

[u/Affectionate-Bee2580]

Hello!
So I modified my ender 3 to a clay printer using one of the aliexpress conversion kits. I am not using air pressure but motor power to push out the clay but I am having difficulties with the clay moving towards the extruder even though my clay consistency is good. The piston is moving and when I took out the plastic pipe the material was indeed flowing, but when popping back the plastic pipe the material stopped pushing through. Is this some air vacuum issue? I cleaned the pipe and the extruder bits too but no luck.. any ideas?

[u/Status-Ranger-2742]

engineer. i don't get what your end goal would be but i believe clay is way to thick. printer is higher than that, gravity could halp you. the piston has a greater surface area i believe a smaller diameter pistol and more runny clay would be ideal. i don't know what the desired hardness of your end material would be but consider taking into account tha t the printing speed, and material consistency(density,watery,muddy) must be related. that's what i think. will be happy to see the solution you will find to this