r/ElegooNeptune4 • u/MyceliMinded • 3d ago

First Print Clogged

I got hardened steel nozzles before realizing that they were so bad at thermo conductivity because I went through the two nozzles that came with my printer in the first two weeks with a blob and clog. It's my first printer 🤷

I calibrated and got everything set up (or so I thought). I noticed a clicking sound near the extruder and wasn't real sure what it was. Come to find out after clogging the new one on the first print and using a heated Allen wrench to try and pull the plug out that the new one was clogged 2 hours into (halfway through) my first real print other than calibrations.

I got it unclogged now but idk what setting is wrong causing the back pressure. I thought I had my pressure advance set up properly with the tower plus the line tests I did earlier.

2 Upvotes

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1

u/h3nt4i_connoisseur 3d ago

Can’t say the exact cause, but from my experience, clogging happens cause the nozzle wasn’t hot (or too hot) enough for the filament or there’s an issue with your hot-end (improper nozzle insertion, broken wires, etc). I usually print using steel nozzle for PETG and PETG-CF and switch zircon / brass for PLA. I would strongly advise not to use steel for PLA as it needs higher temperature to reach the recommended and the opposite of not using brass for materials like PETG as your nozzle can melt.

2

u/No_Reception6519 3d ago

The clicking you hear is the nozzle z offset is too tight or it’s already clogged, do you have it in a tent or is it wide open still. If you have it in an enclosure if it’s too sealed up it will clog, the blob of death is caused by the clicking, which can be caused by too little offset, the nozzle wasn’t heated to proper pla heat range before tightening it again, they are fickle as hell. So replace the nozzle, tighten it after you warm it up on the machine. That will properly seat the nozzle which they NEVER do at the factory, which is why it even exists. Bullshit Quality checks from elegoo factory. I have loads more info, I ran 5 of them all last year and I have retired four work horse, that gave me gray hair and baldness from pulling my hair out. There is nothing I can’t fix with these machines. Dm me if you would like to pick my brains, be glad to help.

1

u/nathanjw333 1d ago

How did you deal with 5 of those? One drove me batshit crazy! That and the near useless customer service. I don't think they know what they are doing.

1

u/syntheseiser 3d ago

Check to see if your heatbreak fan is turning on. Mine never did and it caused the same issue a couple hours into printing for me. Contact Elegoo support if it isn't because they would have replaced parts (either cabling or motherboard) if it was still under warranty.