Makerbot replicator 5 filament jam
If you leave 3D filament in the hot nozzle for a long period without extruding, it can cause a jam similar to Jam 2 above - this is called heat creep.
Heat creep is when 3D filament plastic heats up beyond the 'Melt Zone' and melted plastic 'creeps' into the heat break area see image below for zone definitions. PLA filament is particularly prone to heat creep because of its low melting temperature and high heat capacity. Remedies for heat creep can be pushing filament though manually, or increasing the temperature for a moment, extruding, and then decreasing temperature.
There are different kinds of hot ends you can read in more detail here but in all cases, be sure you have an active cooling fan on the Peek or metal heat sink area when the hot end is at temperature. All Metal Hotend Configuration. Make sure that your 3D filament is loading into the printer properly, with minimal tension outside of the extruder. Be sure that the spool of filament is mounted and is able to spin freely - often tension from the filament leading to the extruder can cause a printer to stop extruding.
We have written an article on software bed leveling here , but I think we can cover some of the basics. As we covered already, if your nozzle is too low, you will cause retrograde extrusion which will very likely cause a jam.
Though easier than hardware calibration, it is still recommended that you get your printer as calibrated as possible in conjunction with software bed leveling. The first thing that you should try in the event of a filament jam is heating your hotend up to a slightly higher temperature than you normally would, for whatever material you were printing with. After it heats up, take your filament and try to push it through the hotend by hand. If your filament is too malleable, it is fine to use a small screwdriver or other such tool to push with.
Note - when using a tool, be careful not to damage the hotend by pushing too far. This technique will clear the vast majority of your jams, if the problem persists, there are two more things to try. If you find that your filament has been ground away, you can typically check your printer's extruder and find that the teeth on your hobbed bolt are filled with plastic. If you can, always check with the manufacturer of your 3D printer before any major maintenence - you don't want to accidentally void your warranty.
Take a small pointed tool something like a toothpick will work , and gently scrape the plastic out of the teeth. Your bolt will have a renewed ability to pull your filament. Tightening your drive block a couple turns may help as well. Once again, you will probably want to review the dynamics of your extruder before attempting this. If neither of these things are working, there is another method. This can dislodge little pieces of hardened plastic, and hopefully allow your filament to extrude smoothly.
Note - though effective, this is somewhat risky. Do not try it unless you're confident that you don't require any outside help. Full dissasembly of the heating unit is possible for most machines, but as stated earlier, may void warranties. If you are able to get the nozzle free, it is possible to melt out the residual filament using a heat gun or blowtorch do not do this without taking the proper safety precautions or under supervision.
Once the extrusion path is clear, you can reinstall the nozzle. This is a little toughter. The small plastic clips can be gently pried off using an X-acto knife or very small screwdriver. If you pry too hard, it will snap off. This is definitely the hardest part. Remove the cover from the extruder by lifting the six tabs that hold it on.
Once again, these are prone to breaking, and must be handled with care. This is where you will find your jam. The plastic can be removed easily, and should slide right out. Easier to get apart than back together but managed it and still in one piece!
Glad you liked the write up! Were you able to fix your problem? Makerbot has solved most of the problems of this extruder with the new version, the Smart Extruder Plus. The Makerbot Smart Extruder. The filament guide can be removed by gently lifting it up and off the extruder.
The extruder after removal. Gently pry the four clips up, and the shroud will pop right off. The Smart Extruder with the shroud removed.
The clips on the side must be pried very, very gently. This is what it looks like when you break a clip off on accident.