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Hotend Maintenance
Nozzle Clogged or Worn Out
If your nozzle clogs it could be from a number of issues. If you use a lot of high temp or specialty
filaments and they remain on for 24+ hours, carbon can build up in the nozzle resulting in clogging.
We recommend changing nozzles often especially if you have important prints. Alternatively you can get
hardened or ruby nozzles to extend the life.
You can usually spot a worn out nozzle if the print/infill looks spotty or the printer looks like it’s under
extruding. It will look like it’s not connecting the infill lines or they are just dots. This can also happen
from picking the incorrect nozzle size in your slicing software.
Replace Nozzle
Replacing a nozzle is easy, quick and should be done often.
1. Make sure to heat your extruder and remove any filament.
2. Using a 7mm socket and adjustable wrench, loosen the nozzle while holding the heater block
with the wrench. Make sure all the force goes into the wrench, so you don’t break the heater
throat.
3. Once removed, replace the nozzle with a fresh new one and make sure it’s very tight, again
using the wrench. Do not tighten without the wrench or you may loosen the heater block or
break the throat.
4. You might have to adjust the babystepping on the next print since the new nozzle may be a new
height.
Replace Hotend
You may have to replace the entire hotend if parts break or you need a whole new assembly.
The hotend has two electrical connections. One is a thermistor (temperature sensor) and the other is
the heater cartridge (that heats the filament). Both of these plug into the extruder with simple
connectors.
1. Turn the printer off. Then disconnect the electrical connections mentioned above.
2. Loosen the two bolts holding the hotend in place. Use the hex keys that came with your printer.
3. Remove the old hotend and install the new one in its place.
4. Connect the heater and thermistor wires and test the printer.
Loose Hotend Parts
Make sure to periodically check your hotend for loose parts due to vibration or other issues.
• On the 3D printed extruder bracket. Tighten the (3) M3 bolts holding the bracket in place fairly
tight. The 3
rd
bolt holding the swing arm should be tightened then backed off a half turn to allow
it to swing freely.
• Make sure the bolts holding the extruder to the x-axis bracket are always tight. If they are loose
you may experience irregular layering in the z-axis.
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