Nozzle Clog/Jam
Medium to Fix
Filament is not extruding or extruding intermittently due to a blockage in the nozzle.
What Does It Look Like?
No filament coming out of nozzle
Clicking or grinding from extruder
Intermittent extrusion
Under-extrusion getting progressively worse
Common Causes
Heat creep (filament softening in cold zone)
Burnt filament residue
Foreign material in nozzle
Temperature too low
Solutions (Try in Order)
Start with Priority 1 solutions. Make one change at a time and test between changes.
1
Cold Pull Cleaning
Most effective clearing method
Heat to 200°C, cool to 90°C, pull sharply. Repeat 3-5 times.
1
Hot Nozzle Cleaning
Push material through at high temp
Heat to 250°C (safely above normal), extrude vigorously
2
Needle/Wire Cleaning
Physically clear blockage
Heat nozzle, insert 0.4mm needle/wire from bottom
2
Replace Nozzle
If cleaning doesn't work
Change to new nozzle (keep spares!)
3
Check Hotend Cooling
Prevent heat creep
Ensure hotend fan is running properly
Prevention Tips
- Save working settings for each filament type
- Perform regular printer maintenance
- Keep filament dry and stored properly
- Re-level bed before important prints
- Start with manufacturer-recommended settings
At a Glance
Severity:
CRITICAL
Difficulty:
Medium
Category:
Extrusion Issues
Solutions:
5