What's the issue?

Filament is fed to the nozzle well, the extruder is working, but no plastic comes out of the nozzle. Retracting and refeeding doesn't work. Then it is likely that the nozzle is jammed.

What are the possible causes?

Nozzle Temperature,Old Filament Left Inside,Nozzle Not Clean

How to troubleshoot for Nozzle Temperature issue?

Filament only melts at the range of its printing temperature, and cannot be extruded if nozzle temperature is not high enough.

Increase nozzle temperature. Check the printing temperature of the filament and check if the nozzle is getting hot and to the correct temperature. If nozzle temperature is too low, increase the temperature. If the filament is still not coming out nor flowing well, increase 5 - 10 °C so that it flows easier.

How to troubleshoot for Old Filament Left Inside issue?

Increase nozzle temperature. After changing filament, the melting point of the old filament may be higher than the new one. If the nozzle temperature is set according to the new filament, the old filament left inside will not melt but cause a nozzle jam. Increase the nozzle temperature to clean the nozzle.

Push old filament through. Start by removing the filament and the feeding tube. Then heat up the nozzle to the melting point of the old filament. Manual feed the new filament directly to the extruder, and push with some force to make the old filament come out. When the old filament completely comes out, retract the new filament and cut the melted or damaged end. Then set up the feeding tube again, and refeed the new filament as normal.

Clean with a pin. Start by removing the filament. Then heat up the nozzle to the melting point of the old filament. Once the nozzle reaches the correct temperature, use a pin or something smaller than the nozzle to clear the hole. Be careful not to touch the nozzle and get burned.

Dismantle to clean the nozzle. In extreme cases when the nozzle is heavily jammed, you’ll need to dismantle the extruder to clean it up. If you’ve never done this before, please check the manual carefully or contact the printer manufacturer to see how to do it right before you proceed, in case of any damage.

How to troubleshoot for Nozzle Not Clean issue?

Use high - quality filaments. Cheap filaments are made of recycle materials or materials with low purity, which contain a lot of impurities that often cause nozzle jams. Using high - quality filaments can effectively avoid nozzle jams caused by impurities.

Cold pull cleaning. This technique feeds the filament to the heated nozzle and has it melt. Then cools down the filament and pulls it out, and the impurities will come out with the filament. Details are as follows:

>Prepare a filament with a higher melting point, such as ABS or PA (Nylon)..

Remove the filament already in the nozzle and the feeding tube. You will need to manually feed the filament later.

>Increase the nozzle temperature to the printing temperature of the prepared filament. For example, the printing temperature of ABS is 220 - 250°C, you can increase to 240°C. Wait for 5 minutes.

>Slowly push the filament to the nozzle until it starts to come out. Pull it back slightly and push it back through again until it starts to come out.

>Reduce the temperature to a point that is below the melting point of the filament. For ABS, 180°C may work, you need to experiment a little for your filament. Then wait for 5 minutes.

>Pull out the filament from the nozzle. You will see that at the end of the filament, there are some black materials or impurities. If it is hard to pull out the filament, you can increase the temperature slightly.

What's the issue?

Filament is fed to the nozzle well, the extruder is working, but no plastic comes out of the nozzle. Retracting and refeeding doesn't work. Then it is likely that the nozzle is jammed.

What are the possible causes?

Old or Cheap Filament,Extruder Tension,Nozzle Jammed

For old or cheap filament, what should be done?

Refeed the Filament: Once you found that the filament is snapped, you need to heat up the nozzle and remove the filament, so that you can refeed again. You will need to remove the feeding tube as well if the filament snapped inside the tube.

Try Another Filament: If the snapping happens again, use another filament to check if the snapped filament is too old or bad that should be discarded.

Why might extruder tension cause filament snapping?

In general, there is a tensioner in the extruder that provides a pressure to feed filament. If the tensioner is too tight, then some filament can snap under the pressure.

What should be done for extruder tension related snapping?

Adjust Extruder TENSION. Loose the tensioner a little bit and make sure there is no slippage of the filament while feeding.

How does a nozzle jam relate to filament snapping?

Nozzle jammed can lead to snapped filament, especially old or bad filament which is brittle.

What should be done if suspecting a nozzle jam?

Check if the nozzle is jammed and give it a good clean. Also, check the temperature and flow rate. Check that if the nozzle is getting hot and to the correct temperature. Also check that the flow rate of the filament is at 100% and not higher. Go to the Nozzle Jammed section for more details of troubleshooting this issue.

What's the issue in this 3D printing case?

Excessive bed heat is the culprit. As the plastic is extruded, it behaves like a rubber band. Normally, the previous layers in a print hold back this effect. But with a very hot bed, the plastic remains above the glass transition temperature, stays malleable. When new layers are added on top of the semi - solid plastic, the shrinking forces cause the object to shrink until the print reaches a height where the heat from the bed no longer keeps the object above that temperature.

What are the possible causes?

Heated Bed Temperature Too High,Insufficient Cooling.

What are the troubleshooting tips for Heated Bed Temperature Too High?

For PLA, keep the bed temperature at around 50 - 60 °C. By default, it's set to 75 °C which is too high for PLA. However, if printing objects with a very large footprint taking up most of the bed, a higher bed temperature might be needed to prevent corners from lifting.

What are the troubleshooting tips for Insufficient Cooling?

Besides lowering the bed temperature, make the fans come on early to cool down the layers quickly. In Cura's expert settings (Expert -> Open Expert Settings...), find the cooling section and try setting Fan full on at height to 1mm. If printing a very small part, these steps might not be enough. You can print two copies of the object at once so that the print head alternates between them, giving each more time to cool.

What's the issue?

The nozzle is moving, but no filament is depositing on the print bed at the beginning of the printing, or no filament comes out in mid - print that results in printing failure.

What are the possible causes?

Nozzle Too Close to Print Bed,Nozzle Not Prime,Out of Filament,Nozzle Jammed,Snapped Filament,Grinding Filament,Overheated Extruder Motor

How to troubleshoot when the nozzle is too close to the print bed?

Z - AXIS OFFSET: Most printers allow you to make very fine Z - axis offset in the setting. Raise the height of the nozzle slightly, for example 0.05mm, to get away from the print bed. Be careful not to raise the nozzle too much away from the print bed, or it can cause other issues.

LOWER THE PRINT BED: If your printer allows, you can lower the print bed away from the nozzle. However, it may not be a good way, as it may require you to re - calibrate and level the print bed.

How to troubleshoot when the nozzle is not primed?

INCLUDE EXTRA SKIRT OUTLINES: Include something called a skirt, which will draw a circle around your part, and it will prime the extruder with plastic in the process. If you need extra priming, you can increase the number of skirt outlines.

MANUALLY EXTRUDE FILAMENT: Manually extrude filament using the extrude function of the printer before beginning the print. Then the nozzle is primed.

How to troubleshoot when out of filament?

Check the filament spool and see if there’s any filament left. If not, feed in fresh filament.

How to troubleshoot when the filament is snapped?

If the filament spool still looks full, check if the filament is snapped. For a direct feed printer which filament is hidden, so that the issue is not immediately obvious. Go to Snapped Filament section for more details of troubleshooting this issue.

How to troubleshoot when grinding filament?

Extruder use a driving gear to feed filament. However, the gear is hard to grab onto the grinding filament, so that no filament is feed and nothing comes out from the nozzle. Grinding filament can happen at any point of the print process, and with any filament. Go to Grinding Filament section for more details of troubleshooting this issue.

How to troubleshoot when the nozzle is jammed?

Filament is set, but still nothing comes out of the nozzle when you start a print or manual extrusion, then it is likely that the nozzle is jammed. Go to Nozzle Jammed section for more details of troubleshooting this issue.

How to troubleshoot when the extruder motor is overheated?

TURN OFF THE PRINTER AND COOL DOWN: Turn off the printer and cool down the extruder before continue printing.

ADD AN EXTRA COOLING FAN: You can add an extra cooling fan if the problem continues.

Why won't my 3D print stick to the bed?

Common causes include incorrect nozzle height, unlevel bed, poor surface bonding, high print speed, incorrect bed temperature, or old filament.

How do I know if my nozzle is too high?

If the first layer isn't squished onto the bed and gets dragged instead of adhering properly.

What's the proper nozzle height?

About 0.1mm - test by sliding a piece of paper under the nozzle with slight resistance.

How can I adjust nozzle height?

Three methods:

1.Use Z-axis offset in printer settings

2.Adjust in slicing software (negative offset)

3.Physically raise/lower the print bed

Why does bed leveling matter?

An unlevel bed causes inconsistent nozzle height across the surface, leading to poor adhesion in some areas.

How do I level my print bed?

Methods vary by printer - some have auto-leveling while others require manual adjustment (check your printer manual).

What surfaces help with adhesion?

Textured surfaces work best - try masking tape, glue stick, or specialized build surfaces like PEI sheets.

How should I clean my print bed?

Use isopropyl alcohol to remove grease and residue, especially on glass beds.

When should I use brims or rafts?

For models with small contact areas - they increase surface area for better adhesion.

What's the ideal first layer speed?

20-30mm/s is recommended for most printers (adjust in slicer settings).

How does bed temperature affect adhesion?

Too hot prevents proper cooling/solidifying; too cold reduces bonding. Adjust in 5°C increments.

How can I tell if my filament is bad?

Signs include brittleness, popping sounds when printing, or poor layer adhesion despite other fixes.

How should I store filament?

Keep in airtight containers with desiccant to prevent moisture absorption.

What's the first thing to check when prints won't stick?

Always start with nozzle height and bed leveling before exploring other solutions.

Why is my 3D printer extruding inconsistently?

Common causes include filament tangles, nozzle jams, grinding filament, incorrect settings, poor quality filament, or extruder issues.

What should I do about a jammed nozzle?

Refer to nozzle jam troubleshooting (typically involves cleaning or replacing the nozzle).

Why does filament grinding occur?

When the extruder gear can't grip the filament properly, often due to:

1.Too much tension

2.Worn gears

3.Soft filament

4.Refer to grinding filament section for specific solutions.

How can I fix a tangled filament problem?

1.Untangle the filament spool

2.Ensure the spool rotates freely

3.Use neatly wound filament

4.Check Bowden tubes for smooth movement

How do software settings affect extrusion?

 Two key settings matter most:

1.Layer height - too small (like 0.01mm) restricts flow

2.Extrusion width - should be 100-150% of nozzle diameter

What's wrong with using old filament?

Old filament can:

1.Absorb moisture

2.Degrade over time

3.Contain inconsistent additives

4.Solution: Try fresh, high-quality filament

How do I know if my extruder is the problem?

Check for:

1.Loose tension - adjust the tensioner

2.Worn drive gear - replace if necessary

3.Slipping filament during printing

What's the first thing to check for extrusion problems?

Start with:

1.Filament path (tangles/kinks)

2.Nozzle condition

3.Extruder grip on filament

How can I prevent future extrusion issues?

Maintenance tips:

1.Store filament properly

2.Regularly clean nozzle

3.Check extruder mechanism periodically

4.Use recommended software settings

Why won't my 3D print stick to the bed?

Common causes include incorrect nozzle height, unlevel bed, poor surface bonding, high print speed, incorrect bed temperature, or old filament.

How do I know if my nozzle is too high?

If the first layer isn't squished onto the bed and gets dragged instead of adhering properly.

What's the proper nozzle height?

About 0.1mm - test by sliding a piece of paper under the nozzle with slight resistance.

How can I adjust nozzle height?

Three methods:

1.Use Z-axis offset in printer settings

2.Adjust in slicing software (negative offset)

3.Physically raise/lower the print bed

Why does bed leveling matter?

An unlevel bed causes inconsistent nozzle height across the surface, leading to poor adhesion in some areas.

How do I level my print bed?

Methods vary by printer - some have auto-leveling while others require manual adjustment (check your printer manual).

What surfaces help with adhesion?

Textured surfaces work best - try masking tape, glue stick, or specialized build surfaces like PEI sheets.

How should I clean my print bed?

Use isopropyl alcohol to remove grease and residue, especially on glass beds.

When should I use brims or rafts?

For models with small contact areas - they increase surface area for better adhesion.

What's the ideal first layer speed?

20-30mm/s is recommended for most printers (adjust in slicer settings).

How does bed temperature affect adhesion?

Too hot prevents proper cooling/solidifying; too cold reduces bonding. Adjust in 5°C increments.

How can I tell if my filament is bad?

Signs include brittleness, popping sounds when printing, or poor layer adhesion despite other fixes.

How should I store filament?

Keep in airtight containers with desiccant to prevent moisture absorption.

What's the first thing to check when prints won't stick?

Always start with nozzle height and bed leveling before exploring other solutions.