Ran across some “cleaning” filiment… has anyone ever used it to purge their hot end of deposits? Is it worth the purchase? Or a waste of money?
I have never needed to use anything like that.
The folks at BCN3D Technologies recommend using nylon “cleaning filament kit” when changing filament composition. I suspect that the nylon kit is just a shorter length of nylon filament at a higher per-unit price. The temperature sequencing suggested by BCN3D for the Sigma printer leads me to believe that it “grips” or “grabs” the deposits inside the hot end and removes them more effectively than any other method.
I have used this method in order to clear out some overheated PVA which was clogging the nozzle. I’m not sure if I could have cleaned the burned stuff out as thoroughly using strictly mechanical means, although nylon filament cycling through the hot end is still mechanical, isn’t it?
Never used too
I just use a chunk of my nylon bridge filament. But yes a nylon cold pull is likely the best method to clean out the hotend.
Yes, nylon. But pla or abs can be used in a pinch. I do a cold pull and cut 4 inches off filament as the printer heats up before a print as a matter of practice, then I manually extrude a bunch by pinching idler and pushing a bunch of filament through before starting a print. Especially if there is a color change…ex: purge the remaining black with orange until color runs pure… then start print. This method keeps hotend free of char and let’s you verify there are no blockages and it will extrude unhindered when the print starts
Fyi, most cleaning filament is HDPE.
I have been in the practice of purging with each print job… I work in a PVC extrusion factory and understand the woes when color isn’t puged completely out, only there we use calcium carbonate infused with a small amount of pvc and it “Scrubs” the extruder barrel because of the abrasive particles
@Taylor_Landry I would not use “most” when there is at least one exception and it’s quite common that nylon is specified:
I meant that most filament that’s labeled “cleaning filament” is HDPE. Nylon filament certainly works well to clean out a hot end, but its sold as nylon, not as cleaning filament
The best I’ve used was a test batch of Kevlar… super fibrous and got plastic out like no other… but it’s not for sale (yet)
There is now a specific product for this:
(but no reviews)
Seem worthwhile? Or snake oil?
A quick YouTube search came up with this video. Other videos seem to say the same thing.
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