Hello everyone!
I recently purchased a Creality Ender 3 V3 KE and was able to print multiple objects without issues. In fact, my first Benchy print came out perfectly. However, during some later prints, I encountered a strange issue:
While printing the first layers of one of the objects, I heard a loud noise, almost as if the nozzle was dragging across the bed. Upon further inspection, I noticed that hardened filament “balls” were forming, which the nozzle was dragging along. This is likely the cause of the noise I heard.
Now, I’ll focus on the potential causes of the problem:
- Bed Height: I’m seriously doubting if the bed height is correct. The nozzle seems to be very close to the bed, and I wonder if this is causing the issue.
- Filament Ball Formation: I believe that the nozzle being too close to the bed might be pushing the filament to create those hard “balls” as it extrudes, causing the dragging sound.
- Extruder Issues: After reading a bit more, I suspect there could be an obstruction in the nozzle. The filament isn’t flowing smoothly and that could be contributing to the issue. For example, when I use the “extrude” function, the filament tends to shrink and wrap around the nozzle tip instead of flowing consistently.
- Overheating of the Nozzle: Another possibility I came across is that the nozzle might be overheating, causing the filament to melt in an inconsistent way, which could also explain the “ball” formation. However, I think the flow issue is likely also contributing to this.
Additionally, I’m using PLA+ PRITONIC filament, and I’ve attached a photo for reference. What’s strange is that my first prints went smoothly without issues, but the problem started happening after several prints.
To help illustrate the problem, I’ve attached two Benchy prints. In both, you can see how the filament is burned and how the “ball” of filament formed. I had to stop the prints because they were making such loud noises, and I was concerned about damaging the nozzle.
I’m also sharing a close-up video of the nozzle, where I can see a lot of residue around it. Is this normal? I am also planning on changing the nozzle this weekend. Is this a good idea?
I’d appreciate any help or insights from the community on this issue. Thanks in advance!
