<p>Check your retraction settings. I had a similar issue and it was caused by the retraction, It retracted just about enough so the gears couldnt hit the hole properly to feed the filament into the nozzle. To fix that I lowered the value of mm on the retraction settings.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-29T11:33:24.860Z
2018-05-29T11:33:24.860Z
Petar Petrov
<p>If the model you're printing is your own design, then sometimes the 3D model is itself the problem. If the printer spends a lot of time retracting (pulling back) on the filament to print things like walls with lots of gaps then the filament softens at the feed gear and nothing feeds. Slicing software should handle that use case but may not. I've had this exact problem with the Lulzbot Mini using Cura when trying to print a hydroponics netpot. I had to rethink my design after the extruder clogged.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-30T22:10:23.577Z
2018-05-30T22:10:23.577Z
OyaMist
<p>I've adjusted the tension of the idler wheel (the bearing that pushes the filament against the extruder gear) and it seems to reduce the problem.</p>

<p>More thest to come.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-31T14:45:21.947Z
2018-05-31T14:45:21.947Z
Dat
<p>I don't know how to say this but during the print, the printer will randomly have difficulty extruding the filament. I will have to give the filament a <em>boost</em> for it to keep going. Once I done the <em>boost</em>, the extruder keeps going perfectly fine for a while.</p>

<p>I am using a Prusa I3 clone bought second hand. I am using the settings that the previous owner gave me (I personally know him). He previously printed a lot of stuff with those settings and they seem to work well. I also bought the brand of same filament as he did for my first roll.</p>

<p>My question is:</p>

<p><strong>Has anyone had this problem or anything similar and if they did, how did they resolve it?</strong></p>

<p>If anymore precision or clarification is needed, please ask.</p>

<p><strong>EDIT</strong></p>

<p>When I say <code>boost</code> I mean that I have to push it down a bit more for it to countinue extruding.</p>

<p>I am using 3D branche filament (it's a local store in Montreal).</p>

<p>I do sometime hear it click before the print. When it does that. I stop the print and restart it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-28T14:34:22.153Z
What do you define as a 'boost'? E.g. push the filament?
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-28T16:30:14.280Z
First, put in a fresh nozzle.  Second, what brand & type of filament are you using?  Some brands of ,e.g., PLA, have particulates which can cause jams.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-28T18:58:34.063Z
Do you hear clicking noise?
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-28T19:54:33.743Z
@0scar added in the info int the question
Dat
<prusa-i3><extruder>
Extruder clogs randomly during print
Dat
# Extruder clogs randomly during print

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-28)

I don't know how to say this but during the print, the printer will randomly have difficulty extruding the filament. I will have to give the filament a *boost* for it to keep going. Once I done the *boost*, the extruder keeps going perfectly fine for a while.

I am using a Prusa I3 clone bought second hand. I am using the settings that the previous owner gave me (I personally know him). He previously printed a lot of stuff with those settings and they seem to work well. I also bought the brand of same filament as he did for my first roll.

My question is:

**Has anyone had this problem or anything similar and if they did, how did they resolve it?**

If anymore precision or clarification is needed, please ask.

**EDIT**

When I say `boost` I mean that I have to push it down a bit more for it to countinue extruding.

I am using 3D branche filament (it's a local store in Montreal).

I do sometime hear it click before the print. When it does that. I stop the print and restart it.

**Tags:** prusa-i3, extruder

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you define as a 'boost'? E.g. push the filament?  
> **username_2**: First, put in a fresh nozzle.  Second, what brand & type of filament are you using?  Some brands of ,e.g., PLA, have particulates which can cause jams.  
> **username_1**: Do you hear clicking noise?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 added in the info int the question  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-29. Score: 2

Check your retraction settings. I had a similar issue and it was caused by the retraction, It retracted just about enough so the gears couldnt hit the hole properly to feed the filament into the nozzle. To fix that I lowered the value of mm on the retraction settings.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2018-05-30. Score: 2

If the model you're printing is your own design, then sometimes the 3D model is itself the problem. If the printer spends a lot of time retracting (pulling back) on the filament to print things like walls with lots of gaps then the filament softens at the feed gear and nothing feeds. Slicing software should handle that use case but may not. I've had this exact problem with the Lulzbot Mini using Cura when trying to print a hydroponics netpot. I had to rethink my design after the extruder clogged.


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### Answer by username_0 on 2018-05-31. Score: 2

I've adjusted the tension of the idler wheel (the bearing that pushes the filament against the extruder gear) and it seems to reduce the problem.

More thest to come.


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