<p>What you are after is a small common mod called... filament guide (as your question title!).</p>

<p>The first one to pop up in my google search was this one: <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/make:346736" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.thingiverse.com/make:346736</a> which in turn is a make of this model: <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2242903" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2242903</a></p>

<p>Also, a couple of tricks that help on my printers (YMMV):</p>

<ol>
<li><p>manually straighten the first few cm filament before inserting it into the extruder (e.g.: remove the natural bend that is there because the filament came off a round spool by bending it in the opposite direction)</p></li>
<li><p>when the filament is past the gears/cogs, while still keeping the cogs "open" (i.e.: not yet clamping the filament), twist/roll the filament between your finger.</p></li>
<li><p>sharpen the tip of your filament with a pencil sharpener.  This make so that the tip of it is at the very centre of the hole, rather than at its edge.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-05T16:41:57.590Z
Sorry for the bad wording, didn't really know how to work it. But yes what you found is helpful. This should guide the filament to the hole, which is perfect because this is what I was wanting. Otherwise I kept missing, and missing, and missing. I did get filament loaded so I will print this for sure. Thank you!
Ljk2000
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-06T01:16:27.570Z
@Ljk2000 - I added a couple of extra tips that can also help.  Remember that on a Q&A site "helpful" translates with upvotes! (hint-hint!).  This is important as upvotes / and the presence of an accepted answer affect the search results for other users (so it prioritises as results those questions that may come with a solution attached!). :)
mac
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-06T19:41:41.360Z
I hit the upvote before, it did not register.... oops! Also I like the tips you added, I will remember these!
Ljk2000
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-05T16:13:01.123Z
2018-01-06T01:14:09.367Z
2018-01-06T01:14:09.367Z
mac
<p>I just finished building my Anet A6 and I was working on inserting some filament into the extruder. It was very difficult to get the filament to go in the hole (past the gears to go down to the hot-end). What can I do that will make it easier to get the filament into the hole (I tried cutting the tip at a angle)? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-15T07:41:13.957Z
No worries, learning is what we do here. You should print a swing arm or something that will make it so its easier for the extruder fan to be removed when switching/inserting filament.
Granny
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-11T13:59:50.440Z
What you are referring to is not the bowden tube but the throat and the white tube inside that is the PTFE tube.
Granny
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-12T15:03:56.670Z
@Granny I apologize, I am new to 3d printing and don't know every part of a 3d printer. But I do my best to find what it is called.
Ljk2000
<extruder><anet-a6>
Problems with feeding the filament into the bowden tube
Ljk2000
# Problems with feeding the filament into the bowden tube

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-05)

I just finished building my Anet A6 and I was working on inserting some filament into the extruder. It was very difficult to get the filament to go in the hole (past the gears to go down to the hot-end). What can I do that will make it easier to get the filament into the hole (I tried cutting the tip at a angle)?

**Tags:** extruder, anet-a6

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What you are referring to is not the bowden tube but the throat and the white tube inside that is the PTFE tube.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I apologize, I am new to 3d printing and don't know every part of a 3d printer. But I do my best to find what it is called.  
> **username_1**: No worries, learning is what we do here. You should print a swing arm or something that will make it so its easier for the extruder fan to be removed when switching/inserting filament.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-01-05. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

What you are after is a small common mod called... filament guide (as your question title!).

The first one to pop up in my google search was this one: <https://www.thingiverse.com/make:346736> which in turn is a make of this model: <https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2242903>

Also, a couple of tricks that help on my printers (YMMV):

1. manually straighten the first few cm filament before inserting it into the extruder (e.g.: remove the natural bend that is there because the filament came off a round spool by bending it in the opposite direction)
2. when the filament is past the gears/cogs, while still keeping the cogs "open" (i.e.: not yet clamping the filament), twist/roll the filament between your finger.
3. sharpen the tip of your filament with a pencil sharpener. This make so that the tip of it is at the very centre of the hole, rather than at its edge.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Sorry for the bad wording, didn't really know how to work it. But yes what you found is helpful. This should guide the filament to the hole, which is perfect because this is what I was wanting. Otherwise I kept missing, and missing, and missing. I did get filament loaded so I will print this for sure. Thank you!  
> **username_2**: @username_0 - I added a couple of extra tips that can also help.  Remember that on a Q&A site "helpful" translates with upvotes! (hint-hint!).  This is important as upvotes / and the presence of an accepted answer affect the search results for other users (so it prioritises as results those questions that may come with a solution attached!). :)  
> **username_0**: I hit the upvote before, it did not register.... oops! Also I like the tips you added, I will remember these!  

---

