<p>With a direct drive extruder, a retraction of 3 mm is quite large. This is typically a value that is used for short Bowden tube remote extruders, longer Bowden tubes even require longer retraction values.</p>
<p>For a direct drive I'd work my way down from a retraction of 1 mm using e.g. a <a href="https://www.printables.com/model/873264-parametric-retraction-test-pillars" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Parametric retraction test pillars</a> model.</p>
<p>A replacement fan, with more flow to cool the hotend, could also be helping to cool the top of the heatbreak preventing heat to creep up further in the cold end.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-01T07:43:57.863Z
2024-09-01T07:43:57.863Z
0scar
<p>I have purchased a Creality Ender 3 about a year back. Initially it worked flawlessly even with PETG (at 240 °C) but after some time the prints started to fail.</p>
<p>The filament started to expand and clog the hotend. Later I found out that it was due to heat creep. I have tried the below methods to reduce heat creep.</p>
<ol>
<li>Tried bimetallic heatbreak.</li>
<li>Applying thermal paste to heatbreak (applied between the walls of the heatbreak and heatsink, small amount)</li>
<li>Tried PLA and other brand PETG (as filament moisture may be the issue).</li>
<li>Installed direct drive.</li>
<li>Reduced the retraction distance to 3 mm.</li>
<li>Tried printing with larger layer height.</li>
<li>Installed an additional fan.</li>
</ol>
<p>Despite all the efforts the prints are still continuing to fail. Can anyone suggest some tips to reduce the heat creep.
Note: The above efforts have made some improvement. Only prints with printing time greater that 5 hours (approximately) fail.</p>
<p>But initially, It has successfully printed models more than 20 hours print time with PETG (at 240 °C).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-31T07:09:06.130Z
That is some extensive troubleshooting! Please note that 3 mm retraction is for a direct drive extruder pretty much! Lower this to 1 mm to test. Furthermore, could you add photos of your failed prints please? Grease in the heatbreak doesn't sound like a good solution, better not mix your filament with grease.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-01T05:38:09.940Z
Thank you for the suggestion. After reducing the retraction distance to .5 mm, it printed a model with 8hr print time successfully. will check with a big print and update.
The heat grease is applied between the walls of the heatbreak and heatsink(small amount). so probably it will not mix with filament. It is done to help  heat dissipation.
morgan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-01T07:33:20.647Z
I'll create an answer and update your question with this information, thank you!
0scar
<creality-ender-3><print-failure><heat-creep>
Print failure due to heat creep
morgan
# Print failure due to heat creep

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-08-31)

I have purchased a Creality Ender 3 about a year back. Initially it worked flawlessly even with PETG (at 240 °C) but after some time the prints started to fail.

The filament started to expand and clog the hotend. Later I found out that it was due to heat creep. I have tried the below methods to reduce heat creep.

1. Tried bimetallic heatbreak.
2. Applying thermal paste to heatbreak (applied between the walls of the heatbreak and heatsink, small amount)
3. Tried PLA and other brand PETG (as filament moisture may be the issue).
4. Installed direct drive.
5. Reduced the retraction distance to 3 mm.
6. Tried printing with larger layer height.
7. Installed an additional fan.

Despite all the efforts the prints are still continuing to fail. Can anyone suggest some tips to reduce the heat creep.
Note: The above efforts have made some improvement. Only prints with printing time greater that 5 hours (approximately) fail.

But initially, It has successfully printed models more than 20 hours print time with PETG (at 240 °C).

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, print-failure, heat-creep

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: That is some extensive troubleshooting! Please note that 3 mm retraction is for a direct drive extruder pretty much! Lower this to 1 mm to test. Furthermore, could you add photos of your failed prints please? Grease in the heatbreak doesn't sound like a good solution, better not mix your filament with grease.  
> **username_0**: Thank you for the suggestion. After reducing the retraction distance to .5 mm, it printed a model with 8hr print time successfully. will check with a big print and update. The heat grease is applied between the walls of the heatbreak and heatsink(small amount). so probably it will not mix with filament. It is done to help  heat dissipation.  
> **username_1**: I'll create an answer and update your question with this information, thank you!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-09-01. Score: 1

With a direct drive extruder, a retraction of 3 mm is quite large. This is typically a value that is used for short Bowden tube remote extruders, longer Bowden tubes even require longer retraction values.

For a direct drive I'd work my way down from a retraction of 1 mm using e.g. a [Parametric retraction test pillars](https://www.printables.com/model/873264-parametric-retraction-test-pillars) model.

A replacement fan, with more flow to cool the hotend, could also be helping to cool the top of the heatbreak preventing heat to creep up further in the cold end.


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