4
$\begingroup$

I have an Ender 5 with an aluminum extruder that was printing beautifully for a few days after building it. I received a Capricorn bowden tube and new couplings as a gift, and replaced those, and now I have stringing issues I can't solve.

I've been all over the map with settings (temps, speeds, z-hop, retraction, etc. etc.), I've swapped the tubes, the couplings, the filament, I've checked for clogs, and put clamps on the collars, but no matter what I do, the tube shifts in and out during retractions by about .25 - .5 mm. I suspect that has something to do with the stringing, as nothing else has solved it.

Any suggestions are appreciated. I haven't made adjustments to the extruder, but I don't know if that's possible or necessary. I've never had a system using the bowden, so that part of 3d printing is new to me. I'm using 3d Solutech PLA.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
6
  • $\begingroup$ Is it just the pressure fitting on the brass coupler that shifts in/out? That's not a problem unless it causes the PTFE tube to come out entirely, and you can use the blue clips that should have come with the printer to stop it if it is a problem. If switching the bowden tube has caused stringing, it's likely something else about the new tube setup that's' the problem. Can you show some pics of it? Is the length the same as the old bowden tube? $\endgroup$
    – R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 2:00
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately, it's the tube itself that slips back and forth. I have used the blue clips and also small zip ties. It feels like the teeth in the coupler catches well, but the retraction is..."overpowering" it? I swapped the old tube back in and get the same issue (same length, etc.) It's just the basic white PTFE one versus the blue Capricorn. $\endgroup$
    – Gregir
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 2:12
  • $\begingroup$ If the tube slips in the coupler by .25-.5 mm, that's fine as long as it doesn't actually fall out. Effectively, you just lose that much length from your retractions, since part of the retraction goes into pulling the tube back into the coupler. When the retraction is reversed, the effective filament position should go back to what it was before the retraction. $\endgroup$
    – R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 2:17
  • $\begingroup$ OK, good. It's a really small amount. Just wanted to rule it out as causing anything else that crops up. If you want to post this as the answer, I'll accept. $\endgroup$
    – Gregir
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 2:19
  • $\begingroup$ If you're happy with the scope of the question being "is this shift in/out the source of my problems", I'm happy to post "probably not" with the above explanation as an answer. You may need a new question to identify the source of your problem then. $\endgroup$
    – R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 3:26

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
$\begingroup$

If it's just the pressure fitting on the brass coupler that shifts in/out, or the PTFE tube shifting slightly in/out but remaining in the coupler, that shouldn't be a problem unless it's so loose it can come out entirely. The blue clips which should have come with the printer are intended to stop this motion or at least provide enough pressure to prevent it from falling all the way out.

Regarding the small 0.25 - 0.5 mm of play, effectively it just means you lose that much length from your retractions, since part of the retraction goes into pulling the tube back into the coupler. When the retraction is reversed, the effective filament position should go back to what it was before the retraction. As long as your retraction amount is sufficient after the loss, it should not cause stringing.

You probably need to look for another cause of your stringing.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ I didn't get any blue clips with my Ender 5, and the little grey thing moves on mine. Will a zippy-tie work? $\endgroup$
    – marcellothearcane
    Commented Feb 7, 2020 at 20:34
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I don't think a zip-tie is what you want, but you can just print the clip. thingiverse.com/thing:2994683 matches the factory design. $\endgroup$
    – R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
    Commented Feb 7, 2020 at 21:22
  • $\begingroup$ Ah yes, of course I can now! 💡 $\endgroup$
    – marcellothearcane
    Commented Feb 7, 2020 at 21:24

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .