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I'm struggling to get my printer to the temps required for modified PETG (the filament I have is Fillamentum CPE and recommends 255-275 °C), I currently can only reach 245/250 °C even if my target temperature is above that. The hot-end is fully ceramic wrapped and metal (no PTFE liner to worry about) and the printer is in a DIY heat shielded enclosure (non-heated).

The printer is an old (but gold) Wanhao Duplicator 4 (Rep 1 clone) with a MK8/9 extruder running a custom build of Sailfish. I know there is a firmware cap at 280 °C but that's fine, I don't intend to go above that.

Bar totally swapping out the extruder assembly what can I do to up the hot-end temperature, upgrade the power supply, heater cartridge?

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    $\begingroup$ What PETG do you have that recommends 255-275? Typical recommended range for PETG is 220-250 °C, though I'd say the minimum is more like 230 or 235. Have you tried printing it at temperatures you can reach and had problems that you think would be resolved by using a higher temperature? In my experience even at 250 PETG is a dripping mess. $\endgroup$ – R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE Jun 10 '20 at 0:16
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    $\begingroup$ I'm not sure I understand why you want to upgrade the extruder if your hotend can reach higher temperatures. Try going at 260°C and check the print speed, which you haven't mentioned. Maybe you are printing too fast for that temperature+nozzle (which is also not mentioned). Usually printing at the low-end of the temperature range involves slowing down further (and PETG is not fast to begin with). $\endgroup$ – FarO Jun 10 '20 at 10:43
  • $\begingroup$ @FarO I cannot reach higher temperatures, that is the issue. It doesn’t matter what my max temperature is, if it’s above 245/250 it will never reach it. $\endgroup$ – Giles Jun 10 '20 at 10:48
  • $\begingroup$ Are you sure the firmware limit is at 280 °C? A hotend should get hotter than 250 °C when heated static (no filament to cool it down). $\endgroup$ – 0scar♦ Jun 10 '20 at 11:41
  • $\begingroup$ @0scar Positive, I’ve seen it written in the firmware plus on occasion it does fluctuate up to 251/2~. Before the enclosure and the ceramic wrap I couldn’t even maintain 230~. It’s a very old printer, my guess was the power supply or heating cartridge isn’t spec’d to go that high, but I’m unsure. $\endgroup$ – Giles Jun 10 '20 at 11:45
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Most PETG reacts vey badly to temperatures above 255. The typical optimal PETG temperature ranges from 225 to 245. Above that it gets sticky...

If PETG is your goal, you might want to find a filament that is more friendly to your printer. They are pretty cheap, and now you have transitioned to an all-metal hot end, you should be good to go!

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  • $\begingroup$ Its a modified PETG, the brand is Fillamentum and the temp range 255-275 is recommended by the brand. I have a few reels of it so I’m determined to print with it. Getting major inconsistent and under extrusion at 245. $\endgroup$ – Giles Jun 10 '20 at 8:47
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    $\begingroup$ Have you tried wrapping the hot-end in silicone? $\endgroup$ – woneill1701 Jun 10 '20 at 11:38
  • $\begingroup$ Hot-end is already wrapped in ceramic, which I believe has much better thermal insulation properties than silicone. $\endgroup$ – Giles Jun 10 '20 at 11:40
  • $\begingroup$ I’m assuming that you have turned-off any cooling fans? $\endgroup$ – woneill1701 Jun 10 '20 at 11:56
  • $\begingroup$ Correct, the extruded fan is on to stabilise the temperature but I have no control over this. Weirdly it does seem to be on quite aggressively considering it’s not even at the target temperature. $\endgroup$ – Giles Jun 10 '20 at 11:58

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