How to Easily Unclog & Clean Your Bambu Lab 3D Printer Extruder: A Step-by-Step Guide

[@mrGrimmWasHAPPY]

This man could teach anything great voice and sense of humor. Thank you

[@techwithkramer]

Wow, thanks! More to come very soon…

[@micktek]

This solved the issue of filament broken inside the extruder for my Bambu X1. Perfect instructions. Subscribed before I forget the channel!

[@techwithkramer]

Great, thank you for subscribing!

[@BMSTECH911]

Tubers can learn a lot from this guy about presentation. Straight to the point no banging on about shiz I don't care about. I'm not looking for a date. I don't need to bullied into subscribing or pressing any buttons. If I get value from a channel I WILL subscribe and I did here. So great job TWK I'll be back here for more of your content. Easy to follow , accurate, and well thought through with step by step and clear video. Thank You

[@techwithkramer]

Appreciate the super nice feedback and thanks for subscribing!

[@dorygorell9415]

Pleas keep making videos. You are the first person I can watch with confidence! Thank you so very much!’

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you! Will do!

[@Ozzie4Para]

Super nice video that clearly shows how to do this w/o a bunch of unnecessary fluff like on other channels. Thank you...

[@techwithkramer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DUDLChannel]

Your videos have been phenomenal for getting maintenance done on my X1C, as well as helping me solve problems. With every one of your videos I watch, I become more comfortable at understanding my printer and figuring things out on my own. So thank you fo your time, thank you for the CLEAN and CONCISE instructions, and you have my subscription sir.

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you very much ch for your nice words! Glad I was able to make a difference.

[@jerrysisemore8326]

Thanks for you help. I'm a new user and your video was a great help!

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you!

[@greencoffeecup]

Wonderful, thank you!

[@tracywilliams61]

Wish I came across your video yesterday would have saved me a lot of frustration. This by far is the best how to extruder video. Got a love the humorous bits ❤❤❤

[@techwithkramer]

Great to hear!

[@As_the_Crowe_Flies]

Thank you very much for the video. Love your style of quick and to the point.

[@techwithkramer]

Thanks 😊 for your nice words!

[@garytincher1332]

great video, i was able to solve my issues by watching this!

[@techwithkramer]

Wonderful!

[@ThePiitteri]

I'll start with pointing out the one mistake I noticed. When inserting the spring I believe the tab comes to the end with screw. You placed it in the wrong end. It was originally in the wrong end and you were able to pull the gear out because of that before removing the top screw. All in all great video and helped me step by step doing the job. And btw the funniest moment was when both of us pulled the toothbrush out at the same time. I smiled there. Great video thank you.

[@techwithkramer]

Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, you are correct with the mistake, even though interestingly it works both ways. Thanks for your nice feedback.

[@bowstobourbon]

Thanks this helped, i accidentally selected the wrong ams slot for pla instead of abs-cf...what a mess, what still hard to take apart because everything was melted in the extruder gears :) live and learn!

[@techwithkramer]

Glad you were able to fix it.

[@MartinSchabbauer]

Thanks a lot. This gives me a confidence boost so that I can now finally fix that extruder of mine.

[@techwithkramer]

Glad to hear.

[@Covington-m4l]

Fantastic video! Excellent description and camera angles!

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you very much!

[@juliodiaz8558]

Man I cleaned my first clog a few months ago and I wish I had this video lol 10/10

[@techwithkramer]

Thanks - sorry we didn't meet in time….

[@marioschoutteet7501]

Just the knowledge i was looking for in a format that i can easely proces. Thank you sir

[@techwithkramer]

You are most welcome

[@DeedleEdmonds]

Very great video, easy to follow. Saved me a lot of time and headache following this

[@techwithkramer]

Great, glad it worked out for you!

[@AndrevanVondelen]

Thank you very much for this fantastic video. I'll use it every time when ik have to clean out the extruder.

[@techwithkramer]

That's awesome, thank 🙇

[@pedro8769]

Thanks to your tips i've just unclogged my P1S. Thanks!

[@techwithkramer]

Fantastic!

[@yaelkaldor3895]

Wonderful video and explanation! Was extremely helpful to us !!! Had a nasty clog of filament in the extruder. Works perfectly now 🤩

[@techwithkramer]

Great to hear! Thank you for the nice feedback.

[@MaxvanStraaten_0]

At 7:44 I am almost sure that the thing you call a little hat, is at the wrong place. It should be at the screw side and not at the side where the pusher is.

[@techwithkramer]

Yes, you are correct - it’s on the other side! Thanks for bringing it up.

[@thanhn2001]

Pro tip: print the tray before you need to clean the extruder. 😂

[@techwithkramer]

Good point! 🤣

[@marcinwicherek2059]

To late😅

[@JakobDam]

Thanks for a great and instructive video!

[@techwithkramer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Mandalore2280]

6:40 is the best tip :)

[@techwithkramer]

…that was after I knew how she cleans the grout lines in the shower 😬

[@jessesheehan4051]

Really useful video thank you. Just curious about one thing and that is how none of these gears need any grease? I just cleaned mine after 1 year and had none of the black grime you had in yours. That looks like grit from metal grinding on metal to metal. In the bambuwiki it recommends lubricating the gears and pivoting points on the mechanism. Pretty important step actually as IPA completely degreases the gears.

[@techwithkramer]

The black stuff is actually shredded black filament, not grease. You don’t want to use grease because it might get to the part that touches the filament for punching it forward, this would make it slip through as well as ruined the print of any of the grease would get onto the filament. The only part that needs grease are the lead screws.

[@cck6740]

Where were you a month ago when this happened to me?! I watched another video that wasn't anywhere near as instructive....thanks so much for sharing.

[@techwithkramer]

What brand PLA are you using? I use Overture for years now, they are consistent, always in stock and affordable. amzn.to/3zr2mCF

[@StrongmanLovesAnimals]

Very help, especially the part of using my wife's toothbrush😊, thank you sir!!

[@techwithkramer]

No problem 👍 Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ISSAKADHIM]

I solved problem of broken filament. Perfect instruction thank you very much. Any time I print with ASA OR PC I have clogged hotend and in last one I had a broken filament as well. Why is that.

[@techwithkramer]

Usually, when you store the filament, I check before using it if it’s brittle. If it is (by bending it) I cut that part off. Sometimes 2-3 spool windings. Yes, it may print and not break. But I rather loose a little filament than having to take the ams apart.

[@mh17239]

Loving your videos, so helpful for beginners.Suggestions for when the ptfe tube won't come out of the extruder?

[@techwithkramer]

You need to push the black ring down to release the ptfe tube. It’s right where the tube goes in the print head.

[@artronart]

That was a great video - Thank you Kramer

[@RoccoBoxer101]

Fantastic video. Super helpful. Thank you.

[@techwithkramer]

Great to hear!

[@nicks5563]

Nice and informative video. Having some questions: If printing with regular Petg/Pla, how often do it need to clean the extruder? I heared it’s might be every 300 hrs of work and if printing with volatile and carbon filaments then, every 150 hrs. What do you think? What’s your thoughts about cleaning gears in ultrasonic bath? Also, Bambulab’s recommend put a drop of oil between big gears (avoid the filament drive) and give it a little spread up. What’s your opinion about this?

[@techwithkramer]

I usually wait until the quality gets bad, that’s when I clean. But if I use ASA, I clean like every 10 prints or so, specially the carbon rods. I never used any oil on any of my extruders and they work just fine. I have not tried Ultrasonic, let me know how it goes…

[@stevenpomerantz1409]

I Like and Appreciate your Videos, one comment on this one, the first time removing the extruder Plug You have to Remove the Factory Silicon holding it in place.

[@techwithkramer]

Good point, I guess it was too long ago when I took that plug out first.

[@eldru88]

You saved my ass today! Many thanks!

[@techwithkramer]

Great! 👍

[@mrlancekink]

Great video. thanks!

[@techwithkramer]

Glad you liked it!

[@inkognito_.1]

Perfect simply video! Thankyou!

[@techwithkramer]

You are very welcome

[@inkognito_.1]

@@techwithkramer Can you do some ASA tutorial for wraping, im sick to find a good solution for no warping on x1c with ASA filaments...

[@techwithkramer]

@inkognito_.1 Do you have a specific model that you have an issue with? What brand of ASA are you using?

[@oemfod1000]

Super clear video, Thank you.

[@techwithkramer]

You're welcome!

[@henrythompson7595]

The main reason for the paper towel is this: If you work on a hard surface, such as a hard table or bench top, and you drop one of those tiny screws it WILL bounce into the next universe. Ask me how I know!

[@techwithkramer]

I’ve been there too. 😅

[@djsdrumming]

Informative video, unfortunately my problem persists. I stripped down the extruder cleaned it and replaced the hot end. This printer fails all the time, and it has just been getting worse. It is as if the filament does not want to liquify properly in the hot end and then caused the extruder gear to slip and then as a result clogging the hot end. Any help will be appreciated because I am out of options. The printer first started under extruding halfway through the prints now it does not even want to purge filament correctly as I can hear the extruder gears slipping.

[@techwithkramer]

Did you try a different filament? Double check the temperature of the nozzle, maybe you didn’t realize using petg and used PLA settings?

[@djsdrumming]

@@techwithkramerI tried every PLA I have including Bambu satin PLA. Nozzle temperature is set to 230, I have tried 220 and 240 as well. Material flow is just not what it should be. I have set down volumetric speed as well as upped the flow ratio. I ordered some needles to try to get into the bottom of the nozzle but if I do a cold pull on the nozzle, I can see the tip shape the filament I pulled out, so I do not think there is something at the bottom of the nozzle. When I manually extrude filament, the gear sometimes slips indicating that either the nozzle is clogged, or the material is not liquifying like it should.

[@retokramer]

@@djsdrumming when you changed the hot end, did you change it including the thermistor and heater? Did you try to change the extruder? Did you put a ticket in with Bambulab yet?

[@djsdrumming]

@@retokramer Good day Sir, there was a clog at the end of the nozzle which I unblocked with a fine needle. We ran test after multiple attempts with under extrusion and when setting nozzle temperature to 230 degrees Celsius it worked fine for a while, but as you well know, correlation does not mean causation. The high nozzle temperature on generic PLA was what was clogging the nozzle. Everything is running fine now on 210 degrees after unclogging with the needle and multiple cold pulls though the extruder. Thanks again!

[@theporschepilottpp910]

Thank you 🎉

[@techwithkramer]

You’re welcome 😊

[@RollerCoasterLineProductions]

Another great video Kramer!!!

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@baljazz]

I have a P1S. I cleared everything. However it is sayiny ot cant read the filament and continues to go back and fort from the AMS once it touches the extruder. Also cant get it to work with manual feed. How do you know if you have a faulty sensor?

[@techwithkramer]

Try to switch all the ptfe tubing turning them 189 degrees. If that doesn’t work, I would open a ticket.

[@Stubones999]

My X1C extruder seems to have some goop over the connector. I can't see where it plugs into the smaller circuit board. Is that normal, and is it safe to pull it off like you did?

[@techwithkramer]

It’s just hot glue, you can take it off.

[@brianrichards3896]

My extruder electric hook up's don't match what you have but it also doesn't match what the bambu wiki has mine must be the updated version. Your video was very helpful minus that part and i don't know whose fault at bambu that is. thanks for the help!

[@techwithkramer]

I was not aware of different versions. Do you have the model X1C?

[@brianrichards3896]

@@techwithkramer I have the p1s and after reading further on the wiki I was able to find the newer version i guess.

[@techwithkramer]

This makes sense.

[@Zenturio331]

You are Epic! Thank you!

[@techwithkramer]

Thanks!🙏

[@mikecrane2782]

Bit late with watching this, but your video will be more help than the Bambu Wiki, so well done for making it. My E3D Obsidian 0.6mm nozzle got clogged yesterday, as did the extruder using PETG-CF. It was right awkward to get out, but all is good now, and I really cannot complain as it's been in almost two years this is the first time I've had a nozzle clog/extruder blockage, compared loads with old E3D V6 style hotness in lower end printers.

[@techwithkramer]

Thanks for the nice words. 2 years without clog - that’s great! 😃

[@mikecrane2782]

@@techwithkramer No problem, but I should say the X1C has been running two years, and the E3D Obsidian was a recent purchase in the last four months or so, but I was running 0.6mm nozzles and filled filaments from early on, and I am impressed with the lack of clogging and lack of oozing I’ve had all the time up to this with this printer.

[@bobewart321]

My extruder has a flat ribbon cable going to the print head. How do I disconnect it?

[@techwithkramer]

Follow the cable and gently pull it out of the board. It helps to wiggle to get it loose. Or take some small pliers.

[@pirobot668beta]

I am learning how to print Tullomer in my X1 Carbon and jammed up the extruder. It wasn't Tullomer in the extruder jam, but some filament I tried to use to purge the nozzle after using the special material. So there were really two jams...the extruder jam was caused by Tullomer stuck in the nozzle. I cleared the extruder jam 'in the usual fashion', had to perform an Atomic pull on the nozzle. I used a paper-clip wire, heated to red, and plunged it into the top of the nozzle. It fused to the Tullomer, and I was able to pull all the material out...perfect pull. It was all my fault: a print using Tullomer was failing in a spectacular fashion, so I panicked and turned off the power to the printer. The 'emergency stop' button didn't do anything! Filament 'froze' in the nozzle which lead to the nozzle jam, which caused the extruder jam. Lots of words to say "I messed up".

[@techwithkramer]

I'm glad you got it sorted out.

[@tobidiy2520]

Thanks!!

[@techwithkramer]

You bet! 👍🏻

[@zidtigris]

Thank you so much! ❤

[@techwithkramer]

You are very welcome.

[@rangostore]

Te mereces una suscripción por este fenomenal vídeo. 🥰

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@younomehomie]

thank you so much you saved me

[@brandietate3620]

It seems you put the piece in the spring on the wrong side during reassembly?

[@techwithkramer]

Yes, you are correct. Even though it works both ways, the “hat” should be on the screw side. I added the correction as text but seems like the text is not showing depending on what platform you use.

[@tombo7719]

I have a clog right now I need to address. thanks for the video! Printing the lil tray also!

[@techwithkramer]

You got this!

[@tombo7719]

@@techwithkramer love the lil tray, gunna up size it a lil more, but it is awesome! Thanks again friend! Happy printing!

[@techwithkramer]

@tombo7719 Thanks, enjoy 👍

[@mango9805]

Not even a bit off Oil??? Just asking. I don't know nothing. Just started learning. Thank you for your video.

[@techwithkramer]

No oil at all.

[@xbrewcoffee9001]

bambu lab should pay you for this video!

[@techwithkramer]

😃

[@thefearpt]

I'm sorry but I didn't understand what liquid are you using for the cleaning? Btw, great video. Thanks!

[@techwithkramer]

I use IPA (check the description).

[@LarrySmith-k8y]

I did everything but the white tube don’t want to come out where the filament is

[@techwithkramer]

There is a black ring holding the tube in, press the ring down and pull the tube at the same time.

[@makesomenoisetoday]

you put the side spring in backwards. the 'hat' piece goes towards the screw

[@techwithkramer]

Hmmm, interesting. Seems works both ways, no issues at all, it prints just fine. Thanks for the heads up though.

[@techwithkramer]

I am printing none stop since the video and no issues. So maybe it doesn’t need the hat at all? It’s odd though….

[@wyannick888]

I am having a lot of problems the last couple of weeks with clogs in my printer. But it hapens mid-prints (for example after 16 hours of printing). How is that possible?

[@techwithkramer]

Most of the time its heat creep. This is when the filament is getting melted too early, too high up in the hotend. Specially if you are using a PEI plate which is hotter than the cold plate. Open the front door and the top and if that's not enough, try to lower the temp of thebuold plate a little (if you are using PLA).

[@wyannick888]

@@techwithkramer These are indeed the advices bambu gave me as well. However,I always print on a cool plate, and opening the lid and door, and decreasing the temp with 10 degrees to 210 for PLA is not working... You have any other ideas?

[@techwithkramer]

What brand of filament are you using? If it’s not a major brand, the diameter could be off from time to time that could clog. I myself swear on the brand Overture

[@MitchellMadDog]

What do I do if the screw just scrunches all the way up and the silver thing never actually threads on the screw?

[@techwithkramer]

Please note that the silver cap is going on the other end, this is a mistake in the video. It works both way, but it needs to be at the other end….

[@ridrugo182]

my hero

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you!

[@KillandMilproduction]

My p1p keeps telling me printer is clogged extruder only when using ams, if i print it from the spool holder no issues.

[@techwithkramer]

Try to pull some filament out to make it real loose inside the AMS and see if it still says the same.

[@jethrowingnut13]

Loved the video, no BS and a bit of humour , Subbed. How are your wife's black teeth going. 🤣

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you for your feedback - my wife’s teeth? 🦷🤣 not as black as my eye after she found out 🐼😵🏴‍☠️☠️🪦

[@jethrowingnut13]

@@techwithkramer 🤣😂🤣😂

[@RacoonValleyInc]

The spring has been wrong installed. The metal knob must be set in to the screw side.

[@techwithkramer]

Yes,you are correct. I added some text to it but it’s not always showing -depending on what device the video plays.Luckily, it works both ways (to my own surprise).

[@jon2datymuls535]

Great video thank you so much for the detail. Those screws really were a bitch to get back in!

[@techwithkramer]

Thanks for the nice feedback

[@NellyS197]

Great video thank you! Said to use wife's toothbrush LOL

[@techwithkramer]

Glad you enjoyed it - don't share the video with your wife though 😬

[@kevindorel9141]

The spring screw holder is not inserted in the correct position , according to this video if you put the spring back the way he did you will have a problem getting the filliment going in , the spring tensing showed be tight there for the spring tension holder should be installed on the bottom instead on the top

[@techwithkramer]

Yes, you are correct but it actually doesn't make a difference, works the same both ways. But technically you are right, I made a mistake in the video.

[@gizmofactory]

liked the toothbrush joke😂

[@techwithkramer]

Thanks, I couldn’t help it… 🤪

[@beaconofwierd1883]

Mine had somehow clogged inside the wheel :O As in, the plastic had created a blob on the filament itself and made it impossible to remove the extruder gear :( If this happens to anyone else, make sure you don’t remove the filament sticking out of the top of the extruder, since cutting it off means it’s much more difficult to get the clog out. you can get a small tool (I used a small hook tool designed for SMD electronics) to pick and tear at the filament inside until it breaks inside, then pull on the filament and you should be able to remove the extruder gear and clean up the rest. Just note, the hotend is probably also clogged if this happens. I used a sodering iron to remove the blob of plastic in the opening of the hotend (not the nozzle) untill it was clean. Then I heated up only the hotend (without a fan attached to not risk damaging the fan which I’ve done too many times) and was able to manually push filment through. Then for good measure I did a small ”cold pull”. My guess as to how this happened is that there was a clog in the nozzle. I used the menue on the printer trying to extrude plastic. When that did not work I reversed the extruder and tried feeding it again. The filament was probably still hot, so when the extruder tried to push it down it simply compressed it causing it to blob. Sooo… don’t do that…

[@techwithkramer]

Great advice - thanks for sharing.

[@shredder646]

Only thing with this video is when he puts the spring back in, the metal piece that looks like a top hat was supposed to go in on the screw side of the spring, not the other side. His video it looks like he put that piece on the opposite side of the spring, not on the side with the screw.

[@shredder646]

I put mine together the way he did in the video, and I thought to myself I thought that piece went on the other side. But I thought I must be wrong, and followed his video. It's working fine, with no issues, but that piece definitely goes in on the side where the screw screws on and not the side he put it on. So keep that in mind if you follow this tutorial

[@techwithkramer]

You are correct all the way. I tried to add some text with the correction but it only shows on certain browsers… but yes, it needs to be the opposite side, even though it works both ways. Thanks for trying it too 👍🏻

[@shredder646]

@@techwithkramer yeah it’s works fine, mine is backwards, and I’ve been printing non stop with no issues. So must not matter as long as that spring is compressed. But great video very detailed.

[@sshelle]

Dear Sjr, I appreciated your video right up to the portion of video where the picture was reversed. I was surprised that no one else has mentioned this error. I look forward to other viideos..

[@ChrisJ-uj6gl]

Instructions were unclear. Is power on or off when doing this? What "ring" do you mean in regard to the PTFE tube? Video doesnt really show where it is at. And all you said was "if there is a clog you might be able to see it" but didnt explain how to unclog it? Lol im confused on the purpose of this video because it didn't really show anything nor provide any solution

[@MaximKachurovskiy]

That brown dust inside is from small metal gears grinding down without any lubrication. Consider lubricating them instead of dealing with the dust.

[@techwithkramer]

I have over 30’000 hours on my machines, no need to lubricate. If you want to, that’s fine. My dust is from filament, not from the gears.

[@MaximKachurovskiy]

@techwithkramer my X1C has maybe a thousand hours and those 2 metal gears are almost gone. Printing PETG

[@techwithkramer]

@MaximKachurovskiy If so, get the bigtreetech version - The claw - I am just about to install one to see how it is, but that one is all metal and needs to have some grease on it due to the way the gears are angled.

[@greencoffeecup]

Wonderful, Thanks!

[@techwithkramer]

Thank you!

[@ronpope1950]

Great video. Helped a lot.

[@techwithkramer]

Glad it helped 👍