Have the mk2 4 color system on my ender 3 v2 with microswiss hotend. The mk2 unit has issues loading and unloading filament. I have to assist the filament to get it to move. The filament moves freely through the ptfe tubing by hand. I have never had any luck with this kit yet and could use some help otherwise it’s going to come off and sit in a box and collect dust.
To see this working, head to your live site.
Where specifically is it having issues? There are three locations of interest and all mean different things. 1) The Y adapter... normally due to tip shape or alignment issues. 2) The Extruder... this is specific to the extruder, but could be tip shape or timing. 3) Hot End... this is just configuration. Any videos would help as well. Feel free to email me links/videos directly.
Bill
It actually hangs up before the y adaptor but then also if I do get it to load the filament it will hang up from not shaping the filament properly or at the extruder gears. so multiple places but the most irritating one is in the ptfe tubing before the y adaptor.
it moves freely by hand but the unit just slips in the filament when trying to push or pull it to the adaptor. I’ve cut the filament at a 45 and tried about everything and just can’t even get it to successfully see get stuck at the y adaptor or the extruder would be a big improvement lol.
So the big issue for me right now is to get the unit to consistently push or pull the filament with no hangups through the tubing before the adaptor and go from there.
Is the selector aligned correctly when you home it? It needs to be pointed perfectly at the 6 o'clock position... if it's not, it's not using full amount of force available. Can you send a video of the selector when it homes... also, a video of it loading and unloading. Bill
@Bill
First video of first 2 colors I know blue has a bad end on it so it hangs up in the adaptor
second video of last 2 colors. Yellow hangs up has issue feeding and retracting.
it happens on any of the colors like the yellow just so happens this time it only happened to the yellow.
I will have to look into it and get a video of it tomorrow for you to see.
By the way, your videos are showing up as Private, so I can't view them. If you can add me wjsteele@hotmail.com, I can watch them.
@Bill try to view now I changed to unlisted so anyone with a link can view them.
Ok... can see the videos... I'm just wondering if the alignment of the bottom drive gear isn't correct. There should be a very positive grip on the filament... can you stop it by hand while it is trying to move the Yellow?
Bill
@Bill yes I can stop them easily I have to push or pull them usually to help it along.
I will tear it apart in a little bit and look at it. It was assembled when I got it so I was sure it was assembled right maybe the gears just need cleaned from slipping on the filament.
Ok... let me know what you find... I can only think of two failure modes where this might happen... if one of the flexures (when you open it up, you'll see it... round springy circle) is broken or the gears are misaligned. The gear misalignment is the most obvious failure that would cause it. Bill
@Bill I tore it apart everything looked good the oval spring parts looked good. Everything was clean the gears look to line up with the filament correctly. I reassembled and still have problems with the bottom 2 colors same problem before tear down so I’m not sure what could be wrong with those
@brother_beams Ok... there must be something with the lower gear. Can you pull the drive motor out (no need to disassemble the whole unit... just remove the 4 screws holding that motor on and it'll drop out freely.) Then, hold it up next to the side of the unit, and including the spacer, snap a picture of them side by side... with the drive gears next to the bearings that stick out the end. This idea here is to see if the gears align perfectly with the center of the bearings, including the spacer, if that makes sense. Here's an example of what I'm looking for:
Also, make sure the bottom drive gear doesn't rotate from the top... like if the screw that secures it is loose.
Bill
@Bill I will get back with you tonight on this I’m at work for now. But I don’t remember there being a spacer on the drive motor side only the selector side but I will confirm this tonight thank you.
@Bill I am also having this issue with my Ender 3 v2, filament will only move with my assistance.
Can you manually move it with the button presses? Can you identify where it's getting stuck?
@Bill I can select the filament with the button just fine, but when I go to advance or retract the filament using the button it get hung up until I assist by either pulling or pushing the filament. This happens before the filament reaches the Y Adapter.
@William O'Keeffe Is it tight by hand? If so, the filament must be slightly larger that the tolerance of the PTFE tubes. Also, make sure there are no kinks in the PTFE tube, as that will cause it. One last thing to look for is if it's tight right at the start... it's possible the crimp is impinging on the tube a little... if that's the case, a small drill bit can be turned in the end where the brass ferrule is fitted to open it up a little. use anything around 3/32... or 2 to 2.5mm. If it's not at the end, we'll need to send you some replacement tubes.
@Bill I will mess around with offsetting it tomorrow, but I just saw your message about it being tight by hand and after about 8 inches of filament going in, it is. I am using 1.75 diameter filament.