Changing the filament spool
Contents
Changing filament can be done using the following steps
Remove old filament
Heat up the hot-end to standard operating temp for the plastic you are using
Remove the two M3 x 45 screws that tension the filament on the extruder
Swing open the extruder tensioner
Cut the filament just above the extruder and pull the filament out of the hot-end
Remove filament from the filament delivery tube
Inspect the extruder filament drive gear is clean and free of plastic debris
Insert new filament
Bevel the end of the new filament as if you were sharpening a pencil. This will help guide the new filament into the hot-end.
Insert new filament into the filament delivery tube
Guide filament into the hot-end and ensure it extrudes from the hot-end when pushing on the filament by hand
Close extruder tensioner
Insert the two M3 x 45 screws and tighten eight revolutions.
Using Pronterface or Simplify3D extrude 10mm of filament at a time until you verify a consistent and smooth operation of the extruder and hot-end.
Please Note:
If you are changing to a different type of plastic filament (from PLA to ABS for example) be sure to adjust the hot-end temperature accordingly. You may need to extrude up to 100mm of filament to flush out the old plastic before printing.