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Cleaning the Extruder (Drive Gear)

When we talk about "cleaning the extruder," we are usually referring to cleaning the mechanism that pushes the filament, known as the drive gear. A dirty drive gear is one of the most common causes of under-extrusion (prints with gaps or missing layers).

Why is Cleaning Necessary?

Through normal use, the toothed gear that grips the filament can accumulate small plastic shavings. When the teeth get clogged with this debris, the gear loses its ability to grip and push the filament consistently.

Cleaning Procedure

  1. Unload the Filament: First, remove any filament currently loaded in the printer.
  2. Access the Gear: Most printers have a small access window on the extruder body that allows you to see and access the drive gear.
  3. Clean the Grooves:
    • Use a small brass brush or a stiff-bristled toothbrush to brush the gear's teeth and remove the debris.
    • A sharp, pointed tool like a toothpick or a needle can also be very helpful for picking out stubborn bits of plastic.
  4. Rotate the Gear: Clean the section you can see, then use the printer's menus (or manually turn the gear, if possible) to rotate it slightly and expose a new section. Repeat the process until the entire gear is clean.