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Loading and Unloading Filament

Here is a quick guide on how to correctly load and unload filament from your direct-drive toolhead.

Loading Filament

  1. Preheat: In the web interface, heat the hotend to the correct temperature for the filament you are using (e.g., ~210°C for PLA, ~240°C for ABS).
  2. Prepare the Tip: Cut the end of your filament at a sharp 45-degree angle. This makes it easier to feed into the extruder.
  3. Feed the Filament: Feed the filament through the reverse-Bowden guide tube until it reaches the toolhead.
  4. Engage Extruder: Press the tensioner arm on the extruder to open the drive gears. Push the filament down through the extruder and into the top of the hotend until you feel it stop. Release the tensioner arm.
  5. Extrude: In the web interface, click the "Extrude" button a few times. You should see fresh filament start to flow out of the nozzle. Continue until the color is consistent and the flow is smooth.

Feeding filament into the extruder Feeding filament into the extruder

A close-up illustration of filament being fed into the extruder mechanism on the toolhead while the tensioner arm is held open.

Unloading Filament

  1. Preheat: Heat the hotend to the filament's printing temperature.
  2. Retract Slightly: In the web interface, retract the filament by a few millimeters (2-3mm). This helps pull the molten tip out of the meltzone and prevents clogs.
  3. Remove Filament: Press the extruder's tensioner arm and firmly but gently pull the filament straight out of the toolhead and back through the guide tube.