If the filament is not loaded into the extruder, yet the printer is trying to pull the filament inside. It is usually a simple hardware problem, which we will fix in this article.
Ideal preparation checklist:
Cut the tip of the filament at a 45-degree angle
Filament goes straight around the pulley into the hotend PTFE tube - If the filament is bent slightly it may go around, especially flexible filaments are sometimes tricky to align perfectly!
Make sure that there is as little deformation as possible of the filament which is being loaded in.
Make sure that you are using proper nozzle temperatures.
Mechanical problems:
Loose pulley: ensure that the set screw of the extruder drive gear is secured against the flat side of the extruder motor shaft.
Gummed up teeth: the extruder gear has teeth which bite into the filament, ensure that the teeth are clean and clear of any plastic. Clean the grooves in the gear if necessary.
Extruder gear misalignment: the filament has to travel in a straight path, any sort of deviation will create friction and cause the extruder to either misdirect the filament or be unable to feed it properly. Visually check to see that the groove of the extruder gear passes directly in line with the top of the hotend PTFE tubing.
See the Re-aligning the Bondtech gears article.
Loose / Over-tightened Idler spring: The spring in the extruder is pressing the filament against the gears by pulling the idler gear or bearing. Make sure that the spring is not too loose, not too tight. See the Idler screw tension article for more info.
Would none of the above ease your problem. Please visit Clogged nozzle - MK2/MK3. There is a chance that you are dealing with a clogged nozzle, rather than Filament loading problems.
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We have a problem with loading filament properly for about a month now. It can coarsely load the filament most of the time (when the gears turn fast enough), but doesnt load when extrusion should be slow/limited (loading more filament through settings-move axis, 3D printing). We replaced nearly every part that controls or touches filament there is: thermistor, nozzle, PTFE tube, adjusted the idler screw tension back and forth, checked that everything is properly aligned. The filament loading gears look normal - we're out of ideas.
Does anyone have an idea or had a similar experience?
Everything was working on my MK3 and printing fine. Then it started showing a message to upgrade firmware at every print. So, I upgraded the fw to 3.13.2, the latest at the time. Now it doesn't load filament at all. it gets to the point of insert filament, but when I insert nothing happens, when i pull out, suddenly the gear starts spinning so I re-insert quickly. It loads a bot of filament at a time. After about a dozen is color correct answered NOs, it finally extrudes the filament, so I press Yes, then it almost right away tells me to unload filament and the dance restarts. I've downgraded to 3.12.2 and 3.11.0 with no luck. tried facory reset, everything passes until i get to the insert filament test and the dance begins again and again. I wish I never upgraded the fw, but now what do I do? I need my printer back. :'(
I have basically same problem . It takes quite a few no's before it loads. Gears are clean and aligned. Nozzle not clogged! Nice cold pull. You are right. Every time I upgrade firmware it causes bad things to happen. My printer has not worked in months. I just get tired of messing with it.Played with different tensions etc. It is a paperweight right now.
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Does anyone have an idea or had a similar experience?
In the end it was the PTFE tube going into the print head that was worn out. I cut off 2 mm, fixed.
I hope this can help someone in a similar situation.