How to clean nozzle 3D printer & prevent clogging

FMD 3D printer nozzles and hot ends make a big difference in the printing process of 3D objects. Of course, these parts of the printer also require special care and regular maintenance. But how to clean nozzle 3D printer to keep it in top working condition?

How to clean nozzle 3D printer the outside:

1. Wipe the nozzle while it is hot with a damp cloth.
2. Remove any dirty filament stuck around the nozzle.
3. Clean the nozzle mouth.

It is also important to thoroughly clean the nozzles from time to time to keep them in optimum printing condition and extend their life. However, you should follow certain cleaning methods to avoid damaging your 3D printer during the process. Learn how to safely and properly clean your 3D printer clogged nozzle.

How to identify a logged injector?

There are several signs that the 3D printer nozzles may be clogged. Substance drag, lacking layers, clicks on extruder mechanism, and uneven displacement patterns (especially thin layers) are all signs of an in-part clogged nozzle.

As well, if the cleaning filament does not pass across the extruder to the making platform, the nozzle can become completely clogged. If you assume the 3D printer clogged nozzle, but to determine if this is the way of the 3D printing error, turn off the inconsistent extrusion and manually feed the filament through the hot nozzle completely.

This is relatively easy, and the filament should flow smoothly through the 3D printer nozzle. If you feel resistance, you may have a blockage. If the filament is extruded through the nozzle opening but looks thinner than it really is, or if it starts to twist outside the 3D printer nozzle, it’s most likely some sort of blockage in the nozzle that stops the overall material flow.

What causes injector blockage?

There are many cases of clogged nozzle 3D printer nozzles. On many points, the cause can be traced back to somewhat very elementary and easily warning, such as dust pollution. The issue can be better complex and has to do with the printing process and nozzle printing temperature. Let’s receive a closer look at the main causes of nozzle clogging in 3D printers.

Messy filament: If the nylon filament is not stored in due course, dust and dust particles from the print media can stick to the filament. These contaminants feed the filament and enter the nozzle. Dust particles burn in the nozzle, eventually causing carbon build-up and clogging. Also, the build-up of dust on the 3D printer itself is dangerous.

Material changes: Another reason for nozzle clogging is not cleaning the nozzles between material changes. For example, changing from a 3D printer that prints PLA to ABS always requires cleaning the nozzles in between.

There are several ways to clean the nozzle and remove debris between filament changes. Examples include using a cold draw or wire brush to remove debris from outside the hot end.

Print temperature: Setting the extruder of your 3D printer to the wrong temperature can cause jams. On the one hand, if the nozzle temperature is too low, the filament will not melt properly, which can lead to material clogging and pressure in the nozzle.

On the other hand, if the printing temperature is too high, a phenomenon called thermal creep can occur. This occurs as the heat from the nozzle travels further down the extruder mechanism, and the filament begins to melt before it reaches the hot end. When this happens, the 3D printer’s inconsistent extrusion gear cannot feed the filament properly, causing jams.

6 Best filament for cleaning 3D printers

Image	Product	Functions
	NovaMaker 3DPrinter Cleaning Filament	It has excellent heat resistance and exhibits a wide range of detergency. Work well in the range of 302-500 degrees.
	3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit	The nozzle is made of high-quality brass and the nozzle cleaning needle is made of high-quality stainless steel.
	3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit	Excellent package: All of these essential tools are packed in a ravel-size tool pouch that allows you to easily store and carry them, and also prevents them from getting lost.
	Turboom Wire Brush Set	Welding wire brushes are suitable for cleaning steel parts, machinery, unfinished  metal parts, and special corrosion without damaging surfaces or delicate features
	BCZADM 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Brass Wire	After-sales Guarantee: We are a responsible seller, any defective item can get a free replacement or refund, if necessary, please contact us by email or Q&A, we and our engineers will try our best to serve you to help.
	Bowden Extruder V2.0 DDB Universal Geared	The package includes 1x universal toothed extruder, 1x set of screws,1x set of installation tools, and a stepper motor mounting bracket. Improved high-performance 3D printer extruder.

Cleaning line NovaMaker

One of the best cleaning filaments is the NovaMaker 3D Printer Cleaning Filament, vacuum packed with desiccant to keep it in optimum condition. It does a great job of cleaning your 3D printer.

You will receive 0.1 kg (0.22 lb) of cleaning floss. It has excellent heat resistance and exhibits a wide range of detergency.

 

Works well in the range of 302-500° F.

The low viscosity of this dedicated cleaning filament makes it easy to remove material residue from the nozzle without clogging the interior.

Using a cleaning needle along with this is the perfect solution to prevent clogged nozzles when switching between cold and hot materials.

For regular maintenance and cleaning, we recommend using cleaning floss at least once every three months.

 

3D printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit

A standard nozzle cleaning kit consists of thin metal needles, tweezers, and a brush.

You can use this method to clean the nozzle by doing the following:

1. Start by heating the nozzle to maximum temperature. This will help loosen any strands that are stuck in the nozzle.
2. Then use metal needles to pick out any larger pieces of thread that may have blocked the nozzle.
3. Once the larger pieces are removed, use the brush attachment to remove the smaller pieces of string.
4. Finally, use tweezers to remove any remaining threads or dirt.

Stainless steel needles are a better alternative to the drills that some people use.

 

 

Drills, unlike steel needles, change the diameter of the nozzle or damage its surface.

I would recommend these if you are just starting out in 3D printing and want to have a nozzle cleaning kit on hand. If you already have needles, that’s probably fine, but for me personally, it makes things a lot easier. In general, they work fine.

Features

1. Package List: 5 × 0.4 mm Nozzle + 0.1-1.0 mm Cleaning Drill Bit.
2. Brass Nozzle: 0.4 mm Inlet Diameter: 1.75 mm The outer surface is marked with an outlet diameter for easy identification. Hot filament leakage can be effectively prevented.
3. Material: The nozzle is made of high-quality brass and the nozzle cleaning needle is made of high-quality stainless steel.
4. Warm Tip: Do not use the drill to clean until the nozzle is over 200 °F.
5. After-sales service: If you have any questions, please feel free to contact them.

 

3D printer Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit

The 3D printer accessory kit includes 12 × 0.4 mm stainless-steel needles, 12 × 0.35 mm copper needles, 2 different-shaped precision tweezers, and 1 x plastic bottle, great for clearing clogged 3D printer filament. High-quality tool set at an affordable price.

This 3D printer tool set contains all the necessary tools, ideal for removing, cleaning, and finishing printed products, meeting all your DIY needs. It is the ideal hand tool for all 3D printing professionals, hobbyists, and manufacturers.

The whole set is packed in a leather zip case, so you can easily take the toolset anywhere. In addition, you can conveniently store a complete set to prevent losing a small tool.

If your friends are interested in crafts printing, the 3D printer tool kit is a perfect choice for you to choose the right gift. The toolset contains different types of 27 pieces of high-quality basic tools.

Functions

• 27 Pcs Great Tools
• A Convenient toolset
• Perfect gift for your friend
• Reliable customer service

 

 

Turboom Wire Brush Set

When you start to see filament buildup on the nozzle’s outer surface, it’s time to clean it. Cleaning the 3D printer nozzle is easy and all you need is a brass wire brush and a cleaning cloth.

The brass brush prevents damage to the brass nozzles and allows you to remove the stuck substrate from the dirty nozzle.

Before starting the cleaning process, it is helpful to heat up the nozzle of the 3D printer first. By heating the nozzle, stuck pieces of filament are softened and can be removed more quickly.

Thoroughly cleaning the nozzle allows you to wipe any material residue off the surface of the nozzle. A soft microfiber cloth is our tool for this.

 

Avoid direct skin contact with the hot surface of the nozzle to avoid skin burns.

The 3D printer nozzle cleaning is complete and you can start printing again. Remember to always monitor the condition of the nozzle and clean it regularly to ensure optimal print quality.

Features

The package includes: 5 stainless steel wire brushes and 5 brass wire brushes (6 small brushes and 4 large brushes)

Two sizes: The large brush handle is 8.5 inches long, the brush head is 3.9 inches long, and the brush head is 0.95 inches wide. The small brush handle is 6.7 inches long, the brush head is 1.6 inches long, and the brush head is 0.45 inches wide.

Durable material: strong and durable stainless steel + copper brass, can completely remove rust and detail, hanging hole for convenient storage

Wide application: welding wire brushes are suitable for cleaning steel parts, machinery, unfinished metal parts, paint spots, and special corrosion without damaging surfaces or delicate features.

Easy to use: There is a hole at the end of each wire brush handle. The special design is convenient for users to hang and store. You don’t have to worry about falling. The convex groove inside the handle is comfortable to hold and control.

 

BCZAMD 3D printer nozzle cleaning brass wire

This toothbrush is made of copper wire, specially designed for hearth 3D printer nozzle cleaning.

Please heat the nozzle to 190° C (374 °F) when using it to clean the nozzles.

This copper wire toothbrush may be deformed during transportation, but it does not affect its use. This is a handy tool.

 

Bowden Extruder V2.0 DDB universal geared

This is a V2.0 Bowden Extruder DDB Universal Geared Extruder Kit with high-quality steel gears. The lightweight design allows installation on a wide range of printers and offers a fast loading and unloading solution, giving you a whole new printing experience.

This is a well-made extruder. It works great when connected directly to an E3D V6 hot end and only requires 37 mm PTFE tubing. The 3:1 gear ratio provides plenty of torque to quickly pump out a large amount of filament.

Update Highlights:

1. Calibrated gear position and accuracy of all bolt holes.
2. Modified new buckle, both sides of the V2.0 version of the DDB extruder support thread going in and out (it has no specific direction, and you can use both sides of the material ports)
3. The thread has an independent movement cabin inside the extruder. The new white filament guide in the extruder helps the filament move smoothly.
4. The new design of the cut-off outer shell at the top of the extruder is reserved for the Ender 3 printer screw rod. 5.

Functions

• Great value
• Good performance needles
• High-quality tweezers
• Wide compatibility
• Good packaging and guarantee

 

Using 3D printer cleaning filament

Cleaning filament can be used in 3D printers to perform cold broaching and hot broaching, common methods commonly used among 3D printer users.

A hot trigger is ideal for ejecting large charred material from the nozzle in the event of a severe clog. A cold draw is to remove any remaining small debris and thoroughly clean the nozzle.

To use the 3D printer cleaning filament, replace the old filament and load it into the 3D printer normally until it comes out of the nozzle.

 

Change the extruder temperature to keep it hot between 392-446° F.

Then squeeze out a few centimeters of thread, wait, then squeeze out a few more times.

Then remove the cleaning filament, install the filament to be printed, and make sure the cleaning filament has moved completely after starting the next print.

This filament can be used to clean the printer’s print core by hot and cold drawing. A hot draw is used to remove most of the burnt material from the print core and is highly recommended when the print core is clogged.

Replace worn nozzles

Brass nozzles are subject to severe wear due to the constant friction of the filament. This wear is accelerated by the use of glow-in-the-dark abrasive threads such as carbon fiber and metal-filled threads.

Abrasive fibers not only abrade the nozzle orifice, but they can also collect small metal particles from the nozzle material. This can impede filament flow and cause filament jams.

If you use abrasive fibers on a regular basis, or if the nozzles are heavily worn, we recommend replacing the brass nozzles more frequently.

Alternatively, you can use stainless steel or other hardened bits. More resistant to abrasive fibers and longer service life than traditional brass nozzles.

FAQ

Basics: Cleaning out a clogged nozzle!

Conclusion

Cleaning 3D printer nozzles is not a difficult task. The main goal is to remove filament debris to avoid clogging and clogging. This is part of 3D printer maintenance that should be performed on a regular basis.

In fact, we recommend wiping the outside of the attachment with a damp cloth while it’s hot after use and breaking the threads inside with a needle.

If you need to read about what is the best 3D printing infill pattern please read our article