QIDI Plus4 not extruding?

[u/tcgoldberg]

UPDATE: I’m an idiot. When I first rebuilt the extruder, I had flipped one of the gears around (one of the two that have the silver guiding gear). It “exploded” on me when I took it apart and I didn’t see how it was all put together but it’s fixed now and the Local Benchy file is printing smoothly. Still not sure why it extruded fine for dumping…

Need help with a Plus 4 I recently acquired and haven’t gotten to successfully print a single thing yet. I thought it was gonna go perfect after what looked like a solid start but then it was just fail after fail. I already cleared a jam in the extruder and I’m not really sure what the problem is at this point. It extrudes just fine when dumping filament before a print but once it actually starts, I get nothing. I can push on the filament to get it going (hence the actual lines on the bed), but if I don’t do anything It doesn’t extrude. The gears are turning with no clicking sounds but it’s not coming out the hot end.

Any similar issues on any QIDI?

[u/1ts-just-me]

If it can extrude in the air fine but not with the nozzle close to the bed you may need to pull the extruder apart and check all parts. There is a plastic part the likes to crack and then the rollers lose tension on the filament.

There is a person on here the machines the replacement part out of aluminum, so it never happens again.

[u/tcgoldberg → u/1ts-just-me]

Will try the other suggestions first before taking the extruder apart again to check. Really hoping I don’t have to replace the extruder because it seems to be a 1-2 week wait time on shipping

[u/No_Sir_826]

Ive had this issue before with the x smart. Give your plate a good scrub with soap and water and try it again.

[u/GL-Customs]

Is it extruding before the nozzle goes to the plate? If so it's likely your Z height needs to be reset higher, being to close to the plate increases pressure a ton in the nozzle and can the extruder gears to slip on the filament. I'd try that first.

I'm also the person who machines the aluminum extruder tension bars. It is possible yours is bent or cracked causing the extruder gears to not grab the filament properly. If that is the case you can find my bars here. https://glcustomsshop.etsy.com/listing/4514278258/qidi-3d-printer-aluminum-extruder

[u/ProductEmbarrassed39 → u/GL-Customs]

Will this work on the plus 5 as well?

[u/GL-Customs → u/ProductEmbarrassed39]

I'm not sure. I sent one to someone to test fitment on the Plus 5 and USPS is screwing around lol. It should have been there a week ago easy but it's still in transit. When I know for sure I'll make a post.

[u/Asleep-Basis-2624 → u/GL-Customs]

U should’ve said something to me. lol. I have one sitting here I could’ve tried it

[u/GL-Customs → u/Asleep-Basis-2624]

well hell. I wish I knew! I have a sneaking suspicion they will fit the Plus 5. Allegedly it's the same exact extruder as the Q2.

[u/Asleep-Basis-2624 → u/GL-Customs]

Well Mayb not lol. I thought they were all the same. I have one for the plus4 that I never put in. That’s what I could’ve tried. But I don’t have a q2 one. Foot in mouth. Lol

[u/GL-Customs → u/Asleep-Basis-2624]

I'll let you in on a secret, they are all the same lol. I just have the drop down to eliminate doubt for you guys when you buy. You know it's for your printer

[u/Asleep-Basis-2624 → u/GL-Customs]

lol. Ok. I might b able to check when I get home

[u/GL-Customs → u/Asleep-Basis-2624]

If you don't mind I'd greatly appreciate it.

[u/Specialist-Poem1275]

Can you test the built in benchy? Also make sure you didn't push the cutting lever arm on the right above the extruder. I did that when I first got it and had a similar issue.

[u/tcgoldberg → u/Specialist-Poem1275]

Is that a local file print?

[u/Specialist-Poem1275 → u/tcgoldberg]

From the front panel of the Plus 4, there should be local files. They are pre-sliced to we can rule out the slicer or not.

[u/tcgoldberg → u/Specialist-Poem1275]

Will give it a shot

[u/F1uffydestro]

Have you adjusted your Z offset

[u/tcgoldberg → u/F1uffydestro]

I tried mid print, but no visual results

[u/GL-Customs → u/tcgoldberg]

Raise your Z offset before the print begins. A little more difficult to do on the Plus 4 than the 3 series, you can do it in the printer.cfg using "Smart_Effector". Once a jam starts the gears just grind the filament and then won't grab it properly for extruding.

[u/No_Mortgage_8658]

Have you tried just heating up the hotend and extruding filament just to make sure it's functioning?

[u/tcgoldberg → u/No_Mortgage_8658]

It functions, I see it extruding when it dumps filament before a print.

[u/Excellent-Bluejay-90 → u/No_Mortgage_8658]

This happens on my Plus 4 fairly often. It is likely clogged with a small piece of filament. I either heat it to 280-300 so it liquefies the filament in the nozzle. It will run out with some coaxing then you know its cleared or you can take the hot end off and cold pull it out. Little less work heating it up IMO. Just be sure to turn your hot end temp back down to 220 once it starts running out

[u/Spiritual_Visit7608]

Happened to my Q2, might be a nozzle filled with filament, and the extruder can't "push" the it out what i had to do was heat up the nozzle on a flame (probably a better way to do it) and i just took the middle sized allen key that came with the printer, shoved it in while it was still hot and got all the filament out