clogged nozzle

[joecnc2006]

Any suggestions on unclogging a SeemeCNC 0.35mm Nozzle? Up until now I only used PLA on it, but wanted to use up a role of ABS I had. The first print started fine but came loose from bed so I stopped it then started it back up and then it would not extrude right, I had to replace the PTE tube inside the print head it was clogged, and install a 0.5mm nozzle to get it working. So now the 0.35mm nozzle is clogged all the way through.

[Tinyhead]

What I've done is gently take the nozzle itself in a set of pliers and heat it in the blue part of the flame of a lighter so that it's not a super intense heat. Rotate it around till it gets up to a half decent temperature and take a tiny drill bit and, just by hand, insert it from the inside to try and grab some of the clogged filament. Usually takes a few times, and it is a bit of a pain to scrape the melted gunk from the bit. Try not to take any metal though. This has worked for me the three times I've had a clog. By the end, I was able to see right through the nozzle.

[bubbasnow]

if it is clogged with abs just let it soak in acetone, pla you will have to cook it out. if you use a drill bit make sure not to attach a drill to the end..

[Eaglezsoar]

Once you get it hot and the plastic starts to melt, I stick a pipe cleaner into the hotend as far as it will go and let the hotend cool a little so the plastic solidifies around the pipe cleaner.
A good yank on the pipe cleaner should pull out the plug.

[Chrissi]

Sometimes when I have what I believed was a clog turns out to be the nozzle is right on the glass, I reset Z and everything is fine.

[JohnStack]

You build aircraft parts? Very cool.

[Chrissi]

John I feel like a voyeur watching you set your Z height live =)