Clear ABS

When I print in clear ABS, it always jams either at the extruder or after the feeder cog. I have tried raising the temperatures up to around 260C and still have not had success. If feeds nicely when I do it by hand, but will jam within the first layer when being fed by the printer. Should I try a higher temp? (it is upgraded to handle it). Or are there other settings I can modify?

 

You could try adding an in line oiler to keep the nozzle from scalding the filament causing jams

 

You might also check to see if the hobbed bolt is shredding the filament. A lot of people have had trouble with the factory hobbed bolt and have replaced it with an aftemarket one with better results. Lots of threads in the forum on this problem, too.

 

Is there a specific type of oiler that you would suggest? I looked up a few, but wanted to make sure that it would work...Also, my main purpose is to print as transparent as possible pieces to shine light through...is there another material that would be as good as ABS or better that would yield the same results?

The hobbed bolt is shredding the filament, was hoping to hold off replacing it...it extrudes and prints perfectly for about 5 minutes and then jams all the way down at the extruder itself most of the time...almost like the filament is swelling and then when it gets retracted due to print head movements; it plugs the extrusion effort and then shreds and coils the filament after the hobbed bolt. I did check some of the forums, but I have absolutely no problems with any other ABS materials, just this clear and I have tried two different types/suppliers.

 

PET has the highest transparency but you need to print it super slow and thick to get it to be very transparent.

Any oiler will work, some people use just a pen cap or a pen tube. Anything you can use a packing material soaked in oil.

 

Thanks for the info...I will try the oiler out and look into the filaments...The material will be exposed to heavy sunlight and be used in the summer when it is warm so I need it to be long-lasting and durable. I have no problem conceding some clarity for durability or speed of printing. If that helps you narrow it down to a certain type then great, otherwise ill be looking up everything, lol!

 

Yeah Colorfabb XT clear or PET will be your best option. Not totally sure on their UV properties or glass transition point but I think it's decent.

 

Great, thanks for the help both of you. Hopefully I can find something that will work!

 

I was trying to figure out how to send a message to your inbox...glad you seen the post.

I did have my first layer close, but if the gap was much more; it blotted out. It almost seems like the end is swelling on me...there are not many kinks in the filament, just the end catches and breaks off leaving it unable to extrude. I will order some PET material immediately. I will do some more research, but what are the best settings for printing that material? I appreciate your help!

 

Thanks for the help, I got the filament extruding perfectly now and I received my PET+ today, just having an issue with the software not engaging the z-axis stepper motors during the print now. Everything works with the manual controls, just nothing when it needs to raise to retract or proceed to the next layer. I am using Simplify3D and everything works great with Matter Control except it loves to lose connection. Currently I have three companies working on the issue, but no results yet...thought you may have some insight; I am going to see if the forums have anything pertaining to this software.