Troubleshooting

FAQ   How To Install   Choosing Tubing   Selecting Fittings   Measuring Filament   Safety Precautions  

Q: My tubing is moving in and out, or slipping out of the fitting. What can I do about that?

A: Fittings are not made to be repeatedly connected and disconnected, and they wear out quickly sometimes and need to be replaced. If you ordered a defective fitting from our store, let us know and we will replace it for you.

The fitting may be low quality or damaged, or the tubing diameter may be too small for it to obtain sufficient grip. This has been reported by some Bondtech users, for example. Due to the extremely powerful extruder motor, Bondtech recommends a 4.1mm OD tube at the entrance of the fitting.

In that case, the issue can be solved by increasing the OD by 2.5%, in just a few easy steps:

1. Remove any filament from the tubing.
2. Remove the tubing from the machine.
3. In a well ventilated area, hold a small flame under the end of the PTFE tube. Heat up approximately 8mm of the end of the tube. (Its a good idea to practice this on a small piece of PTFE tube first, to get the technique down.)
4. As the PTFE heats up, it will start to soften and become translucent. It will begin to shrink up, reducing in length and increasing diameter. Remove the heat just as it begins to turn.
5. Allow the tubing to cool. The end will have expanded slightly, and will now fit snugly in the fitting.
6. Re-Install the tubing in the machine.

Q: My prints are under-extruding, having layer gaps, or failing entirely.

A: There are numerous things that can cause these types of issues. Check your extrusion multiplier, make sure the temperature is high enough, and make sure you don't have a jam in your hot end (which can sometimes be caused by not getting the tube seated flush.)

After installing a new Bowden tube, there will always be a period of tuning required to get everything re-dialed-in. Try adjusting the print speed, retraction speed, making sure the extruder gears are clean, and the nozzle isnt clogged.

Before jumping to the conclusiong that the tubing is too narrow, please first measure the diameter of your filament. Use a calipers to check the diameter at several points. Sometimes a filament will measure 1.72mm for example, so you think its good to go, only to then measure 1.83 for example, a few meters down the line.

It is extremely important to use properly sized filament with our XS series tubing, because of the smaller internal diameter. Swapping out your cheap off-brand filament for something more reputable may seem like it costs more, at first, but the reduction in waste from failed prints will more than pay for itsself.

Q: Ever since I installed your tubing, my extruder is making clicking sounds, why?

A: Extruder clicking is generally the result of gear slippage caused by excess pressure in the filament. It could be that you need to adjust your retraction up or down, fine tune yor retraction speed, or increase the nozzle temperature by a few degrees.

Also this is a good time to make sure your extruder gears are clean. You may have knocked some plastic shavings loose while doing the install. Junk in your gears can cause slippage/clicking as well.

You may find that you need to fine-tune your temperatures, retraction settings, and extrusion multiplier, etc, after installing a new Bowden tube, to get everything dialed back in.

Q: Since I began using Capricorn tubing, my nozzle is jamming! Help!

A: Most of the time this is because the tubing was not seated well in the hot end. Carefully remove the tube, and use a razor blade to cut the end perfectly square. If possible, install a new fitting, to make sure it will hold the tube tightly. Use a peice of the old tubing to check the depth, and mark your Capricorn tube with a Sharpie so you know how deep you are expecting it to go. With one smooth motion, inster the tube into the fitting, and use a C-clip to hold the fitting secure.
FAQ   How To Install   Choosing Tubing   Selecting Fittings   Measuring Filament   Safety Precautions