Uploaded May 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Sometimes the plunger on the stepstruder may bee too loose and filament may either slip or not be pushed at all.
The video assumes you've already removed the stepstruder drive gear; if you don't know how to remove the drive gear check Makerbot's video here youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HA5TvWp5YJ8#!, from minute 1:34 that shows how remove it.
The best way to know if this is the correct procedure for you is this:
- if your extruder does not extruder plastic on its own (when you "Load Filament")
- and you're NOT hearing clicking noises
- and plastic comes out if push the filament with your hand
then this is the procedure for you.
If you're hearing clicking noise then your issue is NOT about tightening the plunger.
Sometimes the plunger on the stepstruder may bee too loose and filament may either slip or not be pushed at all.
The video assumes you've already removed the stepstruder drive gear; if you don't know how to remove the drive gear check Makerbot's video here youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HA5TvWp5YJ8#!, from minute 1:34 that shows how remove it.
The best way to know if this is the correct procedure for you is this:
- if your extruder does not extruder plastic on its own (when you "Load Filament")
- and you're NOT hearing clicking noises
- and plastic comes out if push the filament with your hand
then this is the procedure for you.
If you're hearing clicking noise then your issue is NOT about tightening the plunger.
