Printing with PETG...?

[The Hat]

I’m going to have another go at using PETG filament again, but this time I’m going to try slowing down the print speed by 50%, and using a lower head temperature of 198 c and a bed temperature of 45c, the higher heat didn’t work last time.

This is as good a way as any because my attempted so far have been a disaster with the nozzle clogged up so bad it needed external heat treatment to get the whole system cleaned up again.

 

[The Hat]

Here's an Update...
Well the PETG didn’t work again, but this time it didn’t completely bung up everything, and as soon as I was sure it was FUBAR, without stopping the printer I pulled out the blue filament and replaced with some PLA grey.

Only then did I stop the print, cleaned the glass, and restarted it immediately then I increased the nozzle temperature, print speed, and lowered the bed temperature to 40 c and the print started without a hitch, an hour into the print and there’s not a bother on it...

Back to the drawing board, because this PETG is proving a lot harder to print with than ABS is...

 

[ninj]

What temperature did you increase to? Are you using Real Filament? I find 225C works reasonably OK for my white PETG, but I still haven't completely solved the blobbing problem.

 

[Nifty]

I had originally purchased a roll of PETG thinking it would be a better option than ABS, but after hearing stories, I'm just sticking to PLA!

the nozzle clogged up so bad it needed external heat treatment to get the whole system cleaned up again

Yeah, that kind of stuff scares me from giving it a try!

I've tried a few new things (swapping nozzle sizes, new printbed, etc.) but I'm not sure I'm ready / really interested in moving away from PLA.

 

[Emulator]

For those interested, but unaware of the full meaning of @The Hat 's colourful abbreviations, (the ones that are not plastic) see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_slang_terms

 

[The Hat]

When I used 225c and the bed at 60c with my very first attempt using PETG 6 months ago, it went reasonably well at the start but as it progressed more into the print, the head was slowly beginning to get blocked up to a point where no filament was emerging from the nozzle.

the full meaning of @The Hat 's colourful abbreviations, (the ones that are not plastic)

And @Emulator might understand the true meaning of FUBAR, if he had seen the mess inside the hot-end, the filament was stuck to everything and when it couldn’t get out one way it tried and stuck everywhere else.

What temperature did you increase to?

My next try was at 198c and the bed at 45c and my attempt didn’t get very far as seen in the Pic above, it could have been that my first attempt was hampered by moisture, so I might try the higher temperatures suggested by @ninj again.

Yeah, that kind of stuff scares me from giving it a try!

The only down side of trial and error is the amount of time it takes to clean the mess afterwards, I have 5 spare hot-ends so print down time is cut to a minimum of 15 minutes with a quick head change, but the PETG has been the toughest to clean up so far.
I am determined to get the PETG to work no matter how many times I fail, because there’s no reasonable reason why it won’t Feckin work and until there is, I reckon I’ll continue to be involved with the hot-end maintenance business.

If everything went 100% perfect every time I reckon there would be no fun in that, if you want to be bored then watch a 3D Video, the same goes when I design and print something that ends up not right, I can’t count the amount of times I’ve had to reprint somethings, as I said trial and error is such fun..

The best part about 3D printing is its versatility to make anything you can think up and have it physically in your hand in such a short while... to me that’s priceless..

 

[stratman]

The Hat may have been FUBAR'ed by his constipated hot end, but it seems like another 3D printer SNAFU.

 

[The Hat]

but it seems like another 3D printer SNAFU.

It’s not now, its back working fine...

 

[The Hat]

I had another go at using the PETG filament but this time with the setting that @ninj suggested, and the print came out perfect, its an Ikea lid clip (Altered) for a new box that I couldn’t resist getting, because this Lidl box was ¼ the price of the one I’m using now.
click to enlarge..

I have 4 more clips on the printer right now and they too are looking fine, now I've got a nice full reel of PETG filament to use...

 

[Nifty]

Awesome!!!

with the setting that @ninj suggested

Which settings made the biggest difference? Which slicer are you using? If you're on CURA, it would be awesome to get a copy of the profile you've got working.

I just printed some latches for a filebox and was worried I'd need to use a stronger material, but the PLA sure feels super strong to me!