Unpopular opinion: My 3D printer failing after 200 hours of a print is not just bad luck

I was trying to print a full helmet for a costume, and the extruder jammed solid with 30 hours left, ruining the whole thing. I think the common advice to just 'keep trying' ignores how much time and filament this wastes when a machine isn't reliable. Has anyone actually fixed a chronic clogging issue on an Ender 3, or is it time to scrap the project?

3 comments

3 Comments

wright.dakota28d ago

What a gut punch to lose a print that close to the finish line. I felt that same deep frustration when my machine clogged on a multi-day project last year. For my Ender 3, the fix was a mix of replacing the cheap plastic extruder arm that had cracked and finally getting the hot end cooling fan to run properly. It took a lot of tinkering, but it did become reliable.

david_craig28d agoTop Commenter

Honestly, this feels like every modern appliance failing right after the warranty ends.

lily_schmidt5323d ago

Read that's a common design tactic.