Recently I've attempted to convert a FolgerTech 2020 Prusa i3 printer to a bowden extrusion setup, basically I took the direct drive extruder, made it feed into a bowden tube and fed the other end into my e3d lite6. After the conversion I've been getting prints like the second attachment, and cannot figure out why. Basically there are gaps where the ABS didn't attach correctly to itself so it curls up. I measured the extrusion and configured the steps correctly, i believe. And when I lift the print head the ABS seems to extrude correctly. I am somewhat of a noob though so if someone wants to give me pointers anything would be appreciated. After some scouring the forums I've found a few things; a more powerful stepper motor and a better drive gear, would these solutions help? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,592571#msg-592571 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:44:13 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,595547#msg-595547 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,595547#msg-595547 guitarheromatt Printing Fri, 11 Dec 2015 13:33:59 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,594120#msg-594120 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,594120#msg-594120 guitarheromatt Printing Tue, 08 Dec 2015 00:43:39 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593809#msg-593809 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593809#msg-593809 When you enable the motors or pause a print you can hear the motors as they get the impulses to different coils so they can hold everything in place.
If the motors are screaming it means the current is quite high and could be on the limit of both the motor and the driver.
And if the motor gets hot (not warm to touch but so that it is hot) during a longer print the current is either too high or the motor need too much force to push the filament.
Since you said you can push it by hand just fine you can use temp as a good indicator too.

Keep in mind that this is nowhere accurate and that you should try to keep the motor current as low as possible.
As a rule of thumb for axis and extruder I use a simple print and print with the highest speed I require and with the thickest layer height possible.
During the print I reduce the current for axis until they loose a step or two then go up by agout 10° on the potentiometer.
Similar for the extruder only that here I mainly use the temp as an indicator after I made sure bridging with 100% extrusion and speed does not cause the extruder to click or jump.
Yes I use bridging for that as here I don't have to include the back pressure from other layers.
If you prefer to do the check with normal use a 100% infill at the thickest layer height and highest speed you use as an idicator.]]> Downunder35m Printing Mon, 07 Dec 2015 05:42:56 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593656#msg-593656 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593656#msg-593656 guitarheromatt Printing Sun, 06 Dec 2015 16:36:52 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593654#msg-593654 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593654#msg-593654 1. Not enough current for the motor.
2. Too much force required to extrude.

I am using 3mm filament and even the crappy original extruder managed to work with it.
If in doubt print really slow and with slightly higher heat.
If that still does not help check if can push the filament through extruder and hotend by hand - not working or you need tools means there is far too much force required.

Too many people try to mask other problems by using Nema23 motors, bigger drive gears and so on, whil in 99% of case a simple Nema17 with a proper hotend will just work fine ;)]]> Downunder35m Printing Sun, 06 Dec 2015 16:24:16 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593611#msg-593611 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593611#msg-593611 guitarheromatt Printing Sun, 06 Dec 2015 14:15:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593557#msg-593557 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593557#msg-593557 JamesK Printing Sun, 06 Dec 2015 12:11:16 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593350#msg-593350 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593350#msg-593350
Edit. Also I took apart my e3d and cleaned it. found out that jamming is/was never an issue]]> guitarheromatt Printing Sun, 06 Dec 2015 01:38:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593024#msg-593024 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593024#msg-593024 Downunder35m Printing Sat, 05 Dec 2015 01:14:29 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593023#msg-593023 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,593023#msg-593023
edit. My local store has a q3d mk7 drive gear and a q3d raptor drive gear. Mostly print with ABS so leaning towards the raptor, but open to suggestions.]]> guitarheromatt Printing Sat, 05 Dec 2015 00:57:22 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,592571#msg-592571 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?262,592571,592571#msg-592571
After some scouring the forums I've found a few things; a more powerful stepper motor and a better drive gear, would these solutions help?]]> guitarheromatt Printing Fri, 04 Dec 2015 01:32:43 -0500