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How to remove PLA from a heater block?

Posted: November 30th, 2016, 1:31 pm
by reibuehl
I recently had an "accident" while printing and now the underside of my block is covered with a thick layer of black PLA:
2016-11-30 19.21.27.jpg
Do you have any tricks on how to best clean that off? I thought about a Dremel with a wire brush tool but maybe there is a more gentle or easier way to do this?

Re: How to remove PLA from a heater block?

Posted: November 30th, 2016, 1:47 pm
by LePaul
Can you heat the block with a soldering iron and at least scrape it away while warm?

Re: How to remove PLA from a heater block?

Posted: November 30th, 2016, 2:07 pm
by reibuehl
Isn't this getting very messy and hard to hold? :shock:

Re: How to remove PLA from a heater block?

Posted: November 30th, 2016, 2:56 pm
by Neotko
Best way is to heat it to 100-110 and pull it out. Or a hairdryer and pulling it out. At certain temps it goes out as one.

Re: How to remove PLA from a heater block?

Posted: November 30th, 2016, 3:16 pm
by LePaul
Someone else, not sure if it was here or not, wound up with a caked-up nozzle

Oh wait its here

Removing the block of plastic isn't difficult but can require some patience and time. Let's say that the plastic in question is PLA, start by heating up the print head to ~100C and let the heat transfer into the plastic for a couple of minutes to soften it. If you're lucky you will now be able to remove the block of plastic in one go. At the very least you should be able to get rid of the worst of it. If the plastic wont budge, start increasing the temperature in increments until it starts to give in.

Re: How to remove PLA from a heater block?

Posted: November 30th, 2016, 3:36 pm
by reibuehl
I tried with my tiny little hair dryer but that was not too successful. I will try it again tomorrow with my heat gun.

Re: How to remove PLA from a heater block?

Posted: December 1st, 2016, 1:55 am
by Amedee
I use the 'korneel' method: gas burner and alcohol.
https://ultimaker.com/en/community/1092 ... t-ends-um2