Help with Print Quality

Relatively new user - and definitely new to the forum - so I apologize if this is something that should be in a preset heading somewhere else.

Our university bought a couple of TAZ6’s last year and we’ve run them for a few design projects using both PLA and ABS. Recently, while printing some test stands for electrical equipment, I got an especially poor print. Kind of thin, and the filament seems to ball up. Eventually it quits extruding and runs the print with nothing coming out.

Since we just got back after holiday break, I remembered that right before break a student had this result on a personal print. And part of the issue seems to be the head not pulling filament off the spool very well. Although, yesterday when I purposefully “unspooled” quite a bit of filament it did not help.

I’ve attached some pics - hoping for some feedback.

Thanks!

Since you mentioned seeing the filament extruding thinner than normal the first thing I would suggest trying is some cold pulls, this should help remove any filament residue from the inside of your toolhead and ensure that the filament is able to flow through the toolhead as intended. Here are a couple of write ups on the cold pull process:
https://www.lulzbot.com/support/unclogging-tips
http://bukobot.com/nozzle-cleaning

Many thanks! I did the cold pull process on Friday before I left work. Actually did it on both of our T6 machines and then sanded both beds with Crocus cloth (as was suggested by a Lulzbot tech prior to summer). I also moved the roll of filament on a temporary bar so its ON TOP OF the frame.

Ran a test print on the machine that the original post’s pictures were from and its looking good. So fingers crossed, I think its ready to go.

My plan is to print a couple of the A frame filament holders for both machines and move the rolls up top. If I can get the department head to shoot for the dual extruder, I’d like to have both up top eventually.

Joe