The extruder clicks and slips
The clicking is the motor skipping steps because it cannot push the filament. The right question is not 'how to tighten it more', but 'why is there so much resistance'.
What the failure looks like
A rhythmic clicking sound from the extruder, filament dust under the machine and a marked flat notch in the filament when you pull it out.
Causes, most likely first
- 01
Clogged nozzle
The resistance is at the front, not in the extruder.
- 02
Heat creep
The filament softens inside the heatbreak and forms a conical plug.
- 03
Excessive speed or flow rate
You are demanding more mm³/s than the hotend can melt.
- 04
Incorrectly adjusted tension
Too loose, it slips; too tight, it squashes the filament and also slips.
- 05
Spool not turning
A tangled filament or a high-friction spool holder makes exactly the same noise.
Step-by-step fix
1. Rule out the simple things first
Turn the spool by hand: if it's stiff, that's where the problem is. Check if the filament is crossed over itself.
2. Check the heatsink fan
It must always spin whenever the hotend is hot.
3. Extrude 100 mm manually
With the hotend hot and without tension. If it's hard to push, it's a clog: go to the clogged nozzle article.
4. Lower the speed to 60%
If the clicking stops, it was flow rate.
5. Adjust the tension
Tighten until the gear grips the filament without deforming it; a slight, regular indentation is correct.
6. Clean the drive gear
Filament dust builds up in the teeth and causes it to slip.
So it doesn't happen again
- Clean the drive gear with a small brush every few weeks.
- Use a spool holder with bearings.
Related questions
Does clicking damage the printer?
Not immediately, but it leaves plastic dust that ends up in the hotend and causes future clogs.
Keep reading
What if it isn't worth your time?
Sometimes the part is more urgent than the learning curve. We're a workshop in Viladecavalls: send us the file and we'll print it with the right material and settings.
Still not working?
Tell Marco which printer and material you use and he'll tell you what to change.
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