This project has consumed more of my time than anticipated, and I am combining it with a push to produce whistles free to ICE protestors. I grew up in Minnesota, and I recognize the places ICE is executing people. Whistles allow peaceful protestors to alert people that ICE is nearby and exercise their freedom of speech.
My wife bought a used dual-extruder 3D printer. The previous owner complained that it was prone to clogging, and they had a second dual-head module. Both modules were clogged for a total of four clogged heads. I tried to extract the visible clogging from the first module, and it looked like a gummy white residue. The second was a fibrous clog that I assumed was residue from a blue shop towel someone may have used to clean the filament, but ultimately, it dammed up the print head.
After I spent twenty minutes with tweezers and dental picks, I removed the module from the printer and disassembled it. I should have looked up instructions on how to pull it apart, but it was a well-designed unit and opened up quickly. I found that the residue in both cases was old filament that had broken at the nozzle, so I had to disassemble the hotend completely. It was finicky work, but I cleared all the clogs in one module and started a test print.
I tackled the second module. The second unit was a high-temperature type and a little different, but I also cleared the clogged filament. The nozzles on this one should be replaced, since one likely has a broken drill bit and the other is a mess.
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
GitHub repo for HandcuffKey24.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Completed projects from year 7
Completed projects from year 8
Completed projects from year 9
Completed projects from year 10
Completed projects from year 11
Completed projects from year 12
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2026-01-27
My wife bought a used dual-extruder 3D printer. The previous owner complained that it was prone to clogging, and they had a second dual-head module. Both modules were clogged for a total of four clogged heads. I tried to extract the visible clogging from the first module, and it looked like a gummy white residue. The second was a fibrous clog that I assumed was residue from a blue shop towel someone may have used to clean the filament, but ultimately, it dammed up the print head.
After I spent twenty minutes with tweezers and dental picks, I removed the module from the printer and disassembled it. I should have looked up instructions on how to pull it apart, but it was a well-designed unit and opened up quickly. I found that the residue in both cases was old filament that had broken at the nozzle, so I had to disassemble the hotend completely. It was finicky work, but I cleared all the clogs in one module and started a test print.
I tackled the second module. The second unit was a high-temperature type and a little different, but I also cleared the clogged filament. The nozzles on this one should be replaced, since one likely has a broken drill bit and the other is a mess.
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| Dual-extruder print head open for repair |
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
GitHub repo for HandcuffKey24.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Completed projects from year 7
Completed projects from year 8
Completed projects from year 9
Completed projects from year 10
Completed projects from year 11
Completed projects from year 12
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2026-01-27
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