E3D v6 issues
There are several reasons why your E3D v6 can clog. Here are a couple reasons for the issue, along with some helpful hints on how to fix it.
Cooling
Poor cooling on the E3D's heat sink can cause major issues and result in a clogged hotend. You have to make sure that the active coolinf fan attached to the heat sink is always on. This fan should start running as soon as the printer is powered on. If the fan is not running, do not start a print as a clog is guaranteed to happen. Double check that the fan is plugged into the RJ-45 board on you extruder. And make sure the Black and Yellow 12v wire is plugged into the RJ-45 board inside your electronics case.
If it is still not working, make sure that the printer is plugged in and powered on. Just inserting the USB cable will make the printer look like it is powered on. But it is just enough power coming from your computer to start the firmware, but nothing else will work. You can also double check that no filament is inside the active cooling fan. This can very easily prevent the fan from spinning.
Bad Retraction
Having high amounts of retraction can also cause clogs in your E3D hotend. When hot filament is pulled to high up, it can become deformed when the extruder motor tries to push it back in. The deformed end will also cool quickly due to the active cooling fan. This will result in the filament not being able to go into the melt zone and through the nozzle.
Your retraction setting may change a little depending on the type of filament you are using. In general, we stick to a retraction distance of 0.75 mm. This was worked for several different types of filament.
Your retraction setting may change a little depending on the type of filament you are using. In general, we stick to a retraction distance of 0.75 mm. This was worked for several different types of filament.
The Nozzle
The nozzle being blocked is one the other ways your E3D can become clogged. It can come from dust, burnt filament, contaminants that are in certain filaments. One way to try and clear a clogged nozzle is to preheat your hotend to 240c and try to thread a small, thin piece of wire through the opening of the nozzle.
If you are unable to push the wire through the opening of the nozzle, you may need to remove it and replace it. You can find instructions on replacing your E3D nozzle here.