<p>Every time I've had an extruder "skip", it was actually because some condition was causing excessive back-pressure.  Either the hot end isn't hot enough, the nozzle is too close to the bed, or something has clogged the nozzle.</p>

<p>If there is a "skipping" noise, then this is almost certainly the problem.  When a stepper can not advance, the magnetic field will continue to "step".  After the rotor is behind the steps by 180 degrees of field phase (which might be only a fraction of a degree os stepper motor shaft rotation), the rotor will snap back to re-align with the magnetic field.  The sudden movement of the rotor and the release of compression on the filament often makes a loud clicking or thumping noise.  If you can see the gear, it will jump backward and then rotate slowly forward before jumping backward again.</p>

<p>To see if it is the drivers, try extruding with no filament, or if you can, try moving filament through the extruder.  If it doesn't move at all, or doesn't move under light drag, it may be the driver, the wiring, or perhaps the motor.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T18:57:40.493Z
This seems like a really good trouble shooting idea. I’ll give this a shot tomorrow. Thanks!
James B
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T18:56:30.777Z
2018-06-18T18:56:30.777Z
cmm
<ol>
<li><p>Check the pins on the motor. Are they bent? If yes - straighten them out with a screw driver. </p></li>
<li><p>This could be a stepper driver problem. If it is then bad luck. Zortrax hard solders their stepper drivers onto their control board (this sucks and is a pure monetization related move by them). </p></li>
</ol>

<p>This results in you having to get a whole new set of connector cables and or new control boards every time something goes wrong.</p>

<p>Ask for a control board replacement with new connector cables, if your machine is still under warranty it should be free of charge.</p>

<p>Switch to different or cheaper machines like Wanhaos or Ultimakers if you want the same ease of use and cheap part replacement. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T05:13:27.393Z
2018-06-19T13:15:44.867Z
2018-06-19T13:15:44.867Z
Axel Fernandes
<p>My Zortrax M200 has a skipping extruder motor, I’ve checked the seating of all connections and 3 different (electronic ribbon) cables and still can’t fix the issue. The gear is clean and have tried fresh filament. </p>

<ul>
<li>Does anyone have any possible thoughts on why this happens?</li>
</ul>

<p>The extruded motor will move in the desired direction and then skip back. </p>

<p>Loading the filament is fine. Tried new nozzles, blockages checked, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-17T15:26:46.057Z
What do you mean by `cable`? The electronics cable or the filament tube?
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T12:05:35.937Z
@0scar the electronic ribbon cable.
James B
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T15:13:28.573Z
Is it skipping as in "no gear motion when it should be extruding" or as in "gear moves but filament doesn't move" ?  Radically different situations.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T15:31:46.580Z
@CarlWitthoft it rotates and then skips backwards. Loading filament is fine. Tried new nozzles, blockages checked, etc.
James B
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T19:04:26.680Z
Could you update the question as requested by @CarlWitthoft? This makes the question more clear on which issue to focus.
0scar
<extruder><print-quality>
Zortrax M200 skipping extruder
James B
# Zortrax M200 skipping extruder

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-17)

My Zortrax M200 has a skipping extruder motor, I’ve checked the seating of all connections and 3 different (electronic ribbon) cables and still can’t fix the issue. The gear is clean and have tried fresh filament.

* Does anyone have any possible thoughts on why this happens?

The extruded motor will move in the desired direction and then skip back.

Loading the filament is fine. Tried new nozzles, blockages checked, etc.

**Tags:** extruder, print-quality
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you mean by `cable`? The electronics cable or the filament tube?  
> **username_0**: @0scar the electronic ribbon cable.  
> **username_2**: Is it skipping as in "no gear motion when it should be extruding" or as in "gear moves but filament doesn't move" ?  Radically different situations.  
> **username_0**: @CarlWitthoft it rotates and then skips backwards. Loading filament is fine. Tried new nozzles, blockages checked, etc.  
> **username_1**: Could you update the question as requested by @CarlWitthoft? This makes the question more clear on which issue to focus.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-06-18. Score: 1

Every time I've had an extruder "skip", it was actually because some condition was causing excessive back-pressure. Either the hot end isn't hot enough, the nozzle is too close to the bed, or something has clogged the nozzle.

If there is a "skipping" noise, then this is almost certainly the problem. When a stepper can not advance, the magnetic field will continue to "step". After the rotor is behind the steps by 180 degrees of field phase (which might be only a fraction of a degree os stepper motor shaft rotation), the rotor will snap back to re-align with the magnetic field. The sudden movement of the rotor and the release of compression on the filament often makes a loud clicking or thumping noise. If you can see the gear, it will jump backward and then rotate slowly forward before jumping backward again.

To see if it is the drivers, try extruding with no filament, or if you can, try moving filament through the extruder. If it doesn't move at all, or doesn't move under light drag, it may be the driver, the wiring, or perhaps the motor.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This seems like a really good trouble shooting idea. I’ll give this a shot tomorrow. Thanks!  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-06-18. Score: 0

1. Check the pins on the motor. Are they bent? If yes - straighten them out with a screw driver.
2. This could be a stepper driver problem. If it is then bad luck. Zortrax hard solders their stepper drivers onto their control board (this sucks and is a pure monetization related move by them).

This results in you having to get a whole new set of connector cables and or new control boards every time something goes wrong.

Ask for a control board replacement with new connector cables, if your machine is still under warranty it should be free of charge.

Switch to different or cheaper machines like Wanhaos or Ultimakers if you want the same ease of use and cheap part replacement.


---

