Comprehensive Guide to Troubleshooting the Creality K1 3D Printer

This article provides a comprehensive guide for troubleshooting various common issues with the Creality K1 printer, including problems with OTA online upgrades, hotend clogging after ABS printing, filament feeding issues, and leveling issues.

Creality K1 Printer Troubleshooting Guide OTA Online Upgrade Issue 1. Phenomenon Description

When attempting to upgrade firmware online, the system prompts "You are currently on the latest version."

2. Cause Analysis

1. The machine is not connected to the network.

2. Creality Cloud has not released the latest firmware version.

3. Troubleshooting and Solution

1. In the Network Settings interface, confirm that the machine has successfully connected to the Wifi. Once connected, the IP address will be displayed under the name of the connected Wifi. (Note: K1 series machines can only connect to 2.4G frequency Wifi.)

2. Check whether the latest firmware is released on the official website . (Note: If Creality Cloud has not released the latest firmware for the machine, the machine OTA server will not be able to detect the latest firmware for update.)

Hotend Clogging after Printing ABS 1. Failure Phenomenon

After printing ABS, replace other filament and cannot feed.

2. Cause of failure

1. The filament are blocked in front shell of the extrusion kit.

2. The filament are blocked at the Teflon pipe under the extrusion kit.

3. The filament are blocked at the nozzle throat.

3. Troubleshooting and Solution

1. Remove the motor cover and remove the three screws securing the extrusion kit.

2. Remove the extrusion motor kit (be careful not to tear the motor wire) and remove the two screws that hold the extrusion kit.

3. Remove the extrusion kit, remove the front shell of the extrusion kit, check if there are any filament blocked, clean it with pliers, and put it back in the order of disassembly. If there are no filaments, continue to investigate.

4. Remove the blue Teflon tube, check if there are any filament in the blue Teflon tube. If there is a hot air gun tool, blow hot air to the Teflon tube to clean the filaments. After cleaning, install them in the order of disassembly. If there are no filaments, continue to investigate.

5. If the Teflon tube cannot be removed, there will be filament in the gap between the Teflon tube and the heat sink. Refer to the video of replacing the Hotend Kit, remove the Hotend Kit (the terminal can be removed), loosen the bolt that fixes the heat sink, vertically remove the heat sink, clean the filaments, and install all accessories in the order of disassembly.

K1 Filament Feeding Issue/Clogging issue 1. Phenomenon Description

1. Gear idling, no filament flowing from the nozzle.

2. Gears make a clanging noise while turning, and no filament flows from the nozzle.

2. Cause Analysis

1. Filament entanglement in the spool position.

2. Filament blockage at the front shell of the extruder kit.

3. Blocking at the Teflon tube of hotend.

4. The filament is clogged in the throat tube of hotend.

3. Troubleshooting and Solution

3.1 filament Entanglement Check and Handling

Check the backside of the machine for filament spool entanglement at the filament spool or PTFE tube inlet. If there's entanglement, carefully untangle the filament before attempting to print again.

If no filament entanglement is found, proceed to the next step.

3.2 Blockage/Tangling Troubleshooting

STEP 1: enter the control interface, click "OFF" to release the motor.

STEP 2: Remove the blue locking clip and gently pull out the PTFE tube from the top of the extruder, exposing the material. Set the nozzle temperature to the recommended printing temperature and wait for termperature to stabilize.

STEP 3:Set the nozzle temperature to the recommended printing temperature and wait for termpaerature to stabilize.

STEP 4:Use some force to quickly pull out the filament by hand.

3.2.1 If the filament Can Be Pulled Out

Check the end of the filaments for any umbrella-shaped protrusion. If there is a protrusion, replace the PTFE tube.

3.2.1.1 If the filamentCan Be Inserted into the Hotend

① If filament insertion is successful, and the extrusion is working properly, turn the extruder handle to the closed position and select "Auto Feed." Check the filament extrusion and monitor the rotation status of the extruder gears. If automatic extrusion works without issues, the problem is resolved.

② If the extruder gears do not rotate during automatic extrusion, the problem might be related to the extruder motor (or a connection board issue). Inspect the extruder motor's wire connections to ensure they are secure. If necessary, consider replacing the extruder motor to further troubleshoot the problem.

③ If the extruder gears are functioning correctly, but you notice a slight clicking sound in the gear area and uneven filament extrusion at the nozzle, you should analyze two potential sources of the issue:

a. If the extruder gears are operating normally without any unusual noises, but the nozzle still experiences uneven extrusion, replace a new nozzle,proceed with K1 Max nozzle changing.

b. If the extruder gears are not functioning properly, follow the troubleshooting steps for the extruder assembly to solve the issue.

STEP1: Remove the extruder motor protective cover. Using the tools provided in the kit, carefully disassemble the 3 cylindrical head screws that secure the extruder assembly on both sides of the extrusion machine. Support the extrusion assembly from below and gently lift it upwards (be cautious not to lift it abruptly to avoid damaging the extrusion machine wiring).

STEP2: Using the included float spanner from the tool kit, disassemble the two diagonal cylindrical head screws that secure the extrusion kit assembly's front cover. Open the extrusion kit front cover and inspect whether there are any residual filament debris on the extruder motor gear. Check if the gear is damaged or deformed. If it's damaged or deformed, proceed to replace the K1 Max extrusion kit assembly.

STEP3: If there is a substantial amount of filament debris on the extrusion gear, use a soft brush to clean the debris from the gear. After cleaning, replace the extrusion kit's front cover and reassemble the extrusion assembly screws on the X-axis slide block mounting position. Tighten the three fixing screws on both the left and right sides.

STEP4: Repeat the automatic feeding operation. Observe the extrusion of the filamentat the nozzle. If the extrusion is normal and the extrusion gear operates smoothly without any unusual noises, the no-filament issue has been resolved.

Learn More About:

K1 Max Filament Guide : How to Load & Unload & Change Filament

3.2.1.2 If the filament cannot be inserted into the hot end

Quickly remove the filament, and use the included probe from the tool kit to push any remaining filament debris in the extrusion channel towards the hotend:

a. If the remaining filament debris in the extrusion channel is pushed completely out through the nozzle and out of the extruder, retract the probe quickly. This prevents the molten filament adhering to the inner wall of the throat tube and extrusion gear. Repeat this process to resolve the no-filament issue.

b. If the remaining filament debris in the extrusion channel can not be pushed through with the probe, the issue may be a hotend clog. Proceed with the clog resolution process.

c. If you cannot retract the filament, it might be a front cover clog. Refer to the front cover clog/filament jam process.

3.3 Front cover Clog/filament Jam Resolution Process (Revised based on existing tutorials)

3.3.1 How to determine if it's a filament jam :

Heat the nozzle to the extrusion temperature. Unlock the extrusion kit. Try to manually retract the filament by hand or pull it out from the extrusion gear area (pull it from the nearest extrusion end).

3.3.2 How to prevent filament jams :

1. Re-level the build platform.

2. Do not turn off the enclosure fan.

3. Use official slicer settings, avoid setting the bed temperature too high (do not exceed 50°C for PLA, 70°C for PETG), and ensure the nozzle temperature is not too low.

3.3.3 filament Jam Resolution :

STEP1: Heat up the nozzle to the filament extrusion temperature,PLA 200 ℃,ABS 240℃.

STEP2: Unlock the extruder kit, remove the PTFE tube, and cut the filament.

STEP3: Disassemble the three screws from the extrusion kit.

STEP4: Remove the extrusion assembly (avoid pulling on the stepper motor wires).

STEP5: Remove the two screws securing the extrusion kit front cover.

Important: Set the nozzle temperature to 0°C after removal.

STEP6: Separate the motor and the extrusion gear part, place the motor on the X-axis bracket temporarily.

STEP7: Separate the extrusion gear assembly from the front cover (in case the filamentis jammed in the extrusion and cannot be removed). You can use tools like a spatula or pliers.

STEP8: Handle the jammed filament inside the front cover. If the filamentis jammed inside the PTFE tube, you can use a probe or an L-shaped wrench to push the filamentout.

STEP9: Reassemble following the disassembly steps.

3.3.4 Clog Resolution :

STEP1: Heat up the nozzle to the filament extrusion temperature.

STEP2: Unlock the extruder, remove the PTFE tube, and cut the filament.

STEP3: Disassemble the three screws from the extrusion kit.

STEP4: Remove the extrusion kit, and if there's a clog that prevents filament removal, and the filament is stuck, you cannot pull it out.

STEP5: Disassemble the AI laser Lidar and the front cover of the extrusion kit.

5.1 Disconnect the transmission cable on the left side of the nozzle board and remove the two screws above the AI laser lidar and the screws on both sides of the nozzle cover by using a hex wrench. 5.2 Remove the hotend cover and disconnect the model fan cable.

STEP6: Disassemble the hotend.

6.1 Turn off the printer's power or set the nozzle temperature to 0°C before proceeding. 6.2 Cool the hot end temperature to room temperature, remove the insulating sleeve that covers the hot end, and use a hex wrench to remove the top screw that secures the throat tube and the two cylindrical head screws that secure the hotend from the center of the heat sink. 6.3 Remove the connector for the heating element and the thermistor on the back of the nozzle board, and remove the hot end.

STEP7: Handle the clogged filament.

STEP8: Reassemble.

K1 Leveling Issue Resolution 1. Phenomenon description

The first printed layer shows partial scraping of the platform or partial height exceeding in some areas, leading to inconsistent appearances across different parts of the first layer model.

2. Cause analysis

1. Unleveled after firmware upgrade.

2. Environmental interference during leveling.

3. Unusual pulling of heated bed wiring during leveling.

4. Residual filament in the nozzle during leveling.

5. Z-axis component issues, such as lead screw backlash/screw loosening, etc.

3. Troubleshooting and solution

Before proceeding with the following steps, first clear the build plate and clean the nozzle.

1. Redo leveling

① Turn on printer,click 'Settings".click system "Self-check"

② Check Auto Leveling, click Start Detecting.

Tips: During the leveling process, environmental disturbances should be avoided. The 3D printer should be placed in a stable environment, and external vibration interference should be avoided during the leveling process.

2. Check Leveling Data

① The machine is connected to the network, enter the machine's IP address into the browser to access the web control interface, and check whether the leveling data is normal.

If the data trend is normal, but the absolute sum of the leveling differences is greater than 5mm, it is necessary to retighten the Z-axis. If the data trend is abnormal,maybe the strain gauge is damaged, the strain gauge needs to be replaced.

The gap between the highest and the lowest is within the normal range if it is less than 3mm.

② Dismantle the machine base, inspect if the Z-axis assembly is functioning properly.

K1 Camera not detected 1. Phenomenon description

Phenomenon ①: Click on System Settings - AI Function - Open AI Detection, the screen displays "No camera detected".

Phenomenon ②: Upon checking through the PC Local Area Network from Crelaity Print, the camera feed displays "IP has denied our connection request".

2. Cause analysis

Camera wire is defective The wire terminal interface is loose 3. Troubleshooting and solution

Reinstalling Plug-in Camera Wires.

K1 Unable to Read USB Drive 1. Phenomenon description

No prompt or display of Gcode files when plugging/unplugging USB drive.

2. Cause analysis

1. USB drive damage.

2. USB drive adapter board malfunction.

3. Faulty USB drive adapter cable.

4. Mainboard malfunction.

3. Troubleshooting and Solution

1. Replace the USB drive and attempt to print again.

2. Change the USB drive adapter.

3. Replace the USB drive adapter cable.

4. Consider replacing the mainboard.

K1 Memory Full Brick Issue 1. Phenomenon description

Printer screen becomes unresponsive after uploading Gcode files, leading to the inability to operate.

2. Cause analysis

Refer to the K1 Unbricking/Flashing process. For international users, visit: GitHub Release.

3. Troubleshooting and Solution

1. Monitor remaining memory, leaving at least 1GB free.

2. Deleting Files from the Machine Screen.

2.1 Deleting Print Files (gcode)

1. Click on "Files." 2. Long-press the print file you want to delete. 3. Check the files you wish to delete and click on "Delete." 2.2 Factory Reset

1. Click on "Settings." 2. Select "Factory Reset." 3. Check all options. 4. Click on "Restore." 3. Deleting Files from the Local Network

Step 1: After binding the machine in CrealityPrint slicing software,

Navigate to the device page.

Step 2: Find the file you want to delete.

Left-click to select the file.

Operate to delete print files, history records, or time-lapse videos.

K1 Z-axis Noise Resolution Process 1. Phenomenon description

Unusual noise during Z-axis lift while printing.

2. Cause analysis

1. Deformation of the lead screw.

2. Interference on the print lead screw causing noise during ascent.

3. Severe platform tilting.

4. Loose or improperly installed lead screw limit sleeve.

5. Loose screws securing the Z-axis motor.

3. Troubleshooting and Solution

1. Inspect the three Z-axis lead screws for any signs of bending or deformation.

2. Clean any foreign objects on the lead screw and apply lubricating oil.

3. Check the levelness of the heated bed to identify any tilting issues.

4. Manually move the lead screw up and down to check for any looseness.

5. Disassemble the machine's bottom plate and reassemble, ensuring tight fastening of screws securing the Z-axis motor.

For specific videos and additional support, refer to provided links. If issues persist, contact after-sales service at cs@creality.com .

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