MakerBot/clean gear mechanism

Target Audience

Someone who suspects that the print head is not clean, is extruding randomly globs and then nothing.

Starting Point

Makerbot has had the PLA removed and has cooled down.

Replication Goal

Take print head apart, possibly clean, and put back together so it works.

Procedure remove printhead

• 
  Makerbot Replicator 2 heat sink removed, showing two black tubes to guide screws back through the grill, fan, heatsink, mounting block and into the stepper motor.
• 
  Makerbot Replicator 2 showing teeth that grab the PLA are not dirty after the first 80 hours of printing.

The steps in this video] were not followed exactly. The grill, fan and heatsink should be kept together with the screws remaining in the assembly. Watch the video all the way through first. The stepper motor gear cleaning happens in the second half of the video.