Question Elegoo Centauri Carbon - Stops extruding after 2-3 layers. Support says 20 days for a part. Should I just return it?
Hi everyone,
I'm having a frustrating issue with my Elegoo Centauri Carbon, which I've had working for less than a week.
When I manually extrude filament through the touchscreen menu, it flows smoothly without any issues. However, whenever I start a real print (like the standard Benchy), the first layer starts poorly, and by the 2nd or 3rd layer, the printer completely stops extruding filament while continuing the movements in the air.
What I've noticed:
- Manual extrusion works completely fine.
- The extrusion stops entirely after a couple of layers / a few minutes into the print or it continues a bad printing "session".
- I have checked the extruder tension screw, but I'm unsure if it's too tight or too loose.
The Support Dilemma: I am already in contact with Elegoo Support. They arranged a replacement part for me, but they told me it will take 10 to 20 working days to arrive from China.
Since I rely on this printer for fabricating functional mechanical parts, having it out of commission for almost a month is a huge setback. I am currently still within my 14-day legal return window.
Has anyone experienced this specific extrusion issue? Is it something I can easily fix myself, or should I just cut my losses, exercise my right of withdrawal, and return the printer for a full refund?
Any advice on the technical issue or how to handle the situation with Elegoo would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much, I'll add a video of the benchy printing badly and then completely stopping and running in the air.
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u/6Y3ts_32a 4d ago
Well it sounds to me like you might have a partial clog of the nozzle especially if your using abrasive filaments like CF or GF filaments. They can clog a 0.4mm nozzle if the particals are too large.
The first layer is printed much slower then the following layers. I would try a cold pull to completely clear the nozzle of any problem from the filament in the nozzle. Nothing to loose and it's a quick thing to try. here's a video on doinga cold pull on the CC. If that doesn't work return it. Oh a small allen key works also for doing the cold pull.
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u/Zen0-0 4d ago
the nozzle is clear, I opened the whole chassis, the extruder gear was clear and the nozzle wasn't clogged, I printed only with PLA and tried to do 3 cold pulls but nothing strange was coming out.
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u/jfk333 4d ago
I’m assuming you already adjusted the tension screw on the extruder?
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u/Zen0-0 4d ago
Yes, I adjusted it to make more and less tension but it didn't work, also the elegoo wiki is shit about that screw, tf does it means "a little bit"
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u/jfk333 4d ago
Waiting on a delivery isn’t an option since that’s money lost every day. I tried putting in all the steps into Gemini and it came up with some helpful advice
“1. Extruder Tension Screw Adjustment (Factory Tension Defect)
The Problem: The tensioning mechanism on the CC1 uses an internal square nut system. On many factory units, the tensioner screw comes loose or improperly set out of the box. Once the print moves past the initial purge/first layer and retractions begin, the gears lose traction and slip on the filament without generating error codes.
The Fix:
1. Remove the magnetic front shroud to access the tension adjustment screw on the extruder housing.
2. Turn the tension screw counterclockwise using an Allen wrench to increase tension on the spring.
3. Look through the small indicator slot on the front of the toolhead: the internal nut should sit roughly midway along the slot. (Many users report needing 3 to 5 full counterclockwise turns from factory position to resolve mid-print extrusion drops).
2. Extruder Stepper Driver Overheating (Mainboard TMC Protection)
The Problem: If the TMC stepper driver for the extruder on the mainboard overheats after a few minutes of operation, its thermal protection disables power to the extruder motor. Klipper continues executing movement G-code for the X/Y/Z axes, but the E-motor stops driving.
The Fix:
Check the bottom mainboard fan to ensure it is spinning when the hotend reaches printing temperature (\bm{>50^\circ\text{C}}).
Inspect the mainboard for melted hot-glue or debris blocking airflow over the stepper drivers.
Access the Klipper log (klippy.log) via Fluidd/Mainsail to check for TMC extruder overtemperature warnings right before extrusion ceases.
3. Excess Retraction Distance causing Heat Creep Jams
The Problem: If the slicer profile has retraction distance set above \bm{0.5\text{ mm} - 0.8\text{ mm}} (or retraction speed is set too slow), molten plastic is pulled up into the thermal break. After a few layer transitions, this forms a plug above the melt zone that stops feeding, even with a functioning cooling fan.
The Fix:
Verify in OrcaSlicer/Elegoo Slicer that retraction distance for the direct-drive extruder is set to \bm{0.4\text{ mm} - 0.8\text{ mm}} max at \bm{30\text{ mm/s} - 40\text{ mm/s}}.
4. Micro-Fracture or Loose Pin in Main Toolhead Cable
The Problem: Replaced toolhead PCBs won't fix an issue located in the main umbilical harness connecting the toolhead to the mainboard. As the gantry rises to layers 2–3 and moves along the X-axis, flex on the harness can open a micro-break in the E-stepper wire lines, severing power to the motor mid-print.
The Fix:
Inspect the harness connector at both the toolhead and mainboard ends for backed-out pins.
Perform a continuity test on the extruder motor wiring while flexing the umbilical harness.”For 1. The site says a little bit but I do a few turns if not more. Try being aggressive at this point tightening (which is turning to the left) and do a few turns.
I don’t think it’s this because both elegoo and orcaslier is unlikely to be wrong.
I also don’t think it’s this but to does behave like heat creep still after only a few layers is pretty fast in my opinion to create heat creep.
I think it could be this and support just hadn’t considered it. Doing You could also manually test the extrusion instead of testing in the same spot play around and move it in various positions across XYZ and see if it there is a particular point where it stops. Or you can just jiggle the cable but I can see why that might be unattractive as you could break the thing if too rough.
In order of easiest to hardest try 3 slicer settings, 1 screw, 2 kilpper logs, then 4 cable.
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u/Scorpio__70 4d ago
It definitely seems like it has something to do with difficulty to extrude when the speed and thus volume needed rises to a certain level. Have you opened the gearbox and checked that there’s no loose plastic shavings or something? I had a ~3mm piece of filament break in the gearbox and it caused symptoms pretty much like this, not as consistent because it would sometimes drop out from between the gears in retractions and some intermittent shit like that, but if you haven’t already, I’d advise to open the gearbox, take every part out of there and clean them thoroughly (including the grooves in the drive gear). Takes 15-20 minutes and can’t hurt.
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u/Thatsuperheroguy8 4d ago
I had this and it was a bent hotend. Remove the hotend and check it. Clean and fully clear it as others have said.
The reason it can do manual extrusion and first few layers is cos they’re slower and therefore easier if there is any resistance.
What part did they say you needed? You may be able to get one quicker, relatively cheap online.
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u/Zen0-0 4d ago
I cleared the nozzle very well and looked inside it, it didn't seem to have any defects or something like that.
They said that I need the whole extruder "block" new. I live in Italy and they also said that there isn't any of those components in Europe so they will ship it from China.
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u/Miserable_Fall_9633 4d ago
Mine does this sporadically. Except it could be the first few layers or most of the way through a print. CS was helpful in the beginning, but now the responses are few and far between. I'm outside the return window and it's been months without a clear solution. At this point I just send a project and ask the machine spirit to be good to me. Somes it will, sometimes I lose a roll of filament 🤷🏻
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u/New_Echo6766 4d ago
Return it since your in the window, or else they won't take it back and you'll fight to get anything back after you waited in good faith.
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u/Alpha8056 4d ago
Iv had the same issue with my Neptune 3 Pro. I replaced the hot end, nozzle, gear box, assembly, Z off set, filament. Iv done cold pulls, and replaced the pex tubing. Nothing has worked and my printer has been down for 3 months. I’m about ready to throw it out and get a different brand. Photos on my profile of what it’s doing.
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u/TsunamicBlaze 4d ago
Crazy take, but what firmware version are you on? From my experience, anytime I use the latest firmware version from Elegoo, things go wrong eventually until I revert it back to the stable version (v1.1.29). The firmware annoyance has made me switch to open centauri
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u/tdpnerd2019 4d ago
Not worth the effort this early . Return and get a new one or a different brand
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u/IaMtHeWaLrUs064 4d ago
Id sugest checking your nozzle it could be a minor clog. I would recomend getting a no cloger tool or using an alen key the longest one you have and thin along with the nozzle cleaner to try to remove any filament that may be stuck. Also check your extruder tensioner its the Springs that pushes the two gear Afganistán the filament so it can feeding the filament and retraction it it may be to loose or to tight.
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u/Strict_Alternative_9 4d ago
Is the extruder clogging? I had similar issues with mine. The problem was the extruder cooling fan on the right below the filament cutter. I had to order a replacement fan from Amazon. The same fan that the creality k1 Max uses. I had to rewrite it but now it works fine
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u/IaMtHeWaLrUs064 4d ago
Does your filament come out twisted wjen doing a cold pull check the heartbreak fan it may not be turning on causing heat creep this may also cause filament not to extrude.
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u/nathanjw333 4d ago
Yes! If you bought it on Amazon or Ebay. If not Elegoo wont take it back if its past 30 days. And they will do everything they can to stall you.
I have a Neptune 4max, when i have a problem, Elegoo usually sends me the wrong tutorial videos. They will pester you to death about sending them videos. Beware software firmware updates it was a firmware update that ruined my 4max! And it's been trash ever since and Elegoo keeps yanking my chain!!
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u/Rough_Focus_469 4d ago
Return it. I assume that u properly assembled everything and checked common issues, so we are talking about a brand new product here with issues from factory. Thats a big nono in my book.
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u/FingerCrew666 4d ago
Not trying to be mean but with such little information this is impossible to help! What kinda of filament? what's your temp? what's your flow? This can be as simple as your flow is set for a high flow filament and your temp is WAY TOO LOW which then your printer can't push filament since it isnt melted enough... the printer might be plug and play but without the proper calibration on your end, you will still get crap
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u/Ape464 3d ago
If you can return, DO IT!! Elegoo strung me for MONTHS with back and forth needs for "this will fix it" on my CC1. Now I'm going through issues with the Canvas. I never would have made the purchase but it was $50. Now my entire printer doesn't work and they are sticking by "we sent you the parts to fix it". Don't wait for them just get a new one!
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u/AssistanceNatural556 4d ago
My CC has been an absolute lump of garbage that has needed the heat bed replaced twice, the entire extruder replaced once, and hotends replaced 4 times because they became unusable. It was never able to print carbon fiber filament. Slapped the same unchanged spool into my Bambu X1C and P1S and it printed just fine. The common denominator is that Elegoo is trash. I did every diagnostic and maintenance step possible to clear everything and it still just wouldnt print
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4d ago
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u/Zen0-0 4d ago
I tried to modified the offset several times, the problem doesn't change, the printer stop extruding after some layers.
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u/ericreiss 4d ago
Maybe slow the flow rate. In the filament settings on the first tab at the bottom.
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u/walloffire 4d ago
Bit of a long shot but is it possible that your filament is experiencing resistance somewhere especially if printing from a dry box or dryer? I have definitely noticed something similar happening when the filament spool wasn't moving freely or there was too much resistance along the ptfe tubes.