Testing and Printing - Printing in Plastic: Build Your Own 3D Printer - page 379

Now you'll test the flow of the PLA. Continue to tap the Forward button to begin pushing the PLA
into the barrel. Check the consistency of the PLA as it streams out of the nozzle. If the PLA seems a bit
drippy, decrease the target temperature. If the PLA is too stiff, or the stepper motor is having a difficult
time pushing the PLA (you will definitely know when this happens as the motor will make a skipping
sound), increase the target temperature.
Filament should begin to flow out of the nozzle end as demonstrated in Figure 20-7.
Figure 20-7. The filament will melt and extrude from the nozzle.
Checking the Axes for Proper Movement
Now that you have the Extruder working properly, you should confirm that the X, Y, and Z axes all move
properly. You'll do this via the Jog controls on the left side of the Control Panel, as shown in Figure 20-8.