Nextruder Clicking & Feeding Issues

The Nextruder is the MK4's redesigned toolhead: a direct-drive extruder with a metal gear, integrated into the same unit as the hotend and loadcell. The underlying feeding problems are the same family as on the MK3S+, though the exact hardware differs.

Clicking or skipping sound

1. Check idler tension — same principle as the MK3S+: too loose lets the gear slip, too tight can crush soft filaments.
2. Suspect a partial clog first if the sound started mid-roll rather than immediately — the Nextruder's direct-drive design means clogs and feeding resistance show up as clicking quickly.
3. Confirm temperature is correct for the loaded material — see the Filament & Material Guide.

Filament grinding

A flat, shiny spot ground into the filament near the gear confirms grinding rather than a sensor issue — the fix is almost always a partial clog or wrong temperature, not the extruder gear itself.

Replaceable hotend design

One practical difference from the MK3S+: the Nextruder's hotend is designed to be quickly swappable as a unit, which makes clearing a severe clog or replacing a worn nozzle assembly more of a part-swap than a rebuild. Keep a spare on hand if you print frequently.

Tip: Run a filament unload/load cycle from the menu whenever you're unsure if feeding is smooth — the Nextruder's direct-drive path makes it easy to feel resistance by hand during a manual load, more so than on a Bowden-style setup.