Ultimaker2

Overview

Documentation and other notes for the Ultimaker 2 3D Printer.


Notes from Allen:

The owners manual from Ultimaker really is one of the best around.  We doubt we could do better.  If this is your first time using an Ultimaker 2 (UM2), use the getting started guide to answer anything you need to know about your first print.  After a lot of use, the machines need more and more TLC to stay repeatable, so we ask that if your print fails because of a jam, try using the Extrusion Troubleshooting guide.  

A couple general rules when using the UM2:

  1. Speed matters.  There's a lot of scuttlebutt about Bowden extruders (where filament is fed from back of the machine) being capable of printing faster than normal printers.  While this is partially true, it really depends on several factors with your other settings (layer height, retraction length/speed, etc).  Increasing only the speed will very likely either cause too little plastic to be deposited (under-extrusion) or even jam by stripping the filament at the rear drive.  Slow down!  Slower prints have a better chance of success.  I tend to print around 40 - 60 mms.
  2. Flexible filaments are near impossible to use on a bowden drive printer like the UM2.  Very flexible filaments tend to coil easily, so if you really must try and see if it will work, try going very slow.  Tyler spent months on investigating any which way to make it work, and emphatically said just don't do it.  The Robo's are capable, so try those instead.
  3. The heated bed seems to top out around 80C.  Although the menu options and Cura allow you to set higher temps, the heated bed has a stable upper limit of about 80C.  Anything higher will dip through the print (causing warping), or will stall the machine to reach a temperature it can't.  Some parts of the internet say ABS need 100C, but we have found that 70C is a capable temp for this printer.  PLA works well around 55C, or with tape.  Just be sure to clean up after yourself if you're using adhesives (and make sure they're water soluble, like glue sticks).
  4. SD Cards used in the UM2 need to be 2GB.  Its a formatting thing. If you are having weird print failures you can't quite diagnose, check the SD card.  If you are using a fresh SD card, format is for FAT-32, and use the full option, not the quick format.
  5. The UM2 love PLA, so use it when possible.
  6. If all else fails, blame the filament.  Seriously.  Get your filaments from quality sellers like Polymaker, or ColorFabb.  Make sure you use 3MM, not the other more common 1.75mm size.  We have spools of both sizes you can use to compare.

Documentation

Cleaning

"Printer love, and care" to be performed by any and all Staff or GIRs

This is the as needed / monthly cleaning that should be done to the printer.

  1. Verifications
    1. Verify All fans operate
    2. Verify that plastic extrudes consistently
    3. Verify Heated Bed is working
    4. Verify Extruder travels on X and Y axis rails smoothly
  2. Maintenance
    1. Cleaning any loose plastic around the bed
    2. Clean the glass build plate of any residue from tape or glue with warm water and rag
    3. Remove any stuck or melted plastic on the extruder / nozzle
    4. Add small amount of grease to the X and Y rails

 



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