[3D Printer] Ultimaker 2 - Maintenance!

You bought an Ultimaker 2, such a high-quality 3D printer, so you should use it as much as possible, otherwise, what's the point! Use various 3D printing materials, test different parameters, and try to maximize the machine's performance. For long-term use of your 3D printer, maintenance and care are extremely important! Today, we're going to introduce maintenance methods to help you get the most out of your Ultimaker 2.

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Cleaning the glass plate

After many prints, a lot of adhesive residue may accumulate on the glass plate, causing the surface to become uneven and affecting print quality. Therefore, regular cleaning of the glass plate is recommended. Before cleaning, turn off the machine and ensure the glass plate has cooled down.

Removing the glass plate
1. Manually lower the print bed to the very bottom of the machine. This step is to avoid damaging the print head and the Z-axis lead screw of the support platform.
2. Use an Allen wrench to open the two small clamps at the front of the print bed.
3. Slide the glass plate out from the two small clamps at the back of the print bed and then remove it.

 

Cleaning and replacing
When cleaning, it is recommended to rinse with warm water and brush off any adhesive residue. If necessary, you can also use soapy water. Dry the glass plate before putting it back.
The steps for replacing the glass plate are the reverse of removing it:
1. Slide the glass plate into the two small clamps at the back of the platform and secure it.
2. Close the small clamps at the front of the platform and secure them.


 

TIPS! To ensure future print quality and success rate, it is recommended to perform a print bed leveling calibration after replacing the glass plate.

Feeder motor

Proper use and maintenance of the feeder motor are crucial for the machine's extrusion.

Pressure
The correct pressure of the feeder motor is very important for the filament to be smoothly extruded into the Bowden tube and nozzle. If the pressure is too high, the feeder gear in the motor will dig into the filament, causing it to deform or create holes, or even worse, completely jam.
To avoid the above situations, try to loosen the feeder motor's pressure as much as possible. The adjustment method is as follows:
1. First, you can see a white pressure indicator on the right side of the feeder motor.
2. If the pressure indicator is at the very top, it means the feeder motor pressure is at its loosest state.
3. If the white indicator is not at the very top, insert an Allen wrench into the small hole on the upper side of the motor and turn it clockwise to release the pressure, returning the white indicator to the very top.

 

Cleaning
After multiple prints, some plastic debris will accumulate on the feeder gear. You can use an air blower or a brush to clean it. Of course, after solving the problem caused by excessive pressure mentioned above, you should clean it again.

 

Lubrication

To ensure your 3D printer runs smoothly, remember to lubricate it after a period of use.

X/Y axis lubrication
When you notice that the layer thickness of the same layer of your 3D printed object is inconsistent, or the X/Y axes are dry, it means the machine needs lubrication. It is recommended to apply 1-2 drops of sewing machine oil (not included in the Ultimaker 2 package) to the X/Y axes for lubrication.
Note! Do not use WD40 for lubrication, as it will dissolve the plating on the X/Y axes.

 

Z-axis lead screw
The Ultimaker 2 package includes a packet of green Magnalube lubricant. It is recommended to lubricate the Z-axis lead screw approximately once every six months. The method is as follows:
1. Apply 10 drops of Magnalube lubricant along the entire lead screw.
2. Move the print bed up and down to spread the lubricant along the entire lead screw.
Note! Do not use Magnalube lubricant on any axes other than the Z-axis lead screw.

 

Nozzle cleaning method



After using your Ultimaker 2 3D printer for some time, you may notice signs of slight extrusion problems: such as objects becoming very thin or certain layers not being completely printed. This means your Ultimaker 2 is no longer able to extrude enough plastic. In most cases, this is caused by the nozzle being clogged with dirt or carbonized plastic. When you encounter these extrusion issues, it is recommended to use the following method to clean the nozzle and other heating components. The following describes this simple but very effective process.
Tips! When switching from filament that requires a higher temperature to filament that requires a lower temperature, it is also recommended to perform the following steps.

Removing the filament
1. Go to MATERIAL > CHANGE to remove the filament. When the machine asks you to insert new filament, select CANCEL.
2. Manually move the extruder to the front of the Ultimaker 2 to help you proceed with the next step.

 

Disassembling the Bowden tube
1. Remove the (blue or red) Bowden tube retaining clip.
2. Press down on the white Bowden tube connector and pull out the Bowden tube.

 

Heating and preparation
1. Cut about 20 cm of filament and try to straighten it as much as possible.
2. Using the Ultimaker 2, select MAINTENANCE > ADVANCED > Heatup nozzle and set it to 260 degrees Celsius.
3. Once the temperature is reached, insert the straightened filament and manually push it down into the nozzle.
4. Push the filament slightly until filament is extruded from the nozzle or until the filament can no longer advance.

 

Pulling out the filament
1. Lower the temperature to 80-90 degrees Celsius (for PLA) or 110 degrees Celsius (for ABS).
2. After the print head has cooled to the target temperature, wait 2-3 minutes, then quickly and steadily pull out the filament.
3. Check the color and shape of the filament's end to see if it is clean and has a conical tip like the nozzle.
4. Repeat the two steps of Heating and preparation and Pulling out the filament until the pulled-out filament has no residue and has a conical shape.
Tips! The key is to pull out the filament quickly. If you pull too slowly, the filament's ductility will prevent it from picking up debris.



 

Reassembly
1. Insert the Bowden tube back into the connector, ensuring it is fully seated.
2. Reinstall the Bowden tube retaining clip to secure the Bowden tube.

 

If the above methods still cannot solve the nozzle clogging problem,
you can use a 0.35mm needle to clean the nozzle.
After heating, insert the needle from bottom to top,
and repeat until plastic is smoothly extruded.


Article source:https://ultimaker.com/en/support/152-cleaning-the-glass-plate
Translated by:3DMART Ltd.