3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
www.createeducation.com
 Overview

Like all machines, your 3D printer will develop problems from time to time, perhaps producing poor print
results or not working at all. When you are new to 3D printing, one of the main concerns is what to do
if something goes wrong, how do you identify the problem and fix it so that your printer can be up and
running again as quickly as possible?

The good news it that many problems, although

alarming at first, can be fixed relatively easily with
minimal expertise and there is a plethora of very good
online technical support available to help you. The
difficulty lies in knowing what to look for and where
to look as scouring online help sources can be time-
consuming and confusing.

This guide has been developed by The CREATE

Education Project to provide an overview of some of
the common 3D printing issues you may experience
with the Ultimaker range of printers. For each issue
it will provide an explanation of why you might be
experiencing the problem, the steps you can take to
fix it and include links to recommended online videos
and help sources to get further support.

To keep it simple and avoid confusion this guide only covers some of the most common 3D printing issues
that most people will experience from time to time.

The 6 Common problems covered in this guide are:

1. Blocked nozzle or under extrusion

2. Print not sticking to the bed
3. Warping
4. Caked nozzle
5. Leaning prints or shifted layers
6. X,Y,Z switch broken error message

If you are experiencing a different issue not addressed in this guide, we recommend as a next
step that you take a look the following:

Ultimaker Troubleshooting resources: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/troubleshooting

The very comprehensive “A Visual Ultimaker Troubleshooting Guide” by 3DVerkstan:

http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Printer Setup

It is important that the printer is set-up correctly in order to have successful prints. This includes ensuring
the machine is calibrated by levelling the bed, correctly inserting and replacing filament and updating the
firmware.

You can access video tutorials that guide you through these process at:
www.createeducation.com/help-support/videos-tutorials/

Ultimaker also provide an online manual for each of their 3D printer models.
The manuals include complete step-by-step guides with videos for each set-up
process and can be accessed at:
https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/manuals/ultimaker-3d-printers

Simply select your printer model and go to the appropriate section of the manual
by selecting the links on the right of the screen.

Top Tips
Inserting filament

1. Cut off and discard the first 5cm from the roll
2. Cut the end of the filament at an angle of approx 45°
3. Straighten the first 20cm of the filament before guiding
it into the feeder

Glass Plate

1. Ensure glass plate is clean

2. Apply glue only when required
3. Ensure the safety sticker is facing up
(there are different sides to the glass plate)
4. Always remove the glass plate when transporting
your Ultimaker.

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Checking & Aborting Prints

Often if there is going to be a problem with the print,

you will notice an issue in the first layer. For example the
material may not be sticking to the bed, it may be under
extruding or not extruding at all, you may hear the feeder
clicking etc.

It is advisable therefore to watch (or periodically check)

the first layer of your design being printed wherever
possible. Then if there is a problem with your print that
becomes apparent in the first layer, you can detect it
immediately and abort the print. This limits both the time
and material wasted on a poor print.

You can see what a successful first layer should look like with this visual reference from Ultimaker:
https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/21330-what-does-a-successful-first-layer-look-like

Aborting a Print

A print can be aborted at any time. If the printer is still warming

up and the print has not started, simply turn the controller to
highlight ABORT and click to abort the print.

When the print has been started, you need to abort through the
TUNE menu. To do this simply turn the controller on the front of
the printer until TUNE is highlighted and click to enter the TUNE
menu.

Then turn the controller to highlight Abort and click.

Finally, turn the controller to highlight YES and click to abort the
print.

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Basic Maintenance

In order to prevent printing problems, make sure that you follow these basic maintenance tips for keeping
your printer in top condition.

Atomic Method

The Atomic Method can be used to unclog the nozzle of your Ultimaker. It will clear the blockage by
pulling dirt or carbonised material out of the nozzle from the top side. To apply the Atomic Method you
don’t need need to disassemble the print head or hot end, which makes it very easy to use this method.

Tip: Besides using this method to unclog the nozzle, you can use the Atomic Method when switching to a
material that requires a lower printing temperature. This way all residue from the previous material will be
removed, helping to prevent blockages.

Step-By-Step Guide: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/19510-how-to-apply-atomic-method

Video Guide: http://www.createeducation.com/help-support/videos-tutorials/

Lubricating the Axis

X/Y AXES X/Y AXES

When you notice small ridges on the surfaces Once every half year the Z trapezoidal
of your 3D printed objects or feel that the X and leadscrew has to be lubricated with Magnalube.
Y axes are dry it is advised to put a single drop This is the green grease that was delivered with
of sewing machine oil onto the X and Y axes. your Ultimaker. Make sure to spread 10 drops of
This will help to keep your Ultimaker running grease over the entire threaded rod. With your
smoothly. Sewing machine oil is not included next print the Ultimaker will lubricate the axis
in the Ultimaker 2+ package, but we highly itself by moving up and down.
recommend to only use this for lubricating the
X and Y axes.

Important: Do not use WD40 as this will affect Note: Magnalube should be applied to the Z
the coating that is on the axes. We advise trapezoidal leadscrew only; make sure to not
to only use a drop of sewing machine oil for put it on any of the other axes.
oiling the axes.

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Cleaning the Feeder

Using the feeder in the right way and keeping
it clean is important for a good extrusion.
The feeder can be cleaned by blowing air on
the knurled wheel or using a simple brush.

Learn more about maintaining the feeder here:

https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/173-the-feeder

Cleaning the Glass Plate

After a lot of printing, if using glue there might be too much excess glue stuck to the glass plate. This can
cause an uneven print surface and it is therefore recommended to clean the glass plate once in awhile.
When doing this, always make sure that the Ultimaker 2+ is turned off and build plate has cooled down.
To clean the glass plate, take the following steps.

Removing the glass plate Removing the glass plate

1. Move the build plate manually to the bottom of 1. Move the build plate manually to the bottom of
the Ultimaker. the Ultimaker.
2. Open the build plate clamps at the front side. 2. Open the build plate clamps at the front side.
3. Remove the glass plate from the build plate by 3. Remove the glass plate from the build plate by
sliding it to the front and taking it out. sliding it to the front and taking it out.

Top Tips
In order to be sure about a successful next print it is recommended to re-level the build
plate after having repositioned the glass plate.

Try using hairspray instead of glue for build plate adhesion. If using hairspray always
remove the glass plate before spraying to prevent future issues.

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Common 3D Printing Problems

1. Blocked nozzle or under extrusion

After a long time of using your Ultimaker you might notice some signs of “under extrusion”. This means
that your Ultimaker can’t extrude enough plastic and is usually shown by very thin or missing layers in
a print. There are several issues that can cause under extrusion however in most cases, it is caused by
some dirt or carbonized material in the nozzle or another hot end part through which a (partial) blockage
is created. When under extrusion appears it is recommended to use the Atomic Method in order to clean
the nozzle and other hot end parts.

Step-By-Step Guide: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/19510-how-to-apply-atomic-method

Video Guide: http://www.createeducation.com/help-support/videos-tutorials/

Another issue that could cause under extrusion is that the filament is not being fed through the feeder
freely. This could be because the filament is tangled on the reel, or it is a little too tightly coiled towards
the end of a reel. Check the reel and if required untangle, unwind or try to straighten any tightly coiled
filament.

For more tips on identifying and solving under extrusion problems, take a look at the ultimaker under
extrusion guide: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/21477-how-to-fix-under-extrusion

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Common 3D Printing Problems

2. Print not sticking to the bed

While using your Ultimaker it is necessary to periodically calibrate the build plate for good adhesion of the
print to the build plate. If the distance between the nozzle and build plate is too big, the print will not stick
properly to the glass plate.

To resolve this issue re level the build plate:

Step-by-step Guide: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/18769-build-plate-leveling

Video Guide: http://www.createeducation.com/help-support/videos-tutorials/

It is also very important that your print bed is clean (glue is an exception of course) and free from oils from
your fingers. If you’ve touched your print bed a lot the oils from your fingers can prevent or make it harder
for the plastic to stick properly, so try cleaning the glass plate.

To promote stickiness your machine was delivered with a stick of glue. Using glue is optional but tends to
help quite a bit. Don’t go crazy with the glue though, more is not better. Clean your glass plate and then
spread a bit of the glue onto it. With a damp piece of paper or cloth spread the glue out over the bed and
let it dry (starting a print that uses the heated bed will make it dry quickly). After the water evaporates you
will be left with a very thin layer of glue.

If you’re printing on a cold bed with blue painters tape, like on the Ultimaker Original, it is very helpful
to wipe the tape down with some alcohol. The tape is covered with a waxy substance that can make it
harder for the parts to stick. This isn’t always needed but it’s something to keep in mind.

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Common 3D Printing Problems

3. Warping

Warping occurs due to material shrinkage whilst 3D printing, which causes the corners of the print to lift
and detach from the build plate. When plastics are printed, they firstly expand slightly but contract as they
cool down. If material contracts too much, this causes the print to bend up from the build plate.

When your print is warping, make sure you have done the following:

• Level the build plate correctly

• Apply a thin layer of glue to the glass plate
• Use the correct temperature settings
• Use one of the default Cura profiles
• Try adding a Brim in Cura

To troubleshoot this issue in more detail, take a look Here:

https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/19537-how-to-fix-warping

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Common 3D Printing Problems

4. Caked Nozzle

The cause of a caked nozzle is usually that the print comes loose from the platform or that it never stuck
in the first place. If the print detaches from the platform it can stick to the nozzle and prevent plastic from
flowing correctly. This causes it to curl up and flow upwards along the side of the nozzle and block.

Preventing this is a matter of correct bed levelling and making sure that the part has good adhesion to the
platform during the print. This can include using brim, cleaning the bed and/or adding glue and making
sure that the platform has the correct temperature for the material you’re using.

Resolution:
Removing the block of plastic isn’t difficult but can might break them. It’s primarily the smaller of the
require some patience and time. Let’s say that two (the sensor) that can be a bit sensitive.
the plastic in question is PLA, start by heating up
the print head to ~100C and let the heat transfer If the plastic doesn’t become soft enough to
into the plastic for a couple of minutes to soften remove by just heating up the block you can
it. If you’re lucky you will now be able to remove add additional heat by using a heat gun on a low
the block of plastic in one go. At the very least setting. Just be careful that you don’t melt the fans.
you should be able to get rid of the worst of it.
If the plastic won’t budge, start increasing the After you have removed most of the plastic you
temperature in increments until it starts to give in. can heat the block up to printing temperature and
simply wipe off most of the remaining plastic. It’s
If the plastic has spread around the two wires not critical to remove every last trace of plastic but
coming out of the heater block you should be you don’t want to have big blobs still stuck that can
careful not to pull on the wires too hard as you melt and then drip down on your following prints.

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Common 3D Printing Problems

5. Leaning Prints or shifted layers

Prints start to lean or shift layers when a pulley becomes loose. The pulleys are connected to the axel’s
by a small grub screw, as these move constantly when printing they occasionally work loose over time.

Resolution:
To resolve this issue take a 2mm hex screwdriver
and tighten all 12 grub screws that hold the pulleys
in place very tightly, probably a bit tighter than you
expect. The small allen key that came with your
printer will flex as you tighten the screws.

Top Tips
It’s a good idea to check how smooth the head runs manually on the gantry at this point. If
there is any stiffness apply the unilube or some low viscosity oil and check the squareness of
the axes.

For more detailed guidance for addressing shifted layers visit:

http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide#shifted

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
 Common 3D Printing Problems

6. X, Y, Z switch broken error message

X or Y switch broken
This error occurs when either the X or Y limit
switch is not activated while the print head is
homing. There are a few possible reasons for
this, therefore it is advised to check the points
described below:

• Check if the levers of both limit switches

are physically pressed by moving the print
head manually to the left back corner. If
one of them is not activated, you could
slightly bend the lever to ensure it is being
pressed.
• If the print head is not reaching the left
back corner at all it probably means that
there is a loose pulley. In this case, make
sure that all pulleys (on the axes and X
and Y motor) are tight.

Z-Switch broken or Z-switch stuck

If you get one of these errors it means that there is a problem with the Z limit switch. It either tells you
that the Z limit switch can’t be pressed or that something is preventing the lever of the switch from
switching back. Both errors require the same checks and solution:

• Check if nothing is blocking or pressing the Z limit switch for example filament under the switch.
There might be something lying underneath the platform (preventing the platform from moving
down completely) or there could be something stuck inside the hole in which the Z limit switch
is located.
• You can slightly bend the lever of the Z limit switch to ensure it is properly pressed and switches
back without any problem.

For more detailed guidance for addressing this error visit:

http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide#limit-switch-broken

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
More Help & Support

There are a number of avenues for accessing further help and support.

If the information in this guide has not helped you to deal with your printing
problems, or you need to fix the printer urgently as a 3D printing lesson is
imminent, the first port of call is our dedicated technical support team.

3DGBIRE

When purchasing a printer directly through the CREATE Education Project, Ultimaker
GB or 3DGBIRE, in addition to your standard printer warranty, you will have access to
FREE lifetime support. 3DGBIRE are the official Ultimaker product support team for the
UK and Ireland. Their technical support team is always happy to help in isolating the
cause of a problem, finding parts and providing solutions.

Support is available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01257 276116
Create a ticket: https://3dgbire.com/pages/help-support
Live Chat: https://3dgbire.com/
or visit us at Unit 2, Chorley Business Park PR6 0BL

CREATE Education Project

Visit the help and support section of the CREATE Education Website for Help Videos
and Tutorials, FAQs, Glossary and Documentation:
www.createeducation.com

Ultimaker

Visit the Ultimaker website to access all product manuals, tips and tricks and
troubleshooting: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources

Visit the Ultimaker Community and forums to engage with over 10,000 Ultimaker
users, post a question or search the hundreds of community posts and responses
to find a solution to your 3D printing problem: https://ultimaker.com/en/community/
dashboard

The FREE Ultimaker App provides a valuable reference point for your machine,
including:

Step-by-step 3D printer setup

Useful tips and tricks
Troubleshooting articles
Product manuals

Learn more and download the Ultimaker App: https://ultimaker.com/en/products/

ultimaker-app

3D Verkstan

3D Verkstan has published a very detailed and comprehensive “Visual

Troubleshooting Guide” which covers in detail most of the problems you could
encounter with your 3D printer:
http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide
 Professional Development
3D Printing in the Classroom

This half day, professional development course for up to 10 teachers equips you with
everything you need to be able to develop, deliver and manage 3D printing projects with
your students.

The course includes:

• Overview of the 3D printing process.

• 3D design tools, techniques and selecting appropriate 3D modelling software.
• How to utilise and embed 3D printing within your subject area(s).
• How to develop and progress pupils skills in 3D design and printing.
• Age/stage specific 3D printing skills and projects.
• How to develop a successful 3D printing project.
• How to manage the 3D printing workflow in an educational environment.
• How to deal with technical issues and access support.
• Budgeting for and managing ongoing running costs.
• Where to access classroom resources and 3D files.

Learn more at http://www.createeducation.com/cpd/

Online Professional Development Resources:

http://www.createeducation.com/professional-development/online/

Further Support
Introducing any new technology is always a challenge, but the CREATE Education project
is here to support you in every step of your journey. Our website provides information and
links to access further support.

Technical Support:

http://www.createeducation.com/help-support/technical-support/

Documentation:

http://www.createeducation.com/help-support/documentation/

Community Access:

http://www.createeducation.com/professional-development/community-access/

3D Printing with an Ultimaker

Troubleshooting Guide
Share and showcase your work with
the CREATE Education Community

The CREATE Education Project is an open-source project dedicated to helping and

supporting educators and schools in their 3D printing journey. This is only made
possible with the continued support of our 3D printing community. Once you have got
started we would love for you to share what you are doing with the CREATE Education
Project. We can showcase your school and share your resources so that others can
benefit. This also helps to promote your school to the community. There are many ways
in which you can do this:

1. Write a blog post about your experiences or a post to share ideas and inspiration.

2. Help us to produce a case study of your work, outlining what you are doing with your
3D printer and how your students and school community are benefiting.

3. Share your classroom resources - these can be schemes of work, lesson plans,
presentations, student worksheets, project booklets etc. Don’t worry if your resources
are incomplete or are not professionally presented. We have experts in-house that with
your ideas and guidance can refine them and turn them into a professional publishable
resource in which your school will be credited.

4. Share examples of your student projects so that others can be inspired by their
creativity and technical prowess.

If you have any ideas, stories or resources to share please contact:

Sonya Horton
[email protected]

And finally
Enjoy your experience with 3D printing and never forget the CREATE Education Project
and the 3DGBIRE technical support team are always available to support you.

Keep in touch and up to date with our latest news, stories and resources through our
website and social media channels

Website: createeducation.com
Linked In: linkedin.com/in/create-education-645814114
Twitter: @UltimakerCREATE
Facebook: facebook.com/createducationproject
Instagram: @createeducation
Copyright and Credits

This resource was brought to you by the CREATE Education Project. © Create Education Project Ltd. 2017.

These resources have been produced for educational use to support schools who wish to explore 3D
printing technology. For more FREE classroom projects, ideas, professional development resources and
much more visit www.createeducation.com

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
To view a copy of this license visit:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Acknowledgements

The CREATE Education Project would like to acknowledge and thank 3DVerkstan for providing some of
the troubleshooting advice for this resource from their Visual Troubleshooting Guide.

http://3dverkstan.se/

http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide
 This resource was brought to you by
CREATE Education. For more FREE
classroom projects, ideas, professional
development resources and much
more visit www.createeducation.com