FDM Prepare the printer

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Step 1. Preparing the build plate

Take a build plate out of the printer you want to use or take a build plate out of the build plate box. If it’s not cleaned properly, scrape off any plastic residue that has been left behind. After this, you can spray on some IPA. Leave this soaked in for 1 to 2 minutes; this will dissolve all the glue/grease/dirt on the build plate. Wipe off the excess liquid with one of the paper towels and throw this in the bin. Now put the bed back into the printer, making sure both clips are tightened.

Step 2. Calibrate the build plate

Since every build plate is slightly different in thickness, it’s important to calibrate the printer on the build plate every time before you print on the Ultimaker. It’s also possible to calibrate the Prusa i3 printers, but keep in mind, this is only necessary once a month and will mainly be done by employees. How to calibrate the build plate of each printer is shown below:

Ultimaker 2+ Connect

  1. Click the “tools icon.”
  2. Click on the “downwards arrow.”
  3. Click on “level build plate.”
  4. Click on “start level build plate.”
  5. Put a calibration paper between the nozzle and the build plate.
  6. Adjust the pressure on it with the thumb wheel below (left to tighten, right to loosen).
  7. Adjust the resistance on the paper until it feels like a retracted pen is lightly scraping it.
  8. When you are done, click “done adjusting” and repeat this step another 3 times until finished.

Ultimaker 2+ (Extended)

  1. Click on “maintenance.”
  2. Click on “build plate.”
  3. Click on “continue.”
  4. Rotate the button until the glass plate is 1mm apart from the nozzle.
  5. Click on “continue.”
  6. Do the same on the front left corner but use the thumb wheel.
  7. Click on “continue.”
  8. Repeat this with the front right corner.
  9. Click on “continue.”
  10. Put a calibration paper between the nozzle and the build plate.
  11. Adjust the pressure on it with the rotating knob (left to loosen, right to tighten).
  12. Adjust the resistance on the paper until it feels like a retracted pen is lightly scraping it.
  13. Click on “continue.”
  14. Do the same on the front left corner but with the thumb wheel.
  15. Click on “continue.”
  16. Do the same with the front right corner.
  17. Click on “continue.”

Ultimaker S5

  1. Click on the “gear icon.”
  2. Click on “maintenance.”
  3. Click on “build plate.”
  4. Click on “manual leveling.”
  5. Click on “start.”
  6. Move the build plate 1mm from the nozzle using the up and down arrows.
  7. Click on “confirm.”
  8. Do the same on the front right but with the thumb wheel (left to tighten, right to loosen).
  9. Click on “confirm.”
  10. Do the same on the front left corner.
  11. Click on “confirm.”
  12. Put a calibration paper between the nozzle and the build plate.
  13. Adjust the pressure on it with the rotating knob (left to loosen, right to tighten).
  14. Adjust the resistance on the paper until it feels like a retracted pen is lightly scraping it.
  15. Click on “confirm.”
  16. Do the same on the front right corner but with the thumb wheel (left to tighten, right to loosen).
  17. Click on “confirm.”
  18. Do the same on the front left corner.
  19. Click on “confirm.”
  20. Put a calibration paper between the nozzle and the build plate.
  21. Adjust the pressure on it with the rotating knob (left to loosen, right to tighten).
  22. Adjust the resistance on the paper until it feels like a retracted pen is lightly scraping it.
  23. Click “confirm.”

Ultimaker 3

  1. Click on “system.”
  2. Click on “build plate.”
  3. Click on “manual leveling.”
  4. Click on “continue.”
  5. Move the build plate 1 mm from the nozzle using the rotating knob.
  6. Click on “continue.”
  7. Move the build plate 1 mm from the nozzle in the front right corner using the thumb wheel (left to tighten, right to loosen).
  8. Click on “continue.”
  9. Do the same on the front left corner.
  10. Click on “continue.”
  11. Put a calibration paper between the nozzle and the build plate.
  12. Click on “continue” again.
  13. Adjust the pressure on it with the rotating knob (left to loosen, right to tighten).
  14. Adjust the resistance on the paper until it feels like a retracted pen is lightly scraping it.
  15. Click on “confirm.”
  16. Adjust it for the front right corner but with the thumb wheel (left to tighten, right to loosen).
  17. Click on “continue.”
  18. Do the same for the front left corner.
  19. Click on “confirm.”
  20. Click on “continue.”
  21. Put a calibration paper between the nozzle and the build plate.
  22. Adjust the pressure on it with the rotating knob (left to loosen, right to tighten).
  23. Adjust the resistance on the paper until it feels like a retracted pen is lightly scraping it.
  24. Click “confirm.”

Prusa i3

  1. Click on the rotating knob; this will bring you into the main menu.
  2. Scroll down and click on “Calibration.”
  3. Scroll down and click on “Mesh Bed Leveling.”
  4. Wait for the printer to stop moving in the front left corner.
  5. Click the rotating knob to return to the main menu.
  6. Scroll up and click on “info screen” to return to the info screen.
  7. Keep in mind, mesh calibration is only necessary once a month and will be done by employees.

Step 3. Change the material

Check at the back of the printer if there’s enough material loaded and if this is the material type that you want to use. If you want to change the material, this is how you do it per printer:

Ultimaker 2+ Connect

  1. Click on the “filament icon.”
  2. Click on “change material.”
  3. Click on “start changing material.”
  4. Click “yes” if you’re changing the material to the same type it’s already set on.
  5. Click “no” if you want to load a different type. After this, select the material type that you want to change it to.
  6. Click on “confirm.”
  7. Wait for the printer nozzle to heat up.
  8. Pull up the clip of the feeder.
  9. Take out the old material.
  10. Cut the tip of the new material on a 45-degree angle.
  11. Place the new material on the spool holder (make sure the spool is rotating counterclockwise).
  12. Put the new material in the feeder.
  13. Insert the new material in and forward it all the way into the printer head.
  14. Pull the clip of the feeder back down.
  15. Click on “material loaded.”
  16. Wait until the old material is completely extruded and the new material is coming out of the nozzle.
  17. Click on “material is extruding.”

Ultimaker 2+ (Extended)

  1. Click on “material.”
  2. Click on “change.”
  3. Wait for the printer nozzle to heat up.
  4. Wait for the printer to extract the old material.
  5. Take out the old material.
  6. Cut the tip of the new material on a 45-degree angle.
  7. Place the new material on the spool holder (make sure the spool is rotating counterclockwise).
  8. Push up the tension clip and insert the material until it’s about 3cm past the feeder.
  9. Click on “ready.”
  10. Click on the material type that you just inserted.
  11. Click on “ready.”
  12. The printer will forward the material into the printhead.
  13. Wait until the old material is completely extruded and the new material is coming out of the nozzle.
  14. Click on “ready.”

Ultimaker S5

  1. Click on the “printer icon.”
  2. Click on the nozzle that you want to change the material from.
  3. Click on “change.”
  4. Wait for the printer nozzle to heat up.
  5. Wait for the printer to extract the old material.
  6. Pull up the clip at the back.
  7. Take out the old material.
  8. Click on “confirm.”
  9. Cut the tip of the new material on a 45-degree angle.
  10. Place the new material on the spool holder (make sure the spool is rotating counterclockwise on nozzle 1 and clockwise on nozzle 2).
  11. Click on “confirm.”
  12. Choose the new material type.
  13. Insert the new material 5 cm past the feeder.
  14. Pull the clip of the feeder back down.
  15. Click on “confirm.”
  16. Wait for the printer to forward the material to the print head.
  17. Wait until the old material is completely extruded and the new material is coming out of the nozzle.
  18. Click on “confirm.”

Ultimaker 3

  1. Click on “material.”
  2. Choose material 1 for nozzle 1 or material 2 for nozzle 2.
  3. Click on “change.”
  4. Wait for the printer nozzle to heat up.
  5. Wait for the printer to extract the old material.
  6. Take out the old material.
  7. Click on “continue.”
  8. Cut the tip of the new material on a 45-degree angle.
  9. Place the new material on the spool holder (make sure the spool is rotating counterclockwise).
  10. Click on “continue.”
  11. Click on “select material.”
  12. Choose the new material.
  13. Push up the tension clip and insert the material until it’s about 3cm past the feeder.
  14. Click on “confirm.”
  15. The printer will forward the material for you.
  16. Wait until the old material is completely extruded and the new material is coming out of the nozzle.
  17. Click on “confirm.”

Prusa i3

  1. Click on the rotating knob; this will bring you into the main menu.
  2. Scroll down and click on “unload filament.”
  3. Select the material type that is currently in the machine.
  4. Now wait for the printer to preheat the nozzle.
  5. Click on the print knob once it has the correct temperature (see top left).
  6. You can take out the material once the printhead has moved upwards.
  7. Scroll down and click on “load filament.”
  8. Wait for the print head to heat up and move upwards.
  9. Place the new material on the spool holder (make sure the spool is rotating towards the front of the printer).
  10. Insert the material at the top of the printhead.
  11. The printer will start to extrude some material. If it has the right color, press yes. If it still has the color of the old material, press no until you have the right color.
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