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This page is useful if you've done your induction but can't remember how to use the Ultimaker slicing software Cura.
Majority of information has come from the Ultimaker support page.
Also included are frequent error codes as well as tips and tricks.
If you're still unsure after reading through, come and have a chat with a technician and we can advise.
Print Set Up Workflow
Print Set Up Workflow
Once you've completed your induction and booked an Ultimaker, follow the below steps to get your part(s) printing.
1. Select the material you want to print with using the configuration panel*.
2. Bring your model into Cura.
3. Orient and scale if necessary.
4. Adjust the print settings to suit your model needs (layer height, infill, adhesion etc).
5. Slice and preview: check you're happy with how the part will print/what supports have been applied. You can always go back to prepare if you want to change anything and repeat this step.
6. Make a note of the amount of material required so a technician can quote for you.
7. Select 'save to disk' and save your sliced file to one of the USB's plugged into the Ultimakers.
8. Transfer the USB to the printer and start your print!
*Note: Typically set material to 'Generic PLA' for nozzle 1, and 'Ultimaker Breakaway' for nozzle 2 (colour only matters if you're using an Ultimaker specific PLA, if your material is on a cardboard spool it's generic PLA).
Common Errors
Common Errors
Material mismatch:
What happens: When starting your print, the machine tells you that there is a material mismatch.
Reason: This is caused by the print file being set up in a material, but the material loaded into the machine is different.
How to fix it: Either change your print file to what material is loaded into the printer, or ask a technician to change the material in the printer for you.
Bed level issue:
What happens: When starting a print, the machine tells you there is a bed level issue and it cannot start your print.
Reason: This is often caused by material left on the build platform interfering with the bed levelling sensors, so the machine doesn't think the platform is level.
How to fix it: Make sure the build platform is clean before starting your print. Usually you can click abort print and then reprint, once you've cleaned the platform.
Material station error:
What happens: The printer will warn of a material station error, and it won't let you start your print.
Reason: There are various reasons why this can happen. If the machine knows the issue it will show on the screen, but most times it just says 'there is an issue' and doesn't explain why.
How to fix it: Find a technician and they'll be able to sort the problem. You can usually move to using a different machine, but always let the technician(s) know that there has been a problem so they can fix it.
Calibration:
What happens: The printer will warn that calibration checks need to be run.
Reason: The printers need to be calibrated every so often to ensure they're printing the correct size. It's routine maintenance for any FDM 3D printer.
How to fix it: Let a technician know that this error has come up and they'll run the calibration checks.
What Buttons Do What
What Buttons Do What
Open file: Opens a 3D file.
Printer selection panel: Displays the selected printer. You can also activate another added printer, add new printers, and manage your list of printers if you click here.
Configuration panel: Contains the material and print core or nozzle setup. Manually select a different configuration if required, or choose from all available configurations for your connected UltiMaker 3D printers.
Stages: The prepare, preview, and monitor stage. Each stage is arranged to efficiently go through each 3D printing step.
Print settings panel: This panel contains the print profiles and all individual print settings.
Marketplace: Contains plugins and material packages.
App switcher: Easily visit UltiMaker's additional platforms for support, e-learning, and more.
UltiMaker account: Sign in to your UltiMaker account or create a new one to gain access to cloud functionality, Marketplace plugins and print profiles, backups, and more.
Action panel: Contains an action button dependent on the current stage. This can contain the button to slice the model, but other options are available once the model is prepared.
Save or share file: After slicing, you can save the file to your computer or a removable drive, or directly start the print via local network.
Preview: Proceeds to the next stage, the Preview stage.
Camera position tool: Easily positions the camera to one of the default viewing angles.
Model information: Contains the print job name (based on the first model loaded) and the total dimensions of all printable models on the build plate. If there are multiple models, these are shown in the Object list.
Adjustment tools: Move, rotate, mirror, scale, and more options to alter the appearance or orientation of your 3D model(s).
Scaling Parts
Scaling Parts
Scale tool overview
Scale tool. All selected models will be scaled.
Number input field. Can be used to set the exact model size in millimeters.
Percentage input field. Can be used to set a percentage of the original model scale.
Scale handles. Drag these to scale the mode.
Snap scaling. This option will scale the model by 10% at a time when dragging the scale handles.
Reset. This will reset all scaling modifications to the selected models.
Uniform scaling. This will ensure the model’s proportions are consistent while scaling.
Mirroring Parts
Mirroring Parts
Mirror tool overview
Mirror tool. Mirror about the shared origin of the models. This is different from individual mirroring behavior.
Mirror handle. Mirrors the model on the selected axis.
Orienting Parts
Orienting Parts
Rotate tool overview
Rotate tool. Rotate about the origin of selected models. This is different from individual rotating behavior.
Reset. Reset all rotations of the selected models.
Lay flat. This will lay the model flat on the closest flat surface of the model.
Align to model face. Select this button to make the model active. Click on any face of your 3D model to automatically align this face to the build plate.
Rotate hoops. Drag these hoops to rotate the model on the selected axis.
Degree indicator. Indicates the current rotation.
Snap rotation. Snaps the rotation intervals to 15°.
Moving Parts
Moving Parts
Move tool overview
Move tool. All selected models will be moved.
Number input field. Can be used to set exact coordinates of the 3D model.
The 3D model. Once selected this can also be moved freely.
Arrow handles. Drag these to move the model on any specific axis.
Support Blocker
Support Blocker
In some cases, you may want to generate support for certain parts of your 3D model, but not for others. You can try adjusting the support settings, such as placement and overhang angle, but this may not always yield the desired results.
The Adjustment Tools menu contains an option for a Support Blocker. This will generate a small cube that blocks the generation of a support structure for the areas with which it overlaps the model. This can be especially useful if, for example, the top of the model contains small holes. These may generate long, thin support structures, but these holes will likely print well without support using bridging. Using support blockers can drastically reduce your print time and material usage.
Support blocker tool: Add multiple support blocker cubes by clicking the model.
Support blocker large cube: Support blockers are displayed as translucent gray cubes and can be moved, scaled, and rotated just like any other loaded 3D model.
3D model: The 3D model loaded, without support blockers.
Support blocker cube: Support blockers are 10x10x10 mm by default.
Blocked large support: The layer view shows the result of the added large support blocker.
Support structure: Without support blockers, the support structure covers the bottom layers of the entire model.
Blocked support: The layer view shows the result of the added small support blocker.
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