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UltiMaker 2+ - Maintenance schedule

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This product has been discontinued, and its end-of-service date has passed. While it is no longer supported, the information on this page remains available for your reference.


To keep your Ultimaker 2+ and Ultimaker 2 Extended+ in optimal condition, we recommend the following maintenance schedule, based on 1,500 printing hours per year.

tip

If the usage frequency is higher, we recommend performing more frequent maintenance on your printer to ensure optimal printing results.

Frequency

Topic

Instructions

Effects if not performed

Every month
(or when necessary)

Clean the printer

Keep the Ultimaker 2+ clean for optimal printing results. This includes the glass plate, nozzle, Bowden tube, and the inside of the printer.

Discoloration in print, extrusion problems, adhesion issues, build plate homing errors

Every month
(or when necessary)

Lubricate the XY axles

Apply a small drop of oil to the gantry axles (X and Y). This includes the axles in the frame as well as the two print head shafts. Move the print head manually to equally distribute the oil.

Inaccurate movements, dimensional inaccuracy, increased wear on belts and bearings

Every 3 months
(or 300-400 printing hours)

Check the tension of the short belts

The short belts attached to the X and Y motors should be tight to correctly transfer the movement to the print head.

Inaccurate movements, dimensional inaccuracy, layer shifts

Every 3 months
(or 300-400 printing hours)

Lubricate the lead screw

Apply a small amount of grease to the lead screw of the Z motor. Move the build plate up and down to equally distribute the grease.

Build plate drops, inaccurate Z movement, thick lines in print

Every 3 months
(or 300-400 printing hours)

Retighten the hot end isolator

Insert the hex screwdriver into one of the holes of the hot end isolator and fully tighten it. This prevents material from leaking between the hot end components.

Hot end leakage, extrusion problems

Every 6 months
(or 700-800 printing hours)

Check for play on the axles

The X and Y axles in the frame should only rotate, not move back and forth. Firmly attempt to move the axles individually.

Inaccurate movements, dimensional inaccuracy, layer shifts

Every 6 months
(or 700-800 printing hours)

Clean the feeder

Small filament particles can gather on the feeder’s knurled wheel. Unload the material and open the feeder to clean the inside with a small brush.

Filament particles in print, feeding problems, filament slips

Every 6 months
(or 700-800 printing hours)

Lubricate the Z axles

Check the Z axles on either side of the build plate. If they feel dry, apply a small drop of oil and move the build plate to distribute the lubricant.

Inaccurate Z movement, thick lines in print

Every year
(or 1500 printing hours)

Lubricate the feeder gear

Remove the feeder from the back panel to access the feeder gear. Clean it first, then apply a small amount of grease to the gear.

Feeding problems, increased wear on feeder parts

Every year
(or 1500 printing hours)

Check the Bowden tube

Materials can slightly scratch the inside of the Bowden tube and the ends of the tube can get damaged by the tube coupling collets. It is advised to replace it after one year of printing.

Filament particles in print, extrusion problems, feeding problems

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For more detailed information about how to perform all these maintenance actions, click the links in the table above.


Important notes

Maintenance actions shall only be performed by an adult. Carefully follow the provided instructions.

When maintenance processes require heating up the nozzle, take precautions and use personal protective equipment such as (thermal) gloves. Risks and recommendations are mentioned in the instructions.

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The UltiMaker 2+ Maintenance kit contains the most commonly used replacement parts and maintenance consumables for the Ultimaker 2+ or Ultimaker 2 Extended+.
(Note: Because the UltiMaker 2+ has been discontinued and is no longer supported, the Maintenance Kits may not be available anymore)