LePaul

Aaron, Place yourself into the shoes of a new user/customer/builder The threads are loaded with people having problems with pulleys, belts, clogged print heads and the like. We came to the forums to ask questions along the way because we were trying to AVOID those issues others were having...and many are still having. I find it completely ironic that you chastise us for asking for assistance at areas for concern in a forum titled "Questions & Answers (Help Each Other)" After spending $2400 USD on a wood-based kit (Ulticontroller, Second Extruder, base kit), yes, I will continue to ask questions as I try to avoid roadblocks and other expensive issues. Many times during the build I wished I had gone pre-assembled. Two of my peers bought Solidoodle 3s for a lot less money pre-assembled and were printing moments after unpacking. I'm still convinced this Ultimaker is a superior product And to me and my co worker, the community support was the selling point. But now you say to new customers like me.....stop asking..."No offense"? We used the Wiki and there were some areas that were great (inventory list of what is required), relevant pictures and so on. But there are many areas that we had to rely on the comments in the bottom since the Wiki did not entirely reflect the latest version of the kit. In hindsight, after having built this, I see some areas of confusion are language based, which I would like to offer to help clean up and clarify. I come from the IT world, have built an aircraft kit, two aluminum R2-D2s and the vast array of electronics, servos, motor controllers, LED lights, PCB construction and so on. I'm used to well laid out details for assembly and other processes. And I'm used to metal. Wood...I'm afraid to break and wait weeks for a replacement from the Netherlands. Anyways...I'm not offended by your post. But I will tell you that I think the daunting assembly process is what keeps many potential customers away. The assembling version for $700 more...I wanted to but based on the competition, simply too much. So...we took a chance on building :cool:

As for Cura, there's no instructions I could find that say to hit other limit switches if that one doesn't come up That's been my frustration to, I was waiting for the detection routine to give up/move along to the next test...and it never did. CURA is ok but the documentation for the first time setup/calibration is a little light. Especially if it doesnt go right, as I found out I can try push the other switches...I wasn't ignoring you. I simply had no idea how to proceed, thus the post (I did submit a support ticket to Ultimaker Support but no reply yet)

Firefox bombed on me earlier, it looks like one of my replies didn't make it... I did level out the platform and to fine tune it some, as Illuminarti suggested, further refined it by adjusting the acrylic bed with the 4 screws. Since I did that, I printed the gear and owl, which look really good now. Before, yes, it was plowing into the tape some. Here's how the first layer of the gear printed. Its not flattened out as your vimeo link showed...but it wasn't plowed into the tape the first pass or two...so...getting closer?

Scaled down to 45mm tall

Should i use the adjustments in the bed (those four scews) to lower that a smidge? Well I havent had a way to go beyond the error I got in Cura. It asked to touch the front X limit switch, I do....and the program stops there.

Well recall it failed the calibration (see post from yesterday)

What would be some good test prints, like the owl? Do you have a direct link for the med size one like you printed?

Does that cause damage tho? Ok first print, let the suggestions fly!

Printing now When it first starts, it bangs/bumps (not violently) into the left side, then starts its work....what's that?

Yes comes with black set screws, silver ones in

Wow, guess what i found? The X axis set screw flew out. Back in! Looking for a tinhy allen wrench to torque that bastard in So no changes other than .2 mm

See http://umforum.ultimaker.com/index.php?/topic/2838-first-prints/

My robot print starts OK for a few seconds, then just takes off across the x axis...

I'm using the default settings to print the robot. It looks like a melting snowman. Then it started printing way off on the X axis

Well I am in a tug of war.... If I have the platform a hair under the nozzle, then set the z limit switch to click there, when I do a test print, it starts printing about 2mm above the platform. If I got a little closer on the z, im too low, just putting grooves in the blue tap (but not ripping it What's that magic tip to get it just right

Silly me...thanks

Good to know Its hard to see for sure if the filament is being pulled in correctly. It was really tight getting the PLA thru the wood opening then I kept hitting the plastic piece around the Bowden tube (in the extruder) to finally get it into the print head. Based on the fact it dribbled hot plastic, I might be fussing over nothing How do you gents calibrate your print head to the bed? Also...I put in a support ticket for the error i got with the limit switch. I saw a lot of discussions about this elsewhere but curious if this is any kind of show stopper?

I thank you for the very detailed reply. You've been a real help and I look forward to your reposnses! Squished flat is a great description. Maybe I am being too conservative and not close enough. I have been using the piece of paper can slide thru as a guide but perhaps I need to slowly inch that closer I'm at work now so I can't try these ideas until this evening. Does your Ulticontroller give the option as the video shows?

I'm curious, how "visible" is the extruder pulling material into the hot end? From my failed prints, I have material going thru...but should I be seeing a lot of movement from spool to feeder? I just want to be sure that the extruder is working properly. Also, this video ( ) shows an option in the Ulticontroller to extrude some material, to "prime the pump" so to speak My Ulticontroller does not show this optionIs the ruling to ignore the error I get in calibration? Or do I need to replace some parts? Looking for lot's of good advice! Thanks

Nothing. I give for the night. Im torn between wondering if the extruder isnt working right to when it does extrude, it doesnt attach to the surface. Time for sleep

Done Trying again, tip a micron off surface!

Clean surface too?

Plastic not sticking to surface, just strings everywhere

Yes no plasrtic came out :(

We did the "home" routing with a piece of paper....so test print away ...? Finger on the OFF button just in case!