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Wow, that seemed to work: 1: Clicking the Cura icon in the Mac "task bar" (dock) did bring up the preferences dialog box 2: There were two ports with the same name; chose the second one 3: Didn't work at slower speed, but DID work at highest speed

Last week, was able to connect and attempt to print (bed leveling issues, hopefully resolved now) NO CHANGES software-wise to either the Ultimaker or the Mac. But today, had 2 problems out of the blue: 1: Machine fails "Detecting buadrate" Finally says "Machine state Error: No more baudrates to (try?)" Same software, machine, same USB port on Mac. I even completely unplugged the 3D printer and rebooted the Mac. Sometimes it would even show the TEMPERATURE of the printhead, but still claim it couldn't connect. I tried a lower resolution print, wondering if it was the gcode size, but same thing. Then... 2: Now Preferences window no longer comes up, hangs Cura, have to Cmd-Opt-Esc After looking online, I saw that you could set the baud rate manually. I sent into settings, it had been set to AUTO. I tried the top speed, didn't work. Tried the next highest speed, didn't work. Tried the 3rd highest speed, didn't work. BUT now I can't get back into File / Preferences. The window never shows up. But if I go to the File menu, everything is grayed out. If I exit Cura it won't exit, then I get a large blank window, then have to force close. I even REBOOTED the Mac (recent vintage, up to date on OS, etc), and I still can't bring up Cura's preferences.

Ah, it's on the the first page, Frame Assembly, Step 4 Bottom Plate, http://wiki.ultimaker.com/Ultimaker_rev.4_assembly:_Frame#Step_4:_Preparing_the_bottom_plate It's 3 pages away from the Z-axis page, they might consider a back link ;-) The "official" name is the "Resiliert coupling"

In moving the platform manually, the vertical threaded bar came out of the bottom holder. What is the round cylinder at bottom of the Z-axis screw called? It's on the right hand side of this picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultimaker/5488424600/ I reread the wiki page on installing the build platform, and near the bottom they talk about adding the M8 threaded rod, but they skip the one step about how it gets fastened to that thing at the bottom. I'm sure it's discussed on some other page, but short of rereading the entire site I couldn't find it. I think I even had to secure this once before, but apparently didn't do it right. Also, there are 4 tiny holes. (this was a pre-assembled unit, so I don't know what's in there, impossible to look)

The bed often won't get close enough to the print head even if I loosen the screws a lot. I loosen the screws to where they almost fall out. I tried jamming some folded paper between the plywood and plexiglass to force it, but I still can't get all 4 corners to touch at the same time. I can get the left front corner OK, usually. Paper underneath helps. The back left and back right are difficult to get at the same time. Getting a wad of paper under the back to help with the springs is hard. If I get one back corner set, the other is out off again. Also, the back right corner adjustment screw is blocked by the print head, so you have to manually move it, which seems like it messes up what you're trying to accomplish. The front right corner is the hardest, almost always floating in air. More info: This is a pre-assmebled unit bought from Ultimaker. The plywood of the bed holder in the front is a bit skewed. When I got it I figured the leveling screws would correct for that, but now I think they only correct so much. Routinely when I loosen the screws the plexiglass doesn't rise up unless I also manually push it up, as if the springs aren't strong enough. Taking the bed off to remove a printout is a sad event because I know it means that, when I put the bed back on, it won't be level, and will be hard to make it level. I have managed to get one print, and there was one printout on it when it arrived. But the whole plywood bed / leveling screws / plexiglass seems really wobbly. A question: When properly leveled, should you be able to slide a piece of paper between the print head and bed or not? (This is from machine shop where we use paper) If a piece of paper were set there before adjusting, would it slide out easily, slide out with a tiny bit of pressure, be snug, or be impossible to remove?

Ah, I may actually have one of those, thanks!

Hi David, Re. the tool in picture http://daid.eu/~daid/IMG_20130115_103648.small.jpg If I got it, it's been misplaced. Can you tell me the spec? (would be good to know anyway) Or maybe to an Amazon product page?

Thank you for the clarification of the various Z-axis functions. I didn't see a hex key in the packaging, just the one regular size tool, tape, etc. If you know the exact type / size of tool I can probably get it locally (I'm guessing metric) FYI: the reset axis did seem to act differently at one point than autohome, and was the closest I came to getting a print. I had been trying to print from Cura and had cancelled a bouple times. Then I had done autohome, and then printed from Cura. When Cura started printing, it moved the platform down and was printing "in air". So I cancelled printing, did autohome again, then this time "reset axis", then printed from Cura. It came a lot closer that time. Maybe Cura print / cancel / print / cancel puts the software in some odd state, so that autohome and reset axis act differently? Just a theory.

Newb with pre-assembled rig. Obviously I understand what the Z-axis is for, and how to adjust it with the front control. I've got both "print in air" and "rip into the paper" results, obviously I need some adjustments. I'll try to spell out what's confusing me: 1: When you put the platform onto the 4 pegs, there's 2 ways it can fit. I assume there could be a slight difference (?), and I'm not sure which way it was calibrated when assembled. Is it "push down and slide left", or "push down and slide right" ? 2: My wooden platform is quite warped (lower on the left than the right), but it looks like the screws were adjusted to account for that. But is this normal? 3: I've tried the Autohome feature with both orientations (slide to left, slide to right) of the platform. In one of the orientations it doesn't seem to quite touch the platform after auto home (I can move paper in and out), but it does dig into the paper if I try to print. I seems like it touches it, then backs off, the goes back a bit. But trying the platform the the other way, autohome seems to make contact and still try and push for a bit more. Also when I try to manually adjust the Z axis, it doesn't seem to go either way. 4: There seem like 3 or 4 logical limits on the Z-axis and this is likely my confusion. * There's the limit switch * There's what you get when you do Autohome * Maybe there's also some adjustment that's done in Autostart? * There's what you can adjust on each corner with the screws * There's an option in the Prepare menu to "set new home" (I forget the wording) * Then there's the level the software sets it to when it tries to print * And all of this is potentially "x 2" depending on which 180 degree choice you make when putting the platform on I haven't seem a really good complete explanation on the wiki about how all these things interact, and I'm guessing there's some critical wisdom that I'm missing. Also, there's probably a need for a separate discussion for people who bought a pre-assembled unit and what the state of it is, I'm not sure. 5: For a pre-assumbled unit, these are the assumptions I was making, but maybe one of them is wrong: * I assume the limit switch and leveling screws were set correctly since there was a test print on the platform. I understand that I might need to make some adjustment over time? * I assume the Autohome was "working", however it's setup or whatever it's rules, and that I'm supposed to use it. * I thought that the software would leave the Z axis alone when I started printing, but it didn't. Later I did autohome on the control panel, then did a "reset axis", and that was the closest that I got to working. But shouldn't autohome do that anyway? I don't understand the coordination of Autohome, Autostart, "reset home" function, and what the software is doing. Current status: I think manual control of the Z-axis is acting strangly, so I decided to stop and post. When I manually try to move the Z-axis from the front panel it doesn't seem to move up or down anymore, but I do hear motors. Oddly even increasing the Z-axis, to more the platform down, doesn't seem to move much. *BUT* if I do Autohome it is able to move, so clearly there's still something working. A final question / survey: When you put your plexiglass onto your screws, do you push down and then to the Left, or to the Right? And is there a standard for this?

I was wondering if it was something like that. This is painfully ironic for an open source project that needs so much more doc. Brainstorming some technical ideas: FIrst off all, preventing vandalism could be handled differently than incorrect information. For vandalism, I'd suggest: 1: Captcha, so a human had to expend some effort to do it 2: Banishment for obvious vandalism The combination of these two would greatly reduce the number of times it happens. Not zero, but small number. 3: Maybe moderation of first post (or first N posts) For bad info, I'd suggest: 1: Label non-employee comments / posts as "suspect" or "unverified" or something 2: Perhaps offer editing to folks who have a good track record on the forums. Maybe ask them to have the same username on the community and wiki. 3: Beyond editing, maybe "deputize" some trusted community members. 4: Some type of peer review, like how stack overflow does it. Of course these things are already easier said than done, and depend a lot on the software you're using. But I suspect there are some trust-able volunteers available. Also, in terms of ideas... you guys are super busy... I've already posted about 2 wiki pages where I expected to find introductory info that wasn't there. I'm not "yelling" at you about it, because you're already overworked, but submitting ideas to you to then be copied over is inefficient and not working. Again, no offense, and it's the sort thing I wanted to help with (vs. complain about)

Well, I sure have PLA feeding now. Various other problems... When I tell Cura to cancel printing, PLA continues to extrude for several minutes. I have to go into manual mode on the control board and adjust the Z axis manually to keep a giant glob from forming and to make room so I can wipe it off. Is it normal for PLA to keep going for several minutes after canceling? And how do you guys handle it? I have to leave for tonight. Will resume later and start new topics if needed.

I signed up for an account on the Wiki (same username as this community forum), but I don't see an "edit" button. I realize there needs to be some controls, but wondering if this is intentional? Or maybe I'm just missing the link? This is all about "open source", and even wikipedia trusts me ;-) The reason I'd like to edit is that I'm a new user, and I can point out things that the gurus would never think of. Thanks, Mark

Wow!!! Thank you Robert and Luis for the video. The thing it showed, which I had no idea, was that the top of the feed mechanism that's attached to the lever travels vertically. This should make a huge difference, and I I hope they link to that on the getting started pages, a very important "day 1" thing. Still experimenting...

OK on reheat and wiping. BUT I don't understand tightening the feed mechanism. I did adjust the screw/spring but I don't think that helped. The gear assembly latch doesn't seem to clck into place or latch, is it supposed to?

Hello, I bought a pre-assembled unit which arrived yesterday. I tried feeding the PLA up through the tube. Two hints for other newbs: * I chose gray PLA as my first color, I think a brighter color would be easier to see and better while learning. * I had to cut a bit of the outer wrapping off so I could see the transparent feed tube. Issues: * Is there a "feed procedure" to have the gears load the PLA? Or do you just jam it in there, all the way through? * Although I see the filament on the other end by the print head, prints don't seem to work. * When closing up the back feeding assembly, the black lever/latch doesn't seem to firmly hook or "snap" into place, which makes me wonder if I'm closing it correctly. It seems too loose? Although PLA finally came through, I'm not sure if it's from the gears or me pushing on it? * Now I have a giant blob of PLA stuck on the nozzle, how do I clean it off? I let it cool, but rock hard. If I heat the head back up, what's a safe way to get it off? (clearly the first part didn't stick to the blue tape, so I've got to work on zeroing) I wasn't able to find basic Day-1 info on loading PLA. Oddly, these Wiki pages don't explain it: * "3D Printing Guide", "How To" http://wiki.ultimaker.com/3D_printing_guide#How_To.27s * "Newcomer guide to your first 3D print" http://wiki.ultimaker.com/Newcomer_guid ... t_3D_print Literally says "There is currently no text in this page." I also tried Google and YouTube of course. Thanks, Mark

Hello, I bought a pre-assembled unit which arrived yesterday. I tried feeding the PLA up through the tube. Two hints for other newbs: * I chose gray PLA as my first color, I think a brighter color would be easier to see and better while learning. * I had to cut a bit of the outer wrapping off so I could see the transparent feed tube. Issues: * Is there a "feed procedure" to have the gears load the PLA? Or do you just jam it in there, all the way through? * Although I see the filament on the other end by the print head, prints don't seem to work. * When closing up the back feeding assembly, the black lever/latch doesn't seem to firmly hook or "snap" into place, which makes me wonder if I'm closing it correctly. It seems too loose? Although PLA finally came through, I'm not sure if it's from the gears or me pushing on it? * Now I have a giant blob of PLA stuck on the nozzle, how do I clean it off? I let it cool, but rock hard. If I heat the head back up, what's a safe way to get it off? (clearly the first part didn't stick to the blue tape, so I've got to work on zeroing) I wasn't able to find basic Day-1 info on loading PLA. Oddly, these Wiki pages don't explain it: * "3D Printing Guide", "How To" http://wiki.ultimaker.com/3D_printing_guide#How_To.27s * "Newcomer guide to your first 3D print" http://wiki.ultimaker.com/Newcomer_guid ... t_3D_print Literally says "There is currently no text in this page." I also tried Google and YouTube of course. Thanks, Mark