prb4

Hi Nicolinux Sorry for the long time replying but I didn't get notified of your message, probably something to do with the change of the website. I have looked at the layer view, but it is difficult for me to determine if there are needless retractions etc. I don't think I am skilled enough in looking at the layer views to know what is and is not necessary. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't something like what you suggest that is causing the increase in time. What I can say is that I haven't noticed any significant difference in the quality/finish of the final product, just very long print times.

Hi Bagel Please read what I have written above more carefully. I have already performed the test you suggest and written the results in my original post. The new version of Cura made the actual print time take about 50 % longer.

Hi Ivan You appear to have noticed something odd with your machine but it is not the same problem that I am reporting. I would just like to be clear that the times I quoted above are what Cura estimates after slicing. Nothing to do with the machine "Time left estimate". The actual print times are times I measured using a stop watch, again nothing to do with the machine "Time left " estimate.

I am using a Ultimaker 2. I have updated my version of Cura from 14.09 to 15.02.1 and noticed that the print times are considerably longer. I noticed on several prints that they were taking longer than the time predicted by Cura so I ran a test. I sliced the same model with the same profile, positioned in the same place and orientation on the bed in Cura version 14.09 and 15.02.1. The firm ware on the printer was also the same (15.01) not that I think that is relevent. Version 14.09 Cura predicted 1 hour 15 min The print actually took 1 hour 17 min Version 15.02.1 Cura predicted 1 hour 12 min The print actually took 1 hour 56 min. With longer prints the extra time with 15.02.1 gets longer as well. Has the fault been reported before? Does anyone know what's happening here? For now I will go back to using 14.09 but I would like to be reassured that any future versions of Cura won't have this problem. Thanks Peter

I wasn't aware of this when I bought my machine. What you and Ultimaker are saying is that the machine has a life span of 3 months. For something that costs so much that is pretty poor. If the part really has to be replaced every 3 months then every machine should come with at least 3 spares to keep the machine running for a year. It should also come with detailed inctructions on how to make the exchange. I know the instructions with my machine did not tell me how to replace this part - A massive oversight in the documentation. I hope someone from Ultimaker is reading this and immediately sends out 3 spare parts and instructions to everyone who has bought a machine - otherwise I will be very unimpressed and my estimation of this company will drop considerably because right now I feel I have been ripped off (and machine hasn't failed yet because of the Teflon part).

Is there a cost difference? I always assumed the lack of a spool knocked some cost off the price.

For what it's worth I've done that. I'm in the UK as you can now see.

Thanks for the reply. Everything is definitely plugged in properly. I double checked all of the connections and turned everything off and back on again. I have also submitted a ticket to ultimaker but I guess it might take a while to get a reply. I was just wondering if this was a common problem, and to double check others also think it's a fault. I daren't use the printer now until I get a replacement so I guess I am out of action for a while.

Today I heard my AC/DC adapter for my Ultimaker 2 making a loud crackling noise. The noise gets louder the more power is used by the printer. It gets quite loud when the hot end is heating up. I am guessing it is faulty and about to fail. Has anybody else had this problem?

You are printing quite fast and cold so I would guess it is under extrusion after the jump over the gap. I would try either printing hotter (230 C), or printing slower (20 mm/s) or printing in thinner layers (0.1) or a combination of these.

albert mentioned Scupltris earlier. I have just had a look at it and it seems great for a free program. What do you have to do to get the model created in Scupltris into a printable stl file?

Thanks for everyones help. So if I get a new PC it will probably solve the problem. Are there any requirements, recommendations for the spec of a windows 7 PC that I would require to run Cura?

Thanks for all the replies. I've tried again and I still get the same response. - I am using Cura 14.03 - My monitor is set to 32 bit colours. 1440 x 900 pixels - I have tried increasing to 0.4 mm layers - I don't think the slicer has crashed since it works, the progress bar moves and gives me a time and amount of material it will use. - My system is quite old but I don't think it is really slow since I am able to rotate and move the first object with no problems. When I try to left click on the second object nothing happens. If I click a long way off the second object then the screen re-centres on the first object. If I drag the first object on top of the second object the second one is automatically moved out of the way. It seems as though Cura knows the second object is there and won't allow me to move the first object on top of it, however it won't allow me to select the second object. If I delete the first object then I am immediately able to manipulate the second one. Any other suggestions?

Yes I've done that. Left clicked, right clicked, centre clicked, dragged, press tab, shouted loudly at the screen.... Definitely in normal view. I'm using windows XP is that likely to make a difference?

Hi This is probably a very silly problem, but I can't work it out... When a load a model into Cura I can move it and rotate it etc no problem. When I then load a second model I can't work out how to manipulate it. All I seem to be able to do is move the first part. How do I manipulate a second part? Thanks

Thanks for the comprehensive reply, it is very helpful. The question wasn't idle speculation, I have a design I am working on that requires small gaps in the line. I have begun to experiment. What I am modelling is a wall clad with veritical wooden boards. So on one side of the wall there are a series of small vertical grooves running up the wall to represent gaps between the boards. I tried three sizes last night. 0.5, 0.4 and 0.3 mm wide square grooves. All 0.2 mm deep. Printed with PLA, 0.2 mm layers at 50 mm/s. No pictures yet (I'll post some if I can work out how to take some that actually show anything useful) All three gave visible grooves. The grooves weren't square, they had been partly filled in to create rounded grooves. The depth decreased as the width decreased. 0.5 mm essentially worked. 0.3 mm was almost compleatly filled in although you can feel a ripple To get this design to work it is clearly going to be a case of finding the right combination of width and depth of the groove For my use I will probably use 0.5 mm wide and 0.2 mm deep, although I might try deeper grooves.

This is quite interesting stuff, however I would also like to know the opposite. What is the smallest gap that can be printed? If I print a line with a series of small breaks, what is the smallest gap that will / can be printed?

Hi Ian Ok thanks, I'll give both those suggestions a try.

Thank you for the reply. I eventually tracked the problem down to the knurled wheel on the feeder being loose. Once this was tightened I have been able to print the minicaltest, however it did peel a lot at the corners. (yes I did use glue). I have also tried the robot that comes with Cura. This peeled so much that it detached from the bed. I printed the robot again with a Brim. This worked ok. If you have any suggestions on how to stop the print lifting off the bed /peeling without using a Brim they would be helpful. Thanks Peter

Hi Thank you for the assistance it was all very helpful. The problem turned out to be strands of the old filament from the factory test blocking the print head. I had to unload my filament, remove the Bowden tube from the print head and pull the strands of old filament out of the print head. After reloading, my filament started to come out of the nozzle. I then tried to print the test print provided with the printer. This worked ok until about half way through. Then not enough plastic was being extruded. The amount of plastic coming out kept reducing until eventually there wasn't any. I guess the print head/nozzle is blocked again. Tonight I will try the suggestion in the manual to heat the head up to 260C and print for 10 minutes. Presumably I do this by changing the PLA temperature in the material settings? Do you know why the nozzle has become blocked and how to prevent it happening? Thanks Peter

Hi Ian Thanks for the quick reply. I will try those things tonight and see how I get on. Peter

Hi I received my Ultimaker 2 yesterday. I have followed the setup instructions. Everything worked until I came to load the filament. The filament loads ok and zooms down the Bowden tube, then nothing happens. No plastic comes out the nozzle. I am new to 3d printing, this is my first printer and I don't know what to do now. I would be grateful for any assistance. Thanks Peter