Build Volume Obstruction

[torgrimg 0]

In Cura, the ultimaker 3 has a greyed out circular obstruction front right inside the build area, that keeps me from printing a large part. It is not the prime tower, and I can't see any mechanical reason for it. Ultimaker 2 does not have this obstruction.

Does anyone know what it is or how to avoid it?

[SandervG 1,521]

Hi @Torgrimg,

Thank you for your post and welcome to the Ultimaker community

You are probably referring to the camera which takes up a little area of your build volume. Depending on your settings, there are other things you can do to get more access to the build volume.

Do you still have a skirt enabled for example? You already mentioned a wipe tower which can take up some space.

[torgrimg 0]

No, the camera is sitting in the corner, outside the print area.

Looking at the printer working, I see there is a drop of material in this very position, so this must be a place reserved for priming the printhead. But where is it defined?

[ultiarjan 1,223]

I'm not sure where it is defined. Did not check. But I think the positions should be an option in cura.

Atm the position is unnecessary eating up space as it could be more to the front. And sometimes you would like it somewhere else altogether depending on the model you want to print.

[torgrimg 0]

I found the prime position is defined in the .json file for the selected printer and extruder. (cura2.4/resources/extruders)

Editing this file before opening cura will move the prime point.

[SandervG 1,521]

It was my second guess that you mean the prime position, but I didn't find this setting in Cura (didn't look in the .json file) hence I didn't mention it. Glad you did!

Does it mean you can now print your larger file?

[neotko 1,417]

Afaik prime position is set on the firmware machine json. Is a fixed position. Maybe future firmwares allow cura to command it?

As I see it UM engineers want to have the start (and prime) as controlled as possible since the firmware seems to remember if the core is primed already or not (something really weird aince if the user turns the machine down while printing or there's a blackout, the machine won't know how's the core status and should assume that the core ain't primed.

Unless... this prime control allows a new use for G2xxx something gcode that changes one to other core, because if that's why, then bravo, because that could allow other slicers to just send a Gcode to swap cores after the tool change. Anyhow... is fixed on the firmware

Part of the jedi.json on the printer (from an old firmware version so this might have changed)

 

{ "properties": {   "machine_type_name": "Ultimaker 3 unknown",   "marlin_firmware_filename": "jedi.hex",   "hotend_count": 2,   "feature_heated_bed": true,   "feature_bed_leveling_sensor": true,   "feature_filament_flow_sensor": false,   "bowden_tube_length": 700,   "build_volume_x": 215,   "build_volume_y": 215,   "build_volume_z": 210,   "hotend_offset_1_x": 18,   "hotend_offset_1_y": 0,   "default_travel_speed": 150,   "hotend_switching_speed": 33,   "nozzle_lifting_filament_movement_amount": 9.0,   "idle_retraction_amount": 15.0,   "deprime_retraction_amount": 26.5,   "deprime_retraction_speed": 10.0,   "hotend_prime_location": [180.0, 6.0],   "prime_amount": 8.5,

 

Edited March 22, 2017 by Guest

[SandervG 1,521]

I checked with our technical support staff and we've compiled a little overview on how to change your prime position, (on a mac) if it interferes with your build volume.

This is for the left extruder only. If you also want to change the position for the right extruder, do the same again, but change the Y position to 30 or something.

It is advised to do a test run and monitor your Ultimaker before you start a print and have changed the position.

Edited March 22, 2017 by Guest

[torgrimg 0]

I moved the prime point closer to the edge and just barely fitted the design - havent tried it yet.

Is it possible to move the prime point to the far right, or is this an area where extruder 1 will never get due to mechanical limitations?

[ultiarjan 1,223]

Just note down the current positions set. Have a look at the head during priming and you know the margins left....

To have time to look at it just manu5slly push the head to the "poop" positions