New firmware for Ultimaker 3, version 3.6

[jb011a9840 3]

 

I am experiencing significant issues with this firmware version 3.6. After updating the firmware to 3.6 on my Ultimaker 3 unit, it loses Wi-Fi connection in seconds. UM3 Also stopped recognizing its NFC hardware after the update to firmware 3.6.

I subsequently downgraded the firmware to 3.4 via a USB stick, and this restored the UM3's ability to print via Wi-Fi, and it restored its ability to recognize NFC chips  (I had saved the older 3.4 firmware version on my Mac a few months ago, just in case). Printer continues to work fined under 3.4 but not under 3.6.

To check that this wasn't a fluke, I performed the upgrade from 3.4 to 3.6 twice - once via WiFi and once via download onto USB stick - in both cases with the same result (WiFi and NFC stopped working in 3.6). Also performed a "factory reset” via the UM3 menu in 3.6, but that did not fix the WiFi or the NFC functionality (note that even when it establishes it own WiFi hotspot as part of the setup process in 3.6, the WiFi connections to the UM3 are lost in less than a second, from both PCs or Macs)

I haven't had any issues with this UM3 so far, and had no issues upgrading the firmware when new versions were released up to version 3.4.  Not sure what to do next.

This is rather disappointing  …

 

That is rather odd. WiFi was generally unstable in 3.4, as well for NFC. Which exact minor version of 3.4 did you save?

Is Cura losing the printer WiFi connection or is the printer dropping of the network? (If you go to the printer to the network status menu, if it switches between connected and not connected, then it's the printer)

3.6 has NFC testing menus in the diagnostics.

Do you want a copy of the 3.5 firmware as well to see how that behaves? That could help in diagnosing this problem.

(We did test this firmware for 2 weeks on our testing fleet of 30 printers, with WiFi and NFC. I'm not saying your problem isn't real. Just want to figure out what is different in your setup then our testing setup, and why we didn't catch the problem you are having)

 

I’m having similar issues, I bought the UM3 ext printer a couple of weeks ago. The initial setup completed correctly then connected and printed from Cura fine.

I then upgraded the firmware to Stable 3.6.3.20170406, at this point Cura had problems connecting to the printer, it would initially connect then about 5 seconds later say the printer is disconnected and would not reconnect; this is the same for the Android Ultimaker 3 app on a tablet.

Re-running the wifi setup, I was able to connect to the hotspot created to finish the setup but when opening the browser I was unable to see the page to complete the setup.

At this point I also noticed the NFC was not working, when running the diagnostics the screen displays “NFC Hardware not found.” for both NFC tests.

I installed the testing firmware 3.6.90.20170411 but the issues with the wifi and NFC still remain.

When rolling back the firmware to 3.5.3.20161221 the wifi works correctly and doesn’t disconnect from Cura but the NFC is still not working.

Any ideas???

[jb011a9840 3]

I am experiencing significant issues with this firmware version 3.6. After updating the firmware to 3.6 on my Ultimaker 3 unit, it loses Wi-Fi connection in seconds. UM3 Also stopped recognizing its NFC hardware after the update to firmware 3.6.

I subsequently downgraded the firmware to 3.4 via a USB stick, and this restored the UM3's ability to print via Wi-Fi, and it restored its ability to recognize NFC chips  (I had saved the older 3.4 firmware version on my Mac a few months ago, just in case). Printer continues to work fined under 3.4 but not under 3.6.

To check that this wasn't a fluke, I performed the upgrade from 3.4 to 3.6 twice - once via WiFi and once via download onto USB stick - in both cases with the same result (WiFi and NFC stopped working in 3.6). Also performed a "factory reset” via the UM3 menu in 3.6, but that did not fix the WiFi or the NFC functionality (note that even when it establishes it own WiFi hotspot as part of the setup process in 3.6, the WiFi connections to the UM3 are lost in less than a second, from both PCs or Macs)

I haven't had any issues with this UM3 so far, and had no issues upgrading the firmware when new versions were released up to version 3.4.  Not sure what to do next.

This is rather disappointing  …

That is rather odd. WiFi was generally unstable in 3.4, as well for NFC. Which exact minor version of 3.4 did you save?

Is Cura losing the printer WiFi connection or is the printer dropping of the network? (If you go to the printer to the network status menu, if it switches between connected and not connected, then it's the printer)

3.6 has NFC testing menus in the diagnostics.

Do you want a copy of the 3.5 firmware as well to see how that behaves? That could help in diagnosing this problem.

(We did test this firmware for 2 weeks on our testing fleet of 30 printers, with WiFi and NFC. I'm not saying your problem isn't real. Just want to figure out what is different in your setup then our testing setup, and why we didn't catch the problem you are having)

I’m having similar issues, I bought the UM3 ext printer a couple of weeks ago.  The initial setup completed correctly then connected and printed from Cura fine.

I then upgraded the firmware to Stable 3.6.3.20170406, at this point Cura had problems connecting to the printer, it would initially connect then about 5 seconds later say the printer is disconnected and would not reconnect; this is the same for the Android Ultimaker 3 app on a tablet.

Re-running the wifi setup, I was able to connect to the hotspot created to finish the setup but when opening the browser I was unable to see the page to complete the setup.

At this point I also noticed the NFC was not working, when running the diagnostics the screen displays “NFC Hardware not found.” for both NFC tests.

I installed the testing firmware 3.6.90.20170411 but the issues with the wifi and NFC still remain.

When rolling back the firmware to 3.5.3.20161221 the wifi works correctly and doesn’t disconnect from Cura but the NFC is still not working.

Any ideas???

Update:

I’ve spent some time the evening playing around with the printer and identified the sample PVA reel that come with the printer as part of the issue!

The following was carried out using Firmware Stable 3.6.3.20170406:

With no reels fitted to the printer the NFC tests report “NFC hardware Detected” and “no tags detected” as you would expect.

With the sample PLA Silver Metallic reel loaded the NFC tests report “NFC hardware Detected” and “ID: 0498147AF14A80, PLA Silver Metallic”.

With the sample PLA Silver Metallic and sample PVA reel loaded the NFC tests report “NFC hardware not Detected” and “NFC hardware not Detected”.

When the sample PVA reel is removed (PLA Silver Metallic still fitted) the NFC tests still report “NFC hardware not Detected” and “NFC hardware not Detected”.

Switching the printed on and off clears the error and the NFC tests report “NFC hardware Detected” and “ID: 0498147AF14A80, PLA Silver Metallic”.

I repeated this with the other 4 PLA reel I’ve got and the same issue occurred each time.

The wifi connection to Cura is also stable without the sample PVA reel fitted.

Does anyone know what the contact of the Sample PVA reel NFC should be? I’d like to read the content back to see if it has become corrupt.

[tomnagel 126]

Please don't use the testing version 3.6.90: see https://ultimaker.com/en/community/45629-testing-firmware-3690-do-not-install-use-the-stable-version-instead