Everything needs to be changed. You could make an UM-Original into an UM2. But you would be left with a huge pile of bits from the UM-Original, almost enough to build an UM-Original.
The UM2 only replaces the UM-Original for the more professional crowd. It does not make the Original obsolete.
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gr5 2,210
Not really. You could definitely upgrade the electronics. Everything is plug compatible. If all you did was modify the electronics you would have to get the "daid" version of Marlin and change the steps per mm for the z axis back to what it is on the UM1 (I guess you can do that without rebuilding marlin as you can change that with pronterface or through the panel). And you would have to tell it that there is no heated bed. It might not even work right. And the feeder steps/mm is changed also. Yikes. And Daid's special code that feeds the filament at a low servo voltage so that it stops when it hits the print head... that would likely have to change also as the forces are probably different. Yikes. Lots of little software changes there.
That wouldn't be worth the trouble though unless you had something broken in the electronics.
Hopefully UM will offer a bed upgrade. There is a huge improvement on the print bed. It's a new z screw though, and the limit switch is different - would require all new firmware to handle the new way of zeroing the bed but on the old ultimaker. And the power requirements require a new connector. It's a big change.
Then there is the print head. The newer print head is much nicer. Easier to take apart. Better design. Can handle higher temperatures. Less likely to clog. Has 3 fans instead of one. It's possible to upgrade this but you would probably have to upgrade the slider blocks.
You could of course easily add side panels and LED illumination strips.
Upgrading the filament feeder probably is not worth it. The latest UM1 feeder works very well.
I know someone who just ordered a UM1 *and* a UM2. The UM2 will be for ABS, Nylon only and the UM1 will be for lots of miscellaneous purposes and will get hacked (e.g. dual extruder upgrade).
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