Ultimaker 2 layer skipping

[BillMurr85 3]

Hi my ultimaker 2 has just startingayer skipping it can happen at any time and any directions ive checked the pulley and there all tight and belts seem fine aswell. Any suggestions?

[MariMakes 198]

Hey @BillMurr85,

 

Welcome to the Ultimaker Community 🎉

 

That's some bad layershifting your seeing. 😦
That can have a couple of causes.
1. Did the model come loose from the buildplate?  What kind of adhesion are you using?
2. You have a lot of horizontal banding. Did you change any of the temperature or speed settings? 

3. Do you have a project file for us? It contains the printer and settings we need for troubleshooting. 
To save a project file go to File -> Save project.

4. Is it just this printjob that is failing or are other printjobs failing aswell? 
5. What kind of material are you printing with? Could it be older or filled with moisture? 

[BillMurr85 3]

Hi thanks for the reply.

 

1 the model hasnt came lose and had no issues with just glass bed and glue stick.

2havent changed any settings

3. think ive uploaded the file correct.

4 most print jobs get the layer shift some worse than others and can be any direction.

5 pla have tried with a brand new one and same issue.

 

thanks

again.

UM2_final_big_box_bottom.3mf

[gr5 2,167]

So there are a few possible causes on a UM2 but 90% of the time the set screw on one of the pulleys comes loose and usually the stepper motor pulley.  So determine which axis it is and then push the head around and see which pulleys move when you slide that axis.  I assume the Y axis as I assume it was positioned as shown in the photo.  Anyway start with the stepper on that axis and tighten the hell out of the set screw.  Hopefully you got one of the UM2 printers that came with the green and black hex driver and you can use that because it will reach behind the covers down to the stepper.  Just push the head around until the screw is accessible.

 

If you only have one of those little L shaped allen wrenches make damn sure it's the right size (2mm hex) because you will strip the head if you don't have the right size because you will be tightening HARD.  So you want to twist so damn hard that the steel shaft of the tool twists a little.  Scary tight.

 

Get the other pulleys as well but the stepper one is usually the most important.  One axis has 5 and the other axis has 6 pulleys.  The one with 5 has kind of two pulleys bonded together.

 

If you only have an L shaped wrench you can remove the cover with only one or two screws (depending how old the printer is).  Don't remove the panels!  Just the corner cover.  But you won't have to bother if you have the hex driver.

 

If you don't believe me (many don't - not sure why) then use a sharpie to mark the shaft and the pulley and the next time it skips a layer, check the markings and you should see that the pulleys (all 6 of them) moved a little versus the shaft.

[BillMurr85 3]

Hi  thanks ive tightened all the pulleys to the max i can will do some prints and see what happens

[BillMurr85 3]

Hi thanks for all the suggestions so after tighening all the pulleys i have had serveral successful prints so looks like that was the answer.

[MariMakes 198]