UM2 Go For a second printer?

[deepshots 2]

I have had UM2 for over a year now and I use it mostly for printing gears and other knick-knacks from PLA/PHA for my customers. But I see the print quality slowly deteriorating over the last half an year. There seems to be nothing wrong with the printer and I get 10/10 from the UM2 speed torture test but still the print quality is not what it used to be: More banding, more underextrusion (especially with thicker layers), not as accurate dimensions, etc... So I was thinking to buy another new one as I can't be in a position when I don't have a working printer financially.

My parts are small so the UM2 Go seems like a good option. The only problem with it is the lack of the heated bed. I have never printed without heated bed. I have never had any adhesion issues while the bed is hot. My prints pop out often themselves once the bed is completely cooled. I can't see how could the prints adhere to a cold bed. Do they?

[visu-al 2]

If i print wihtout heated bed on my um2, i use blue painters tape to print PLA. Or Kapton / Polyimid tape if i like to have a glossy surface..

[swordriff 119]

@deepshots:UM2 speed torture test but still the print quality is not what it used to be: More banding, more underextrusion (especially with thicker layers), not as accurate dimensions, etc.

Not accurate dimensions; Ill bet you need to tighte the drive belts, especially the small ones in the back. Loose belts cause "over-moving, or "backlash", printing out of domension.

Underextrusion; material in bowden tube from extuder drive, maladjusted drive or most likely buildup of carbon in hot end.

Fix: Atomic pulls, use another colour. Do it until the it comes out perfectly clean and in shape.

easy way of making atomic is inserting a piece of bowden tube maybe 10cm long into the head, then feed the atomic pull-filament through it. you can also use a tube 6mm outer dia, 3mm+ inner dia.

[DidierKlein 729]

Personnaly i had a big improvement in quality when i changed my heater block + teflon spacer after a while and abrasive materials it was in a bad state and had a clear impact on quality.

For the Go it's a very nice printer, if you don't need the bigger print volume of the UM2 and print only in PLA then it's a good choice.

[SandervG 1,521]

The print quality of the Ultimaker 2Go is excellent.

Because it is build using the same mechanics as the Ultimaker 2, but it is a bit smaller, it makes for a very rigid machine.

If you print small PLA parts I can see a good match, but be aware that due to the tape the bottom surface will not be as glossy as prints from a glass plate.

The Ultimaker 2Go also comes with a special travel container which you can see here

[deepshots 2]

I was given a piece of this: http://www.buildtak.eu/shop/ . It's an 3D printing surface for all FFF printers. Anyone tried them?

[SandervG 1,521]

I have tried it before, it works pretty good in my personal opinion.

It can be a good alternative for the blue tape.

[chrisw 70]

Are there plans in the works for the addition of a heated build plate, or is this definitely not going to happen for the GO model?

thanks,

Chris

[Labern 774]

Are there plans in the works for the addition of a heated build plate,  or is this definitely not going to happen for the GO model?

thanks,

Chris

I was told it's not going to happen. But i'm sure someone will sell a kit at some point.

[swordriff 119]

The PSU is scaled down so there is hardly power for a heated plate as well.

[ultiarjan 1,223]

But the main thing is that the board is the same. The psu can easily be replaced... will make a kit a bit more expensive. .

Edited May 15, 2015 by Guest

[swordriff 119]

yea, they are expensive.. and I worry about guarantee if a non original PSU collapses and crashes the PCB.hmm..

The UM2 ahs a 220W PSU. The 2Go has 120

[Labern 774]

I would like to integrate a psu into the bottom of the printer. We have 24v ones at work that would fit but not sure what they output.

[chrisw 70]

But the main thing is that the board is the same. The psu can easily be replaced... will make a kit a bit more expensive. .

I'm in a similar situation to what the OP described, where I may need a second printer soon, and all the parts I'll be making with it will be small. The reduced footprint and price of a Go model would be nice if it were as functional as its big brothers. Even if the price of adding those extra parts makes it $175 more expensive than the current Go listing, I'd buy it.

I already have extra parts for my UM2 just in case anything fails, so it would be nice to have that stash of extra parts covering 2 printers.

The lulzbot mini has everything except the ability to stand alone. So neither one of these two mini machines has everything I want. However maybe adding a Mattercontrol Touchpad to the mini could resolve its weak area.

[chrisw 70]

yea, they are expensive.. and I worry about guarantee if a non original PSU collapses and crashes the PCB.hmm..

The UM2 ahs a 220W PSU. The 2Go has 120

Yeah, that's quite a difference.

[ultiarjan 1,223]

Why not just contact support and ask a price for a GO with the um2 psu ? they may ask a steep price but you'll have a safe psu...

Edited May 16, 2015 by Guest

[chrisw 70]

Why not just contact support and ask a price for a GO with the um2 psu ? they may ask a steep price but you'll have a safe psu...

Not a bad idea. Then I'd still need to cobble together a build plate warmer to fit the Go plate, unless they can provide that too. I'll ask

[neotko 1,417]

The PSU Ultimaker uses on UM2 are easy to buy outside, for my UMO+ (same board) I use a 280W from Mean Well with no problems at all. For a UM2GO with 160W should be enough to power a heated bed of 40W. UM2 uses the model GS220A20-R7B but with the R7B connector you can find also other watts like the model GS160A24-R7B and it's easy to buy one from mouser. I got mine from mouser and they delivered en 3 days and they paid the import taxes.

[ultiarjan 1,223]

The PSU Ultimaker uses on UM2 are easy to buy outside, for my UMO+ (same board) I use a 280W from Mean Well with no problems at all. For a UM2GO with 160W should be enough to power a heated bed of 40W. UM2 uses the model GS220A20-R7B but with the R7B connector you can find also other watts like the model GS160A24-R7B and it's easy to buy one from mouser. I got mine from mouser and they delivered en 3 days and they paid the import taxes.

Thats probably a better idea, and will most likely be a bit more compact...