A few months ago the 3D printer (Ultimaker 2+ Extended) I bought arrived and I got started with printing out stuff right away.
In this article I will talk about the four worst things that happened while printing out various parts and how I fixed them.
At the end of this article is a short FAQ to give you some answers I wish I had when I started 3d printing.
The atomic method is a process for clearing a clogged nozzle on a 3D printer. Here’s how it works:
If the nozzle is still clogged after several attempts, try using a nozzle cleaning tool or remove the nozzle and clean it manually.
Atomic method guide by Ultimaker: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/19510-how-to-apply-atomic-method
If material is getting stuck while you’re printing, it’s often caused by a clogged nozzle or incorrect temperature settings. Here are some steps you can take to stop material from getting stuck:
If these steps don’t work, try reducing the printing speed, increasing the layer height, or adjusting the cooling fan settings. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the nozzle or the hotend.
If your material is not extruding anymore, there are several things that you can check:
If your nozzle is leaking material the most likely cause is that the nozzle isn’t screwed in enough.
When your nozzle looks like this the best way to get rid of the material stuck to the nozzle is to heat the nozzle up to 180 degrees Celcius and the use a tweezer to remove the material. (http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide#caked-nozzle)
After removing the material keep the nozzle heated up and tighten it with the torque wrench. (In more detail: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/18020-installing-the-nozzle)
If the Olsson block or the nozzle breaks because of the leaking filament you can just order a replacement part and replace it yourself easily.
What is slicing?
Slicing is the process of converting a 3d model into a file that the 3d printer can actually understand and print out. For example converting a .stl file into a .gcode file.
What applications can you use for slicing? / What are the benefits of the different applications?
I’m using Cura (https://ultimaker.com/en/products/cura-software) which was developed by Ultimaker, but also works with a lot of other printers.
What should I use to model my own designs?
For simple models I use tinkercad.com. As far I haven’t created more complicated models and it’s a great and easy tool to get started.
What can I do if I have a stuck screw that I can’t turn anymore with my screwdriver?
Use the jagged part of a plier to turn the stuck screw.