This error can appear on UltiMaker S series printers (UltiMaker S3, S5, and S7) and Factor 4. The exact origin of the error is unknown, so the display shows that the error is 'unspecified'. There appears to be a problem with the printer's control software. Because the error is unspecified, unfortunately, it is difficult to determine the exact cause.
Note: Factor 4 currently has a known issue causing ER999, relating to the XY calibration procedure. When the printer shows a calibration prompt on the display, pressing the Calibrate button on the display will immediately display ER999. The workaround is to ignore the prompt and start the calibration from the Maintenance menu instead. Additionally, if the XY calibration process is aborted shortly after starting it, this may also trigger an ER999. This issue will be fixed in the next Factor 4 firmware release.
Reboot the printer
First, check if the error can be simply resolved by rebooting the printer. Turn off the printer using the power switch at the back. Wait at least 10 seconds before turning the printer on again. If possible, try to reproduce the scenario in which the ER999 error message appeared and see if the error shows again. If not, this may have just been a temporary glitch.
Update the firmware
Always ensure your printer is running the most recent firmware version available for your model. New releases can contain reliability improvements and error handling updates. UltiMaker strives to have the 'unspecified' error occurrences as low as possible.
If your printer is already on the latest firmware but keeps showing ER999, try restoring to defaults by performing a factory reset.
Old firmware issues
There are a few known instances on older firmware versions whereby the ER999 message appears. This can only affect S series printers:
- Switch bay calibration. When the printer was missing the switch bay calibration values when a new print is started, this could cause an unexpected ER999. Reboot the printer and calibrate the position of the switch bay before starting a new print.
- XY calibration. If the XY calibration is aborted and retried via the option on the display (Would you like to retry?), this could cause the ER999 error to occur. This could happen due to an error with material loading or active leveling, or when the calibration is manually aborted. Follow the troubleshooting steps via the links above if an error occurred, and try the XY calibration again.
The error handling for the situations listed above has been updated in the firmware. Ensure to update to 8.2.1 (Stable) or 8.3.1 (Latest). Learn more about updating the firmware for your S series printer:
Note: This error, combined with ER998, was formerly known as ER27. This has been changed several years ago. If you still see an ER27 on your printer, your firmware is very old and must be updated.
Need further support?
If the error persists, please contact support. Include the error number, your printer's log files, and describe in which situation(s) the error appears.
Tip: If you have not already enabled this, consider allowing your printer to share anonymous data over the network. This provides valuable insights into internal printer processes and helps UltiMaker improve our products, such as reducing the number of error occurrences.
