Maintaining correct tension on the short belts is important to ensure good print quality. The short belts transfer the movements of the X and Y motors to the print head. If the belts are too loose, print head movement may not be accurate, which can cause print inaccuracies. Over time, the belts may become slack.
It is recommended to check the tension of the short belts at least once every three months or when you notice inaccuracies in your prints.
Checking instructions
Caution: Before you start, turn off the printer or disable the printer in UltiMaker Digital Factory to prevent new print jobs from starting remotely.
Pluck the two short belts to check their tension. They should resonate, like guitar strings. It should not be possible to press the belt against itself. Furthermore, the tension of the two belts should be equal.
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| Belt too loose | Correct belt tension |
Tightening the short belts
To restore the tension, perform the following steps. Use the 2 mm hex screwdriver that was included in the accessory box of your printer.
Note: For the UltiMaker S5 with Air Manager, open the Air Manager cover while performing this maintenance action. For the UltiMaker S7, due to the size of the printer, perform this maintenance action with two people; one with access to the inside and one with access to the outside of the printer.
- Loosen the Y motor by using the hex screwdriver to loosen the four bolts that hold the Y motor to the left panel. Do not remove the bolts. The motor should be able to slide up and down.
- Firmly press down on the motor with one hand. This ensures maximum tension on the short belt.
- While still pressing the motor down, tighten the four bolts of the Y motor in a cross pattern. First tighten the top-left bolt, then the bottom-right, followed by the bottom-left and ending with the top-right. This ensures that the motor is attached straight.
- Perform the above steps for the X motor that is attached to the back panel. Afterward, check the tension of both belts again.
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| Firmly push down on the motor | Tighten the motor bolts in the frame |
