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Before you can start printing on the UltiMaker 3, you need to load materials into the printer. Material 2 will be loaded first, because this material will be placed on the spool holder, closest to the back of the printer.
Tip: This article specifically describes loading materials for the first time (as part of the welcome setup). If there is already material loaded and you want to change it to a different spool, learn how in this article.
Loading material 2
If you have followed the welcome setup and installed the BB print core in print head slot 2, load PVA as material 2. Follow the steps below to correctly load the material.
Place the spool
Remove the packaging from the spool of material. Cut off the end of the filament that is hooked onto the spool. Ensure a nice sharp tip for easy loading. It is also recommended to straighten the end of the filament, so it can easily enter the feeder.
Place the spool on the spool holder at the back of the printer. Ensure that the filament is in a clockwise direction so that it can enter feeder 2 from the bottom.
Wait until the UltiMaker 3 has detected the material type. This will only work when using UltiMaker material and if the spool holder cable is connected to the NFC socket at the bottom of the printer. You can also select the material type manually in the menu.
Insert material
The feeder will start turning slowly. Insert the end of the filament into the bottom of feeder 2. Apply pressure until you feel that the feeder grips the material. The filament will now automatically slowly move upwards.
As soon as the filament is visible in the Bowden tube above the feeder, confirm this using the button.
Note: Do not wait too long to press Continue. After this, the printer will automatically forward the filament to the print head. If the material is too far into the Bowden tube, the material will jam in the hot end, and the feeder will grind into the filament.
Extrude material
The print core will now heat up. When the print core has reached the target temperature, the filament will now fast forward through the Bowden tube to the print head. When it almost reaches the print core, the feeder will turn slowly again.
Wait for material to extrude from the nozzle.
Note: The color of the material that starts extruding could be different from the color of the material that you just loaded. There can be some residue from the factory test print left in the print core. Wait until you see the color of the filament that you loaded coming out of the nozzle.
Confirm when the material is flowing consistently from the nozzle. Remove the strand of filament from the printer and proceed to load material 1.
Loading material 1
For material 1, it is recommended to load the spool of PLA that came with the printer. You may also load a different type of material if you prefer. This spool will be placed on the material guide to prevent entangling. Follow the steps below to correctly load the material.
Place the spool
Like the other spool, cut off the end of the filament into a nice, sharp tip and straighten it a bit.
Now take the material guide and hold it with the outer part towards you. Place the material spool on the material guide with the material in counter-clockwise direction.
Guide the end of the material through the hole in the material guide. When you have done this, select Continue.
Place the material guide - with material 1 on it - on the spool holder, behind material 2, and wait until it is detected by the printer. Alternatively, manually select the material type in the menu.
Insert material
Feeder 1 will start spinning slowly. Insert the end of the filament into the bottom of feeder 1. Apply pressure until you feel that the feeder grips the material. The filament will now automatically slowly move upwards.
As soon as the filament is visible in the Bowden tube above the feeder, confirm this using the button. Again, ensure not to wait too long to prevent the material from getting stuck.
Extrude material
Wait for the UltiMaker 3 to heat up print core 1 and load the material into the print head. Confirm when the new material extrudes from the print head. Wait a moment for print core 1 to cool down.
Both materials are now loaded correctly. You can proceed with the next step of the welcome setup: Setting up a network connection.
Tip: After completing the welcome setup, you can always load, unload, and change materials via the Material/PrintCore menu on the printer. For more information on how to change materials, visit this page.
