Factor Series - Clean the printer

Before starting a new print on the UltiMaker Factor 4 or Factor 4 Plus, always make sure that the surface of the flexible build plate is properly cleaned. This ensures optimal adhesion of the printed model. Both sides of the flexible build plate can be used; always ensure that both sides are cleaned.

Oils, greases, and certain cleaning agents could negatively affect the adhesive properties of the surface of the flexible build plate.

Caution: Before you start cleaning the plate, make sure it has completely cooled down. Never remove, touch, or handle the build plate while it is still hot.

Clean the surface of the flexible build plate using a (microfiber) cloth and >95% isopropyl alcohol (also known as isopropanol or IPA). Using paper towels may leave fibers on the surface. Wipe the flexible build plate with long strokes in one direction.

Caution: Isopropyl alcohol (CAS nr. 67-63-0) is a hazardous, highly flammable substance. Keep away from heat, sparks, static discharge, and other potential ignition sources. Ensure good ventilation and avoid inhaling the vapor. Read the SDS from your IPA supplier to learn more about the risks and safety precautions, or find more information here.

Tip: For additional details about cleaning the flexible build plate, please visit this support article.

During and after printing, material can get stuck to the outside of the nozzles and degrade. Although this will not usually damage your printer, it is recommended to keep the nozzles of the print cores clean to achieve the best print results. Material on the outside of the nozzles can get mixed into the printed parts. If there is too much degraded filament on the nozzle tips, this may interfere with the active leveling process and cause errors.

Check the nozzle tips before starting a new print. Remove any material from the outside of the nozzle by taking the following steps:

Caution: This procedure requires heating up the print cores. Be careful and do not touch the nozzle with your bare hands. Protective (thermal) gloves are advised. Ensure the printer is disabled in the UltiMaker Digital Factory to prevent new print jobs from starting remotely.

1. In the Configuration menu, select Print core 1. Then, click on the icon in the top-right corner and select Set temperature. Use the controls to set the target temperature to 150 °C.

Tip: When you have printed with high-temperature and/or composite materials, a slightly higher nozzle temperature may work better.

2. Repeat this for print core 2 and make sure this print core is lowered. If print core 2 is not lowered, manually move the lift switch on the side of the print head.
3. Wait for the material on the outside of the nozzle to soften. When the nozzles are hot, carefully remove the material with tweezers.
4. Lower the print core temperatures to 0 °C and wait for the nozzles to cool down.

Tip: Material may have accumulated higher up on the outside of the nozzle, above the nozzle cover. Open the fan bracket and remove any material found here with tweezers too.

Note: The nozzle cover is fragile and has a sealing function. Be careful not to damage the nozzle cover when using tweezers.

It is recommended to regularly clean the outer glass components to remove any dust or fingerprints. This includes the build chamber glass door, the Material Station glass door, and the interface. Use a moist microfiber cloth.

Note: Do not use aggressive cleaning agents.

The material that is extruded during the prime and deprime processes is collected in the purge buckets on the left and right sides of the gantry. It is recommended to empty these after each print, or at least do so regularly.

Open the glass door of the printer. Take the left purge bucket and pull it down. It is easiest to gently tilt the purge bucket backward, with the bottom of the bucket toward you. Empty it and push it back into the slot to reinstall it. Repeat this for the right side.

Tip: The purge buckets are identical, so it does not matter which bucket is installed on which side. Ensure that the fully transparent side faces toward the inside of the printer.

Besides what is collected in the purge buckets, small pieces of material can gather inside the printer. Leaving larger objects on the bottom panel can lead to errors, as they prevent the build plate from homing properly. Remove small particles regularly from the inside of the printer by taking the following steps:

1. Raise the build plate. Use the Move build plate option in the Maintenance menu to raise the build plate. You can also lift up the build plate manually, but then use one hand to keep it raised.
2. Clean the bottom panel. Wipe all material particles into the tray at the back of the build chamber. Lift up the tray, move it out of the printer, and empty it. Afterward, align it with the bottom panel and simply drop it in place. Ensure it is positioned correctly and is flush with the bottom panel.
3. Lower build plate. Before lowering the build plate again, make sure that there are no objects on the bottom panel. This will prevent the build plate from lowering completely, and this can cause errors. If it is clear underneath the build plate, use the controls in the Move build plate menu to lower it again. Keep your hands clear of the build volume while the build plate is moving.