The feeder forwards filament to the print head. To make sure that exactly the right amount of material is extruded, it is important that the feeder gears can turn smoothly and the knurled wheel is in good condition. After many hours of printing, or when material has been ground down, there is a chance that there are small filament particles in the feeder.
It is recommended to clean the inside of the feeder and lubricate the feeder gear at least once a year. Cleaning the feeder is also recommended after you have experienced issues with grinding of the material. In order to do this, the feeder must be removed from the printer.
Caution: Before you start, turn off the printer or ensure the Ultimaker 2+ Connect cannot accept new print jobs through the Digital Factory.
Instructions
Cleaning the feeder consists of a few different steps. Some disassembly is required and the process takes about 5 - 10 minutes. For this maintenance procedure, you will need the 2 mm hex screwdriver, a small brush, and some grease.
| 1. Unload material | First, remove the material from the printer. Via the Materials menu, select Unload material and remove the spool. For detailed instructions, visit this page. |
| 2. Remove Bowden tube |
Remove the clamp clip from the feeder-end of the Bowden tube, press down on the tube coupling collet and pull the Bowden tube upwards out of the feeder. |
| 3. Remove the feeder |
Use the hex screwdriver to loosen the two bolts that hold the feeder to the back panel and remove the feeder from the printer. |
| 4. Reduce feeder tension |
Before opening the feeder, reduce the feeder tension to prevent the spring from jumping out when the feeder halves are separated. Use the hex screwdriver to turn the bolt in the top of the feeder housing until the tension indicator is all the way at the top. |
| 5. Open the feeder |
Use the hex screwdriver to loosen the four bolts of the feeder housing. Carefully take the two halves of the feeder apart and place the tube coupling collet aside. |
Tip: Be careful not to lose the ring that is located at the bottom of the feeder. If it falls out, place it back in the feeder housing with the widest side at the bottom.
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| Remove the Bowden tube | Loosen the feeder from the printer | Open the feeder housing |
Use a small brush or compressed air to gently clean all filament particles from the knurled wheel and the interior of the feeder housing. When the inside of the feeder is completely clean, you can reassemble the two halves:
| Check components |
Before closing the feeder again, ensure that the tension indicator and the bottom feeder ring are correctly placed in the back of the feeder housing part. You can place the tube coupling collet back now, or do this after reassembly of the feeder. |
| Close the feeder | Place the front part over the feeder again and firmly push it into place. Again, ensure that the bolt of the tension indicator does not stick out of the top of the feeder housing. |
| Tighten the bolts | Insert the four bolts into the front of the feeder. Use the hex screwdriver to tighten them. It is recommended to tighten the bolts in a cross pattern, starting in the top-left corner. |
| Reset feeder tension |
Reset the tension of the feeder by turning the bolt in the top of the feeder housing until the indicator is at the middle mark again. |
While the feeder is still removed from the printer, you can clean and relubricate the feeder gears. Use the grease from the accessory box for this.
First, remove the majority of the old grease and any particles stuck to the gears. Clean both the gear connected to the motor and the larger gear inside the feeder using a clean cloth or a cotton swab.
Next, apply a small amount of grease to the gear attached to the feeder motor. There is no need to spread this out; the feeder will do this automatically when it turns after reassembly.
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After performing both maintenance actions, secure the feeder to the back panel again.
- Align the feeder with the back panel and feeder gear.
- Secure the feeder with the two bolts, using the hex screwdriver.
- Insert the Bowden tube into the feeder by pressing down on the tube coupling collet in the feeder and pushing the Bowden tube all the way in.
- Secure the tube with the clamp clip.
Tip: It is also recommended to replace the Bowden tube once a year. Follow these instructions simultaneously with cleaning the feeder.
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| Secure the feeder | Insert the Bowden tube | Place the clamp clip |
Finished!
The feeder is now nicely cleaned and relubricated for smooth operation. You can now reload material and continue printing.
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