The time it takes to make a 3D print on an Ultimaker depends on the size of the model and the settings that you use for printing. A small object with low quality settings can already be printed in less than 10 minutes. But when you want to print a big object in high quality it could also take several hours. Factors that have a direct influence on the overal printing time are at your disposal. Like speed, resolution and the amount of infill.
These printers are generally cheaper to buy but take a little longer to print depending on their print area. Toybox claims to be able to print a 2x4 Lego brick in about 4 minutes, the Ultimaker is about the same. But as you scale, since it is in 3d space, the time grows as a cubic function to the size of the print.
Cura is an open source 3D printer slicing application. Ultimaker Cura is used by over one million users worldwide and it is the preferred 3D printing software for Ultimaker 3D printers, but it can be used with other printers as well.
Although there are several things to keep in mind while 3D printing, the steps it takes to create a 3D print are pretty easy. Basically, this is the process for 3D printing on an Ultimaker:
- Download or design a 3D model
- Convert the 3D model to a 3D print file with the software Cura
- Start the 3D print on the Ultimaker
With an Ultimaker you can 3D print a lot of things, but as every technique has its limitations, not everything is possible. The Ultimaker uses the 3D printing technique FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication), with which layers of melted plastic are placed on top of each other. With this technique very complex structures or “overhanging” parts could be hard to print.
Ultimaker printers use PLA and ABS as materials for 3D printing. We usually recommend to use PLA (especially if you’re new into 3D printing), as this is the easiest material to print with due to its technical properties. For printing with a material like ABS a heated bed is recommended, since ABS has the tendency to warp when it cools down fast.
Because of the open filament system on an Ultimaker you are also free to try other materials (e.g. lay wood or nylon). You only need to be aware that we can’t fully guarantee the quality of materials not supplied by ourselves.
Before the filament can be loaded, the filament spool needs to be placed on the spool holder. Once you’ve done this, you can insert the filament into the feeder and guide it through the bowden tube into the hot end.
For detailed instructions on how to insert filament into your Ultimaker, you can take a look at the manual of your 3D printer.
If you experience difficulties when loading the filament, please take a look at Ultimaker troubleshooting guides.
When you create CAD models yourself, or when you download them from sites like YouMagine.com or Thingiverse.com, your 3D model file will be in the form of STL, OBJ, or another CAD file. Your printer can’t read this type of file directly.
If you put an STL or OBJ file onto an SD card and then insert that card into your Ultimaker, that file will not even appear on the file list on the printer’s digital readout.
In order to print such a CAD model, you must first convert it into G-code, which is a list of machine instructions that your printer can read. To convert CAD models into G-code, you need to use a slicing program like Ultimaker Cura software. The slicer breaks your CAD model into layers and lines that your printer can understand.
To print a model through the Ultimaker App, follow these steps:
- Connect to your Ultimaker 3 by selecting the model from the list of discovered printers, or manually add a printer with the IP address.
- Select "Start a new print".
- Load a 3D model from your device, or print the Ultimaker Robot.
Installation
To start the installation of Cura, download it first. After downloading, open the installer and run the installation wizard to complete the installation. To make sure Cura can run on your computer, we recommend checking the system requirements described below.
Operating systems
- Windows Vista or higher, 64 bit. 32 Bit supported up to Cura 2.3
- Mac OSX 10.7 or higher, 64 bit. Cura 2.6 and above require Mac OS 10.11 or higher
- Ubuntu 14.04 or higher, 64 bit
System requirements
- OpenGL 2 compatible graphics chip, OpenGL 4.1 for 3D Layer view
- Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64 or newer
- 205 MB available hard disk space
Depending on which printer you have, you might find a few different errors. Here you can find an overview of the meaning of these errors and how to easily fix them. If you’d like a more in-depth answer, you can also check out the full guides Error messages you might encounter on the Ultimaker family.
