These instructions are applicable to the Ultimaker S7, Ultimaker S5, and Ultimaker S3. We suggest leaving the glass plate on your heated bed while performing maintenance, or putting a piece of cardboard down, to protect your heated bed plate in case anything is dropped during disassembly or reassembly. You'll find instructions here for replacing the long belts, short belts, X-motor, and Y-motor.
- The S5 and S3 do not use the same length belts; however, in both cases, they will use longer belts on the X axis (left to right), and the shorter belts (back to front) on the Y axis.
- Earlier S5 machines use a black plastic motor spacer; later S5 machines and S3 machines use a white plastic motor spacer (pictured below).
- The sliding blocks you are replacing may be black plastic, or white plastic (pictured below) depending on the age of the machine. Earlier S5 machines used black; the white blocks were introduced on the S3 and S5 R2.
- The Ultimaker S7 and Ultimaker S5 use 2x 920 length belt sliding blocks and 2x 714 length belt sliding blocks available here. The S3 uses 2x 616 length belt sliding blocks, and 2x 726 length belt sliding blocks available here.
We have video instructions as well as written instructions, and recommend using both together.
Tools
- 2mm hex head screwdriver
Long Belts
- Make sure your machine is powered off before beginning this repair, and open the doors on the front of your Ultimaker S5 or S3. You will need plenty of space behind the printer, and on at least 1 side of the printer to remove the linear rods during this process.
- You will need to push/tilt the white or black plastic blocks that hold the print head shafts in place in order to remove the printhead shafts. I recommend tilting the front and back blocks first and sliding the Y printhead shaft out forward through the front of the machine. If you have an S5, do this with the front to back printhead shaft off-center from the middle of the frame so you don't catch on the magnets that hold your door closed.
This should make it easier to then tilt the left and right blocks to remove the X printhead shaft. Once it's free of the blocks, just turn it slightly diagonal to be able to pull the X printhead shaft and printhead out of the top of the printer. While working, take care. Even a short drop can damage the tip of your Print Core. Set the printhead shafts and the printhead aside.
3. If you ARE replacing the both the short belts and long belts: Remove the corner cable covers. The cable covers are held in place with push fit tabs; tug diagonally on the cable covers at the top, with the bed lowered in order to remove the covers. Unscrew the four screws that hold on each axis motor (X motor and Y motor). The motors are located on the back panel and the left panel. Make sure you hold the motor when you undo the screws or the motor will fall. Set the motors in the bottom of the printer. Installing the motors back into position is one of the last steps of the belt replacement.
4. If you ARE NOT replacing the short belts: Loosen (do not remove) the four screws that hold on each axis motor (X motor and Y motor). The motors are located on the back panel and the left panel. Raise the motor up and retighten the screws. At this point, there should be no tension on the short belts connecting the motors to the axis rods.
5. Loosen the set screws on the pulleys on two rods that go front to back. There is no need to completely remove the screw. If you cannot access a set screw, manually move the plastic sliding blocks to rotate the pulleys. Remove the two rods by pushing them out through the back panel. Remove the black spacers and pulleys as you go.
The left rod has two 3mm spacers, one 25mm spacer, and two pulleys. The right rod has two 3mm spacers, one 10mm spacer, and three pulleys.
6. The remaining rods are easier to access now that the first pair of rods is out of the machine. Loosen the set screws on the pulleys on the two rods that run horizontally. There is no need to completely remove the screw. If you cannot access a set screw, manually move the plastic sliding blocks to rotate the pulleys. Remove the two rods by pushing them through either side panel. Remove the black spacers and pulleys as you go. There are two pulleys and one 8mm spacer on the back rod. There are two pulleys and two 8mm spacers on the front rod.
7. You should have the following loose pieces once the rods are removed: (7) single pulleys; (1) double pulley; (1) large pulley; (1) 25mm black spacer; (4) 3mm black spacers; (3) 8mm black spacers; (1) 10mm black spacers; and (4) black sliding blocks attached to the belts. If you are replacing the short belts, you will have (2) loose short belts as well. Set aside any defective parts and replace them with the new ones before beginning to reassemble the X/Y axes. If you find that you are missing a piece, check underneath the bed or underneath the printer itself. The spacers have a tendency to fall and roll away.
8. Each hole for the rods has a bearing on the inside of the panel. Before reassembling, ensure the bearings are fully seated. The silver lip of the bearing should sit flush against the panel.
9. To reassemble the axes, begin with one of the longer rods. We will start with the back rod. Hold the double pulley (with the short belt on the left half, and the shorter sliding block hanging on the right half) against the back left bearing (larger side against the bearing) and insert the rod. Next, skewer one of the longer sliding blocks, a single pulley(set screw toward the right panel, with a shorter sliding block hanging), and an 8mm black spacer. Once the rod is seated in both panels, push the double pulley to the left panel and the single pulley and spacer to the right panel so they are seated snuggly.
10. Take the other long rod. This is the front rod. Insert the rod through the left panel. Add the following to the rod: 8mm black spacer; single pulley (set screw toward the left panel, long belt from the double pulley stretched across); skewer the last sliding block; single pulley (set screw toward the right panel, shorter belt sliding block from the single pulley stretched across); and a 8mm black spacer. Once the rod is seated in both panels, push the pulleys and spacers to their respective corners.
11. Now align and secure the axis. Hold the back-right pulley toward the panel and tighten the set screw. Repeat in the front, left corner. Manually move both sliding blocks to the front of the printer. Move one sliding block to rotate the pulleys until the set screw in the back-left pulley is accessible. The sliding blocks should be moving in tandem. Push the back rod toward the right which holding the double pulley to the left. Tighten the set screw on the double pulley. Grip the rod and try to move it left to right. If the pulleys are tightened correctly, the rod won't move. If the rod moves, loosen the pulley and try again. Repeat the process with the front rod, this time moving the rod to the left and the pulley to the front right corner. Once you are finished and both rods are tightly in place, move the sliding blocks to the front of the printer again. The gap between the plastic block and the silver pulley should be the same on the left and right sides of the machine.
12. One of the shorter rods will be the left rod. Insert it through the back panel. Add the following to the rod: 25mm black spacer; 3mm black spacer; single pulley (with the set screw toward the back panel, with the loose back belt over it); skewer the sliding block on the front-to-back belt; single pulley (with the set screw toward the front panel, with the loose front belt over it); and a 3mm black spacer.
13. The remaining rod is the right rod. Insert it through the back panel. Add the following to the rod: the large pulley (with the wide side touching the panel and the short belt looped over it); 3mm black spacer; 10mm black spacer; single pulley (set screw toward the back panel, back long belt stretched across); skewer the sliding block on the front-to-back belt; single pulley (with the set screw toward the front panel, front long belt stretched across); and 3mm black spacer.
14. Now align and secure the axis. Pull the left rod toward the front and hold the front, left pulley toward the panel. Tighten the set screw. Pull the right rod toward the front, hold both back-right pulleys toward the back panel, and tighten both set screws. Manually move both sliding blocks to the right side of the printer. Move one sliding block to rotate the back-left pulley until the set screw is accessible. The sliding blocks should be moving in tandem. Pull the left rod toward the front, push the back pulley toward the panel, and tighten the set screw. Grip the rod and try to move it front to back. If the pulleys are tightened correctly, the rod won't move. If the rod moves, loosen the pulley and try again. Repeat the process with the right rod, still moving the rod to front and the pulley to the front right corner. Once you are finished and both rods are tightly in place, move the sliding blocks to the right of the printer again. The gap between the plastic block and the silver pulley should be the same at the front and back of the machine.
15. If you REMOVED the motors: Loosely mount the motors back on the printer; do not tighten the screws all the way. Put the top two screws (with washers) through the panel and the plastic motor spacer. Depending on when your machine was built, the spacer may be black or white. The spacer should be oriented so the hook is down. Hook the short belt on the pulley located on the motor while making sure the belt stays placed on the rod pulley. Orient the motor so the cord is down. Start the two top screws. Secure the cord behind the hook and start the bottom two screws. Proceed to step 16.
16. If the motors are ON your printer: make sure the screws holding the motor are loose enough that you can freely move the motor up and down. Hold the motor level with the bottom panel. Press down on the center of the motor block to put tension on the short belt. Tighten the four screws holding the motor.
17. Manually move the sliding blocks and watch the short belt. If the belt moves smoothly, the motor is correctly positioned. If the short belt is loose or wobbly, loosen the motor and try again. If you hear an abnormal noise when moving it, loosen the motor and try again.
18. To seat the hot end back inside the printer, the longer print head shaft should go through the bearing running left to right, and the shorter one, front to back.
Slide the long printhead shaft through the printhead on the left to right axis and turn the printhead and shaft slightly diagonally to bring it back into the printer--rest the printhead shaft on the U shaped opening at the top of your sliding blocks. The shafts fit into the plastic blocks as a push fit and may require a little force. When you push them into position, make sure to hold the sliding block straight; tilted blocks will cause problems with your active leveling or may not stay seated during printing.
Once the X printhead shaft is seated, tilt your printhead slightly so you can slide the Y printhead shaft between the belts at the front of your printer, and skewer it through the printhead. Seat it firmly in the front and back blocks, making sure they are perpendicular and not tilted.
If you experience slanting prints after working on your belts, look for loose pulleys.
Short Belts Only
- Remove the corner cable covers. The cable covers are held in place with push fit tabs; tug diagonally on the cable covers at the top, with the bed lowered in order to remove the covers. Unscrew the four screws that hold on each axis motor (X motor and Y motor). The motors are located on the left panel and the back panel. Make sure you hold the motor when you undo the screws or the motor will fall. Set the motors in the bottom of the printer.
- Loosen the set screws on the two pulleys on the back rod which runs horizontally. Dislodge the rod from the left panel by moving it to the right. Put a new short belt in place of the old one. There is no need to remove the pulley to accomplish this. Settle the rod back into the left panel making sure the long belt is still over both pulleys. Hold the back right pulley toward the panel and tighten the set screw. Manually move the print head to the front of the printer. The gap between the plastic block and the silver pulley should be the same on the left and right sides of the machine. If the gap is the same, tighten the back rod by holding to rod toward the right and the double pulley toward the left panel and tightening the set screw before moving to step four. If the gap is different, loosen the front-right pulley and align the axis in step three.
- Manually move both sliding blocks to the front of the printer. Move the print head to rotate the pulleys until the set screw in the back-left pulley is accessible. The sliding blocks should be moving in tandem. Push the back rod toward the right which holding the double pulley to the left. Tighten the set screw on the double pulley. Grip the rod and try to move it left to right. If the pulleys are tightened correctly, the rod won't move. If the rod moves, loosen the pulley and try again. Repeat the process with the front rod, this time moving the rod to the left and the pulley to the front-right corner. Once you are finished and both rods are tightly in place, move the sliding blocks to the front of the printer again. The gap between the plastic block and the silver pulley should be the same on the left and right sides of the machine.
- Loosen the three pulleys on the right rod. Move the rod through the back panel. Collect the pulleys and spacers as you go. You can leave the final pulley in place. Change out the short belts. Reinsert the rod replacing the pulleys and spacers as you go. Large pulley (wide side to the panel, with the short belt); 3mm black spacer; 10mm black spacer; single pulley (set screw toward the back panel, back long belt stretched across); skewer the sliding block on the front-to-back belt; single pulley (with the set screw toward the front panel, front long belt stretched across); and 3mm black spacer. Hold the rod forward and push the two rear pulleys toward the back panel. Tighten the set screws on both pulleys, beginning with the rearmost one first. Loosen the set screw on the back left pulley.
- Manually move both sliding blocks to the right side of the printer. Move one sliding block to rotate the back-left pulley until the set screw is accessible. The sliding blocks should be moving in tandem. Pull the left rod toward the front, push the back pulley toward the panel, and tighten the set screw. Grip the rod and try to move it front to back. If the pulleys are tightened correctly, the rod won't move. If the rod moves, loosen the pulley and try again. Repeat the process with the right rod, still moving the rod to front and the pulley to the front right corner. Once you are finished and both rods are tightly in place, move the sliding blocks to the right of the printer again. The gap between the plastic block and the silver pulley should be the same at the front and back of the machine.
- Loosely mount the motors back on the printer. Put the top two screws through the panel and the plastic motor spacer. The spacer should be oriented so the hook is down. Hook the short belt on the pulley located on the motor while making sure the belt stays placed on the rod pulley. Orient the motor so the cord is down. Start the two top screws. Secure the cord behind the hook and start the bottom two screws. Make sure the screws holding the motor are loose enough that you can freely move the motor up and down. Hold the motor level with the bottom panel. Press down on the center of the motor block to put tension on the short belt. Tighten the four screws holding the motor.
- Manually move the print head and watch the short belt. If the belt moves smoothly, the motor is correctly positioned. If the short belt is loose or wobbly, loosen the motor and try again.
If you experience slanting prints after working on your belts, look for loose pulleys.
X-Motor
Unplug your printer before beginning work, and open the doors of the printer for ease of access.
- Remove the corner cable cover over the x-motor at the back-right corner of the printer. The cable cover is held in place with push fit tabs; tug diagonally on the cable covers at the top, with the bed lowered in order to remove the covers. Remove the cover while the bed is down to avoid damage.
- Unplug the motor cable from the motor.
- Remove the four screws securing the x-motor. Hold the motor in your hand while working to avoid dropping it in the printer. Take the motor completely out of the machine.
- You will need the motor pulley that is on the old motor. Undo the set screw to remove the pulley. Place the motor pulley on the new motor (set screw AWAY from the motor block). Hold the pulley so it is even with the TOP of the post. Tighten the set screw. There will be a gap between the pulley and the block.
- Plug the motor cable into your new motor.
- Mount the motor loosely using only the top two screws and washers. The plastic spacer should be positioned hook-side down. Make sure the short belt is on the ribbed part of both pulleys.
- Secure the cord behind the hook and start the bottom two screws. The motor should be able to move up and down.
- Press down on the motor block to add tension to the short belt. While doing so, tighten the four screws that hold the motor.
- Manually move the print head and watch the short belt. If the belt moves smoothly, the motor is positioned correctly. If the short belt is loose or wobbly or making a strange noise, loosen the motor and try again.
- Replace the cable cover.
Y-Motor
Unplug your printer before beginning work, and open the doors of the printer for ease of access.
Tools
- 2mm hex head screwdriver
1. Remove the left corner cable cover. The cable cover is held in place with push fit tabs; tug diagonally on the cable cover at the top, with the bed lowered in order to remove the covers. You can lower the bed by applying pressure to the base plate behind the heated bed. The easier way to pull the cover out is to pull on it diagonally at the corner.
2. Unplug the motor cable from the motor.
3. Unscrew the 4 screws holding the Y-motor in place. Hold the Y-motor as you unscrew it to avoid having it fall and damage your heated bed plate.
4. You will need the motor pulley that is on the old motor. Undo the set screw to remove the pulley. Place the motor pulley on the new motor (set screw AWAY from the motor block). Hold the pulley so it is even with the TOP of the post. Tighten the set screw. There will be a gap between the pulley and the block.
5. Plug the motor cable into your new motor.
6. Loosely mount the motor back on the printer. Put the top two screws through the panel and the plastic motor spacer. The spacer should be oriented so the hook is down. Hook the short belt on the pulley located on the motor while making sure the belt stays placed on the rod pulley. Orient the motor so the cord is down. Start the two top screws. Secure the cord behind the hook and start the bottom two screws. Make sure the screws holding the motor are loose enough that you can freely move the motor up and down. Hold the motor level. Press down on the center of the motor block to put tension on the short belt. Tighten the four screws holding the motor.
7. With the bed lowered, replace the corner cover. If the print head struggles to move on the Y-axis when the motor has been replaced, check that the short belt is tight.
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