Printhead

This replacement applies to Ultimaker S7, Ultimaker S5, and Ultimaker S3 printers. To replace the white plastic printhead, please see the instructions immediately below. To replace other parts:

• the printhead cable, please see here
• the hot end cooling fan (front fan) see these instructions here (instructions here are for the UM3, process is the same)
  
• the model cooling fans (side fans) see these instructions here (instructions here are for the UM3, process is the same)
• the printhead PCB, please see here 
• the nozzle cover, please see here

Printhead

1. Remove filament from printer. Go to Material --> Print Core 1 and/or Print Core 2, and choose to unload the material in the unloading wizard. Wipe the nozzle tips clean with a paper towel while they are still hot, then, power off the printer.

2. Slide the white, horseshoe shaped clamp clips sideways out of each of the white collets in turn.

3. Push down on the white collets while pulling up on the bowden tubes to free them from the printhead. Note: if the filament could not be ejected from the printhead, you can still remove the bowden tube, and cut the filament off above the collet.

4.Using your 2mm hex head screw driver, unscrew the 2 long screws at the rear of the printhead, highlighted in green below. Then, remove the small back cover on top of the printhead. Lift the cover vertically up to slide it off.

5. Press your screwdriver against the plastic flap on the front of the connector to release the printhead cable from the printhead.

 

Here's a clearer view of the cable and connector:

6. You will need to push/tilt the black plastic blocks that hold the print head shafts in place in order to remove the printhead shafts. For S5 customers: start with the printhead to the left or right of center; you don't want your printhead shaft to catch on the magnet that holds your doors.

I recommend tilting the front and back blocks first and sliding the Y printhead shaft out forward through the front of the machine.

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. 

7. To replace the printhead 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 black 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. 

8. Press the printhead cable into the connection port on the printhead and make sure you hear it click into place, to let you know it's fully seated.

9. Press the top-rear plastic piece back into position and screw the printhead screws back in place. If possible, apply a little removable thread-locker to the ends of the screws before screwing them in. When tightening the screws, make sure that all parts of the printhead block are well aligned.

10. Push both of your bowden tubes back into their respective positions on the printhead as far as they will go. Then, raise the collets to slip the horse-shoe shaped clip in place under the collet. This clip is vital for helping your bowden tube remain seated securely during printing.

12. After you have installed your printhead, perform the lift switch calibration. If your printhead or print cores are new, run an XY offset calibration. This can be accessed in the menu by System --> Maintenance --> Calibration --> XY Offset Calibration. 

 

Printhead Cable

 These instructions can be used for the Ultimaker S3, UltiMaker S7, and the Ultimaker S5 R2 (U on the side panels instead of the robots).  For instructions on replacing it in an S5 R1, please reach out to our support team here for safety documents related to the bottom cover and power supply.

 

1. Remove filament from printer. Go to Material --> Print Core 1 and/or Print Core 2, and choose to unload the material in the unloading wizard. Wipe the nozzle tips clean with a paper towel while they are still hot, then, power off the printer.

2. Slide the white, horseshoe shaped clamp clips sideways out of each of the white collets in turn.

3. Push down on the white collets while pulling up on the bowden tubes to free them from the printhead. Note: if the filament could not be ejected from the printhead, you can still remove the bowden tube, and cut the filament off above the collet.

4.Using your 2mm hex head screw driver, unscrew the 2 long screws at the rear of the printhead, highlighted in green below. Then, remove the small back cover on top of the printhead. Lift the cover vertically up to slide it off.

5. Press your screwdriver against the plastic flap on the front of the connector to release the printhead cable from the printhead.

 

Here's a clearer view of the cable and connector:

 6. Remove the cable clips securing the Bowden Tube to the Printhead Cable by holding the clips and pulling the Bowden Tube directly away from them.  The clip can then flex to pull it off of the cable, or be pulled to the end of the cable with the connector, where it can easily slide off.

7. Remove the Cable Cover from the back right side of the printer.  The pegs securing it to the back panel will release easily when pulling on the corner of the cover.

8. Push the cable into the printer through the opening in the back panel.

9. Lay the printer on its side, then remove the four screws that secure the bottom cover in place.  Then gently remove the cover by pulling it away from the printer.  Once it has been removed a few inches, you will need to unplug the cable that connects the cover to the System Board.  After the cable is disconnected from the board, the cover can safely be set aside.

10. Unplug the Printhead Cable from its connector on the System Board.  It is secured with the same type of clip that connects it to the Printhead.

11. Open the two cable ties by pulling the end of the cable towards you, then pushing it towards the board.

12. Pull the cable through the opening in the bottom panel to fully remove it from the machine.

13. Stand the printer back up and connect the end of the new Printhead Cable that does not have shrink wrap on it into the connector on the top of the Printhead.  Use the tip of your screwdriver to press against the top of the connector to ensure that it is fully seated in place.

14. Reinstall the cable cover to the back of the print head; ensuring that the openings in the connectors align properly.  The screws can now be tightened back into place.

15. Loosely route the cable through the opening in the back panel and into the inside of the printer.

16. Move the printhead to the front left corner of the printer, then reconnect the cable clips to the printhead cable.  After the clips are on the cable, they can then be connected to the bowden tube for extruder 2.  The clips should be spaced equidistant from each other between the printhead and feeder.  Pull any slack through the back panel as needed during this process; then push the remaining slack in the cable through the panel after all of the clips are installed.

17.  Lay the printer on its side and route the cable through the opening in the bottom of the printer.

18. Use the cable ties to secure the printhead cable and all of the other cables that come through the same opening in the bottom panel, then connect the printhead cable to the connector on the bottom of the printer.

19. Ensure all excess slack is pulled through to this end, then reconnect the speaker cable and secure the bottom cover back in place.

20. Stand the printer back up and reinstall the cable cover by aligning it into place and gently squeezing near the pegs to flex them into place.

 

 

Nozzle Cover

 

Printhead PCB

(At this time the available video shows the Ultimaker 3 printhead; the process is nearly identical except that your printhead cable connects on the back of your PCB instead of the front.)