<blockquote>
<p>have been used quite a lot for the past three years</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The problem, even if belts and such seem ok, might be that other parts start to wear out. The part that contributes te most to ringing is the motion system. Grooves in rails or worn out bearings are a classic way that introduces some freedom in the system that can result in rattle and ringing. A photo of the rails and bearings might help to identify wear. Remember that most bearings need some sort of lubricant to work properly and reduce the wear in them, which should be part of the maintenance cycle!</p>
<p>Another source for the errors could be found in the extrusion system. For example, there might be an increased play in the gearing as springs under constant pressure can lose some tension, resulting in too little pressure on the filament, which typically would show up as under extrusion if the pressure is lost completely. On the other side, the hobbled gear that pushes the filament might be worn, resulting in a lack of responsiveness of the filament movement, again resulting in under extrusion after some point. Once more, photos of this area could help to indicate wear and tear.</p>
<p>Another source might be the mounting of the printer - it has been shown beneficial to put printers on a slab of concrete that itself is dampened on a medium density foam, resulting in even dampening that is usually better than the rubber feet of many printers.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-15T09:52:01.503Z
Very likely due to the extrusion subsystem. Ultimaker uses 2.85 mm filament so filament motion is critical: a little slippage causes visible changes in the extrusion. If the teeth are worn out, this is the case. Worn out bearings (or dirty bearings) can also cause the same, since motion is not smooth.
FarO
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-15T13:01:13.173Z
I've added a photo to my question if it can help.
nowox
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-15T17:04:01.370Z
@nowox That are worn bushings/rods as far as I can tell.It doesn't show the inside of the extruder so hard to tell if there might be other worn parts.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T20:27:13.977Z
2020-07-14T22:30:42.527Z
2020-07-14T22:30:42.527Z
Trish
<p>At my work, we have 3x Ultimaker 2+, 1x Ultimaker 3 and 1x PRUSA i3 mk3s. The Ultimakers have been used quite a lot for the past three years, but the belts and bearings seem ok.</p>
<p>I got heavy ringing with all Ultimakers, but the print on the PRUSA is neat even at a higher speed.</p>
<p>I have a Ultimaker 2+ which I use together with CURA. I print in PLA at 210°C. The print bed is set to 60 °C. I use a print cooling fan at 60 %. The layer height I set to 0.2 mm, the line width 0.8 from the 0.4 mm nozzle. The Printing Speed is set to 30 mm/s for walls and 50 mm/s for infill.</p>
<p>Is this a known issue with Ultimakers?</p>
<p>How can I fix it?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VLPVj.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VLPVj.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>The comparison with what I get with the PRUSA is uncanny:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AUeJt.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AUeJt.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><strong>EDIT</strong></p>
<p>I have tighten the screws on the extruding head and cleaned the machine, but I still notice a mechanical play. Therefore, the result is not satisfying...</p>
<p><div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSmeTBzTbk4?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div>.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/uQkL6.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/uQkL6.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mvez6.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mvez6.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T06:55:10.520Z
I don't see any heavy ringing, or do you mean the bulging on the railing of the boat?
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T10:30:09.547Z
@0scar I've added a picture of what quality I am expecting. If it's not ringing I don't know how you call this default where the surface is rippled.
nowox
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T12:02:05.280Z
Is this old filament? My Ultimaker prints like the bottom. What material, what settings, see e.g. ["Help us help you!"](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/395/helpful-templates-help-us-help-you)>
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T18:29:09.330Z
The filament is not that old. I am sure it is caused by some vibrations somewhere.
nowox
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T19:45:00.337Z
Possibly a dumb question but the ringing is occurring on all 3 Ultimakers, correct? Possibly this has to do with a slicer setting that the Prusa can handle better then the Ultimaker printers (or an update to your slicing software).
Dr. Mantis Tobbogan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T19:46:56.080Z
@Dr.MantisTobbogan I don’t think it is the slicer’s fault. These machines are old and perhaps some components are causing this behavior
nowox
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T19:52:55.667Z
Okay, your call, just odd that all three machines developed a similar problem. I'm not sure how your Ultimakers are constructed but perhaps there are some rubber dampers that have dried out and aren't functioning optimally. Just throwing ideas out there really though...
Dr. Mantis Tobbogan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T20:28:27.133Z
@Dr.MantisTobbogan Actually that speaks of similar use: if 10 cars show the same behavior after the same distance, it might be the wear of the same part or a flaw in the design.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T21:23:49.933Z
@Dr.MantisTobbogan You do need to do some maintenance occasionally by lubing the steel rods, lube is supplied with the Ultimaker. An Ultimaker 3E at work had a worn bearing bushing, I think they haven't properly lubed the rods.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-15T13:08:49.237Z
Usually people post the most relevant settings as in the link posted before. But, indeed, that is not the quality of an Ultimaker. If this is PLA?, 215 °C is quite high. What is the printing speed, jerk, accel...
0scar
<print-quality><prusa-i3><ultimaker>
Ringing with Ultimakers, what is the cause?
nowox
# Ringing with Ultimakers, what is the cause?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-14)

At my work, we have 3x Ultimaker 2+, 1x Ultimaker 3 and 1x PRUSA i3 mk3s. The Ultimakers have been used quite a lot for the past three years, but the belts and bearings seem ok.

I got heavy ringing with all Ultimakers, but the print on the PRUSA is neat even at a higher speed.

I have a Ultimaker 2+ which I use together with CURA. I print in PLA at 210°C. The print bed is set to 60 °C. I use a print cooling fan at 60 %. The layer height I set to 0.2 mm, the line width 0.8 from the 0.4 mm nozzle. The Printing Speed is set to 30 mm/s for walls and 50 mm/s for infill.

Is this a known issue with Ultimakers?

How can I fix it?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/VLPVj.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/VLPVj.jpg)

The comparison with what I get with the PRUSA is uncanny:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/AUeJt.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/AUeJt.jpg)

**EDIT**

I have tighten the screws on the extruding head and cleaned the machine, but I still notice a mechanical play. Therefore, the result is not satisfying...

.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/uQkL6.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/uQkL6.jpg)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/mvez6.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/mvez6.jpg)

**Tags:** print-quality, prusa-i3, ultimaker

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't see any heavy ringing, or do you mean the bulging on the railing of the boat?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I've added a picture of what quality I am expecting. If it's not ringing I don't know how you call this default where the surface is rippled.  
> **username_1**: Is this old filament? My Ultimaker prints like the bottom. What material, what settings, see e.g. ["Help us help you!"](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/395/helpful-templates-help-us-help-you)>  
> **username_0**: The filament is not that old. I am sure it is caused by some vibrations somewhere.  
> **username_2**: Possibly a dumb question but the ringing is occurring on all 3 Ultimakers, correct? Possibly this has to do with a slicer setting that the Prusa can handle better then the Ultimaker printers (or an update to your slicing software).  
> **username_0**: @username_2 I don’t think it is the slicer’s fault. These machines are old and perhaps some components are causing this behavior  
> **username_2**: Okay, your call, just odd that all three machines developed a similar problem. I'm not sure how your Ultimakers are constructed but perhaps there are some rubber dampers that have dried out and aren't functioning optimally. Just throwing ideas out there really though...  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Actually that speaks of similar use: if 10 cars show the same behavior after the same distance, it might be the wear of the same part or a flaw in the design.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 You do need to do some maintenance occasionally by lubing the steel rods, lube is supplied with the Ultimaker. An Ultimaker 3E at work had a worn bearing bushing, I think they haven't properly lubed the rods.  
> **username_1**: Usually people post the most relevant settings as in the link posted before. But, indeed, that is not the quality of an Ultimaker. If this is PLA?, 215 °C is quite high. What is the printing speed, jerk, accel...  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-07-14. Score: 1

> have been used quite a lot for the past three years

The problem, even if belts and such seem ok, might be that other parts start to wear out. The part that contributes te most to ringing is the motion system. Grooves in rails or worn out bearings are a classic way that introduces some freedom in the system that can result in rattle and ringing. A photo of the rails and bearings might help to identify wear. Remember that most bearings need some sort of lubricant to work properly and reduce the wear in them, which should be part of the maintenance cycle!

Another source for the errors could be found in the extrusion system. For example, there might be an increased play in the gearing as springs under constant pressure can lose some tension, resulting in too little pressure on the filament, which typically would show up as under extrusion if the pressure is lost completely. On the other side, the hobbled gear that pushes the filament might be worn, resulting in a lack of responsiveness of the filament movement, again resulting in under extrusion after some point. Once more, photos of this area could help to indicate wear and tear.

Another source might be the mounting of the printer - it has been shown beneficial to put printers on a slab of concrete that itself is dampened on a medium density foam, resulting in even dampening that is usually better than the rubber feet of many printers.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Very likely due to the extrusion subsystem. Ultimaker uses 2.85 mm filament so filament motion is critical: a little slippage causes visible changes in the extrusion. If the teeth are worn out, this is the case. Worn out bearings (or dirty bearings) can also cause the same, since motion is not smooth.  
> **username_0**: I've added a photo to my question if it can help.  
> **username_3**: @username_0 That are worn bushings/rods as far as I can tell.It doesn't show the inside of the extruder so hard to tell if there might be other worn parts.  

---

