Getting very excited after some successful 3dprinting testing on the new Ultimaker 2+ with filaflex flexible filament.
before I had a lot of issues with the old version of Ultimaker as the old material feeder couldn’t cut it delivering this elastic flexible material through the Bowden tube.
but the new geared material feeder of the + models seem to be able to push this guy through for some reason.
using 0.6 nozzle,
temp-230 deg
bed- 60deg
retraction on ( but doesn’t make much difference because you still get stringing due to the elasticity of the material)
On my Ultimaker Original + with UM2 head i’ve experienced close to 0 problems with printing flexible filament. I’ve only adjusted the tension a little bit of the extruder. The flexible filament i used is Innoflex by Innofill: 3D Printer Shop Online | Buy 3D Printer Plastic Filament 18
The only problem i had is the stringing you get from retracting.
Printing with a 0.4mm nozzle and 0.06mm layer height is not a problem at all for me.
Currently it’s also upgraded with an olsson block.
Some extra information:
The X and Y axis on the UMO and UM2 are switched. So that’s why the nozzle is on the right side of the head instead of the left.
Because of this switch the head will be rotated 90degrees, just turn the alluminium parts 90degrees back which allows the bowden tube to enter the right hole instead of the left. Not rotating the alluminium parts decreases the print area because the fans will hit the back of the bed casing.
I also have an Ultimaker 2 printhead installed on an Ultimaker Original +. As they use the same electronics you just need to print a small part to be able to turn 90º the printhead as the axis are inverted. The part you need to print is available on YouMagine (the user that created it is called Meduza).
The main advantage doing this is the possibility to install an Olsson Block and also that the Ultimaker Original + has a geared feeder, which I find slightly more reliable than the Ultimaker 2 feeder.
I posted on my Instagram a picture (I think it’s the 4th picture):
I’ve printed on the Ultimaker 2 with FlexPLA from Ultimaker. It works, but it’s way less flexible than Filaflex. However, it’s really nice to see that we can start using some filaments that were really difficult to use (bowden system looks nice, but it has it’s limitation)
Bonus: the Ultimaker 2+ upgrade kit can be installed on an Ultimaker Original +, and I think that’s an upgrade anyone would want to have.
It’s only for a single extruder, maybe i’m planning to get dual extrusion soon but modifying the model should not be a big problem. This already helps a lot!
Performing the 2+ upgrade on the UMO is in my opinion not worth the money since the extruder is not a problem at all. Buying the printhead on for example aliexpress and seperately buying an original olsson block is much cheaper.
I run FilaFlex on my Um2 with an olsson block, .4 nozzle and the stock feeder with 1 exception, I use this curved feed wheel so the filament doesn’t “slip off” if you will. http://www.ebay.com/itm/171795806212?\_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT That is the only change I have made and it seems to work great! I am not sure how much of a difference it made but I did replace my stock feed tube with an E3D “PTFE” tube (it seems like a PTFE bearing plastic) but that seems to have much higher surface lubricity than the stock tube which was pretty old and worn out!
If you have an Ultimaker Original I don’t think the upgrade would be so easy, as it will be necessary to modify the firmware and probably the heated cartridge/temp sensor. In the Ultimaker Original +, which uses the same board, is just as easy as connect the new cables, assemble de printhead and that’s it.
Hmm it seems I was using an old version of filaflex. The filaflex I have been testing is maybe 2 years old.
Apparently they have an improved formula, I just got the new stock and it is quite different. Seems softer… So I am re-testing with the latest stock to see how it goes.
