Ulticontroller/Display

These instructions apply to the Ultimaker 3 and Ultimaker 3 Extended. For the Ultimaker 2, Ultimaker 2+, Ultimaker 2 Extended, Ultimaker 2+ Extended, or Ultimaker 2Go, please check out these instructions. Below, you'll find instructions for replacing the Ulticontroller board and screen.

Please read each step completely before beginning.

1. Please begin with your bed in a raised position, with the printer powered off, and unplugged. You can raise the bed by hand by turning the Z-screw by hand, or pulling up on both sides of the build platform, all the way at the rear of the bed.

2. You'll need to remove the knob from the printer. The back of the clear plastic knob housing has a hole in it. Use a screw driver (or similar) to push through the hole in the back and push the white knob front out the front. 

Use a pair of pliers to unscrew the hex nut and washer holding the clear plastic knob housing in place, and then pop the knob housing out.

3. To access the board we have to remove the white plastic cover over the Ulticontroller board. It is held in place with two nuts, and two 12mm screws, which can be removed with your 2mm hex head screwdriver. 

4. When the screws and nuts are removed, lay the printer on its side and you can pull the cover free. 

Before removing the board itself, you must make sure the two flat cables going into the board are labeled. The ports on the board are labeled EXP1 and EXP2. Write the appropriate number on the cord with a permanent marker. In order for the new board to work, they must be plugged into the correct ports. Once they are labeled, unplug them. Also unplug the black cable plugged into the port labeled SD/USB Ulticontroller.

5. Next, unscrew the four screws holding the board in place. Carefully slide the LED screen out of the recess in the front panel as you remove the Ulticontroller board.

6. Now you'll remove the screen from the old board. Gently pull the small black tabs on the sliding part of the board that holds the screen ribbon in place and ease it open. It's easiest if you pull on both sides simultaneously. The photo below shows the sliding mechanism in the open position.

Slip the ribbon cable from the screen out of the board. Open the identical black slide on the new board. Insert the ribbon cable. When done correctly, the dark brown at the end of the ribbon will almost disappear. The screen will not work if the ribbon is not in straight and completely. Gently close the black slide. Some of the brown at the end of the ribbon will now be visible, as seen below.

7. Let's reattach the board. Slide the screen into the recess in the front panel. Carefully hold the board in place as you reinsert the screws. Be careful not to the let the board dangle from the screen ribbon. This can damage the connection. 

8. Plug the cables back in. For the 2 double flat connectors, the flat side of the connector will go toward the board, and the side with the protrusion will go toward the panel. The black cable will plug into the port labeled SD/USB Ulticontroller.

9. Replace the cover, making sure the USB cable, double flat cable, and camera cable cross the board to the left and exits through the notch in the cover. The camera cable will run straight through the cover. Set your machine upright again. You can hold the nuts in place with one finger while screwing the cover screws back on.

10. Place the clear knob housing over the post. Orient the housing so that the hole is at the top (inside the printer). This hole is how you removed the knob front at the beginning. Place the washer then the hex nut on the post. Use the pliers to screw the hex nut into place. The hex nut is tight enough when you cannot rotate the housing. 

11. Finally, press the knob front back into place. 

All finished and the display isn't working? Check out this troubleshooting article.