Ulticontroller/Display

The display at the front of your printer is made up of an LED screen, an Ulticontroller board, and several cables connecting it to main electronics board on the printer. Below you'll find instructions for replacing the Ulticontroller board, and instructions replacing the LED screen.

Replacing the Ulticontroller Board

These instructions apply to the Ultimaker 2, Ultimaker 2 Extended, Ultimaker 2+, and Ultimaker 2+ Extended. The Ultimaker 2 Go is the same, but has a plastic cover instead of a metal one.

The Ultimaker 2+ Connect uses different electronics components than its predecessors. For help with a 2+ Connect, please reach out to our support team here.

Please begin this process with your printer unplugged, the SD card removed, and the bed raised.

Please read each step completely before beginning.

1. The first step is 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. (Printer should not be powered on; button in photo is illuminated as visual aid only.)

2. To access the board we have to remove the white cover over the Ulticontroller board. It's held on with two nuts, and two 12mm screws. Carefully lay it on its back, with the print unplugged and the reel holder removed. Laying the printer on its back will not damage the standard feeder. If you have a modified feeder, you will want to lay it on its left side instead. When the screws and nuts are removed, you may want to push forward and pull up from the back to get the cover off. It is almost time to remove the board itself. Before doing so, we must make sure the 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, we must plug them into the correct ports. Once they are labeled, unplug them. Now unscrew the four screws holding the board on. Carefully slide the LED screen out of the recess in the front panel as you remove the Ulticontroller board.

3. Now we'll remove the screen from the old board. Gently pull the small black tabs on the part of the board that holds the screen ribbon in place and ease it open.

Then remove the ribbon cable from the board. Open the black slide on the new board. Insert the ribbon cable. When done correctly, the dark brown at the end of the ribbon will not be visible. The screen will not work if the ribbon is not in straight. Gently close the black slide. Some of the brown at the end of the ribbon will now be visible. 

4. 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. 

5. Plug the flat cables back in. The flat side of the connector will go toward the board, and the side with the protrusion will go toward the panel. 

6. Replace the cover. Make sure the cord crosses the board to the left and exits through the notch in the cover. Set your machine upright again. 

7. 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. the hex nut is tight enough when you cannot rotate the housing. 

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

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

Replacing the LED Screen

These instructions apply to the Ultimaker 2, 2 Extended, 2+, and 2+ Extended. The Ultimaker 2 Go is the same, but has a plastic cover instead of a metal one. Please begin this process with your printer unplugged, the SD card removed, and the bed raised.

Removing the Ulticontroller from the Printer

The back of the clear plastic knob housing has a hole in it. Use a screwdriver (or similar) to push through the hole in the back and push the white knob front out of the front. (Printer should not be powered on; button in photo is illuminated as visual aid only.)

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.

Now you can unscrew the white cover over the Ulticontroller board. It's held on with two nuts, and two 12mm screws. When the screws and nuts are removed, you may want to push forward and pull up from the back to get the cover off. Then, unscrew the 4 screws holding the Ulticontroller board on.

Carefully slide the LED screen out of the recess in the front panel as you remove the Ulticontroller board. You will see a little black tab on either side of where the screen plugs into the board. Very carefully move those tabs forward to release the ribbon cable of the screen.

Installing the LED Screen

If you choose to unplug the EXP 1 and EXP 2 ports, please mark which cable came from which port so they can be plugged back in correctly.

Gently pull the small black tabs on the part of the board that holds the screen ribbon in place and ease it open.

Insert the new ribbon cable until the dark portion just about disappears beneath the black clip with the tabs on it, then carefully push the clip up to secure it.

It should be able to slide into its slot on the front panel. Carefully hold the Display board in place as you screw the 4 screws in place that are holding it, and replace the display cover. The display cover is secured with 2 nuts and two 12mm screws. Do not pinch any of the cables between the cover and bottom panel; there is a slot in the corner for the cables to run through.

All finished and it doesn't work? Check out this troubleshooting article.