How to upload new firmware to the motherboard

The firmware is a program that will run on your electronics, that controls your machine and listens for input from the USB port. It needs to be of the right version so that it can talk to the program running on your PC/Mac, so we need to update it once in a while. Luckily, this is a very easy process from ReplicatorG.

The Ultimaker firmwares are pre-configured for the hardware, electronics and mechanics that you have.

This should also work with a bare Arduino Mega without the Ultimaker PCB installed.

Steps to take:

• Open up ReplicatorG.
• In the menu, go to Machine -> Upload new firmware...
• You should see a list of Ultimaker boards that you can upgrade. Select yours and click "Next".
  • If you don't see Ultimaker boards, you're not using the Ultimaker edition of the software. In ReplicatorG, go to preferences (ctrl-comma) and ensure that the firmware URL reads: "firmware.ultimaker.com/firmware_all.xml" (without the quotes).
  • You have to find out which one you have. The first Ultimaker sold all have a 1.5.3 or higher PCB. Also, if you were required to install the FTDI driver, you have an Arduino Mega 1280. Otherwise you might have an Arduino Mega 2560. If it doesn't work, try the other kind of board, it will not cause any damage, you just have to try again.
• Select the latest build. Click "Next" again. You probably want the standard release (with AD597 thermocouple sensor).
• Select the serial port to use and click Next.
  • For Windows, it looks like: COM3 or higher
  • For Mac, it looks like: tty.usbserial-A1234abc or tty.usbmodem123
  • For Linux, it looks like: /dev/ttyUSB0 or ttyACM0 or higher
  • If unsure about the port, try it with and without the machine connected to see which port is your Ultimaker.
• Click "Upload". The interface will appear to hang for a little while. It should take less than a minute.
• Close the wizard.

You should now be able to connect to the machine from ReplicatorG, by pressing the Connect button (at the right side of the button bar). The big red bar should become green.

Variant: Upgrade to Marlin or Sprinter Firmware

Steps to take:

• Download RepG26 (or later) from software.ultimaker.com .
• Connect the Ultimaker to your computer.

RepG25 preferences

• Open "Preferences".
  • Activate "Show experimental machine profiles".
  • Enter firmware.ultimaker.com/ultimaker_firmware.xml as "Firmware update URL".
  • Restart RepG afterwards to see the change.

Select your board.

• In the menu, go to "Machine" -> "Upload new firmware".
  • You should see a list of Ultimaker boards that you can upgrade. Select yours and click "Next".

If you don't see Ultimaker boards, you're not using the Ultimaker edition of the software. You have to find out which one you have. The first Ultimaker sold all have a 1.5.3 or higher PCB. Also, if you were required to install the FTDI driver, you have an Arduino Mega 1280. Otherwise you might have an Arduino Mega 2560. If it doesn't work, try the other kind of board, it will not cause any damage, you just have to try again.

Select the Marlin/Sprinter firmware.

• Select "Sprinter Experimental Build1" or later if already available.
• Click "Next" again.
• Select the serial port to use and click "Next".
  • For Windows, it looks like: COM3 or higher
  • For Mac, it looks like: tty.usbserial-A1234abc or tty.usbmodem123
  • For Linux, it looks like: /dev/ttyUSB0 or ttyACM0 or higher
  • If unsure about the port, try it with and without the machine connected to see which port is your Ultimaker.
• Click "Upload". The interface will appear to hang for a little while. It should take less than a minute.
• Close the wizard after the successful upload.
• In the menu, go to "Machine" -> "Driver" -> click "Ultimaker v1.0 (EXPERIMENTAL Marlin firmware)".

You should now be able to connect to the machine from ReplicatorG, by pressing the Connect button (at the right side of the button bar). The big red bar should become green.

Now you're fully setup to run your Ultimaker with Sprinter. To profit from Sprinter's advances in speed and filament calculation don't forget to upgrade to Skeinforge 40 or even better Skeinforge 41. Follow these instructions: Sprinter firmware for the Ultimaker#Sprinter with Skeinforge 40 and later.

Variant: Compile and Upload a Firmware from Source

Use this method to compile firmware from source code. This is not very difficult to perform, but please be aware that source code provided by third parties isn't always tested thoroughly or probably won't meet specific requirements of the Ultimaker platform.

Steps to take:

• Close all programs that you use to communicate with your Ultimaker (RepG, Printrun, SendG, Netfabb, etc.)
• Connect your Ultimaker via USB to your computer. You don't need to turn on the red switch.
• Download and install the latest version of the Arduino IDE at arduino.cc/en/Main/Software (at the moment it's version 0022).
• Download and extract the source code of the firmware you want to upload onto your Ultimaker.
  • Recommended source for Sprinter: https://github.com/bkubicek/Sprinter
  • Recommended source for Marlin: https://github.com/bkubicek/Marlin
    • Just decide for one of them and click "Downloads" and extract the archive.
    • Note: You can decide wether you want it to be archived as tarball or zip file. Zip will work on all major operating systems out of the box.
• Start Arduino
• Select your board (usually it's "Arduino Mega 2560", if you weren't amongst the first Ultimaker buyers).
  • Do so by clicking: "Tools" -> "Board" -> "Arduino Mega 2560"
• Click "Open" (It's the upwards facing arrow icon).
• Select the firmware file from the extracted archive.
  • In the case of Sprinter (given you got your source code from the link provided above): Tonokip_Firmware.pde
  • In the case of Marlin (given you got your source code from the link provided above): Marlin.pde
• Click "Verify" (It's the very first play icon).
  • Completion is indicated by 'Done compiling.'
• Click the "Upload" button (It's the right sides arrow icon).
  • Note: DON'T detach your Ultimaker during this step. Please wait until the completion is displayed in the status bar. If you detach the USB cable during the upload procedure you risk to leave the board behind without a working firmware!
• After the successful upload you can close Arduino and start up your control program of choice (RepG, Printrun, etc.).
  • In the case of RepG you have to this: In the menu, go to "Machine" -> "Driver" -> click "Ultimaker v1.0 (EXPERIMENTAL Sprinter firmware)".
  • NOTE: If you don't see the Sprinter profile do this: Open "Preferences" ->Activate "Show experimental machine profiles". Restart RepG afterwards to see the change.
  • In the case of Printrun you have to make sure that you're using the correct baud rate: 115200
• Carefully check all important functions like temperature control, endstops, etc. for proper function before you start any unattended print jobs!
• You're done. Happy (s)printing or even better: printing with Marlin!

Related information

If you want to customize your firmware, please see this guide (advanced users only!). This was tested with ReplicatorG 24 from software.ultimaker.com, not from replicat.org.

Questions or comments regarding this page? Let us and others know!