4.6.1

Ultimaker Cura 4.6.1

April 29, 2020

Once again, THANK YOU to all Ultimaker Cura users helping in the fight against COVID-19 – with 3D printing, volunteering, or just by staying home. Want to get involved? Find out more on our website.

Patch release to fix some bugs that emerged with 4.6.0.

Bug fixes

Z seam placement. Changes to the Simplify() algorithm in 4.6.0 caused Z seam placement issues, which resulted in less-than-perfect results. This has been fixed.
[Source]

Ender 3 Pro nozzles missing. A lot of issue reports came in about nozzles missing for this machine definition, so we made a fix to stop this happening.
[Source]
[Commit]

4.6.0

Ultimaker Cura 4.6

April 21, 2020

THANK YOU to all Ultimaker Cura users helping in the fight against COVID-19 – with 3D printing, volunteering, or just by staying home. Want to get involved? Find out more on our website.

New features

New Intent profiles. In version 4.4 we introduced Intent profiles for the Ultimaker S3 and Ultimaker S5 which allow you to start prints at the click of a button without a lot of configuration steps. Due to popular demand, version 4.6 expands the range of Engineering Intent profiles to include more of the Ultimaker material portfolio: PC, Nylon, CPE, and CPE+. These work with 0.4 print cores.

Show active post processing scripts. fieldOfview has contributed an ease of use improvement to the post processing plugin. The number of enabled post processing scripts will now display as a badge notification over the post processing scripts icon. A tooltip gives extra information about which scripts are enabled for quick and easy inspection, so there's no need to open the post processing dialog.
[Source]
[Pull request]

Hole Horizontal Expansion. smartavionics has contributed a new setting that applies an offset to all holes on each layer, allowing you to manually enlarge or contract holes to compensate for horizontal expansion.
[Source]
[Pull request - Frontend]
[Pull request - Engine]

Per-model settings. The "Infill only" checkbox has been changed to a dropdown selection: “Infill mesh only” or “Cutting mesh”.
[Source]

Transparent support rendering. In preview mode with ‘Line type’ selected, support material will render with transparency so you can easily see what’s being supported.
[Pull request]

No stair stepping for PVA profiles. Stair stepping is intended to reduce the adhesion between support and the model, where the support rests on the model, and to reduce scarring. As PVA doesn't suffer from scarring or adhesion issues due to its water-solubility, this value has been set to 0 for PVA profiles. A known issue with the stair stepping algorithm causes support to disappear sometimes, so doing this reduces the chance of that happening when PVA is used.

Separators in extensions menu. fieldOfview has contributed a method for plugin authors to add separators between menu items in the “Extensions” submenu. The method is backwards-compatible so changes don’t have to be made in Cura and Uranium together.
[Pull request]

Ultimaker account sign in prompt. Added clearer text to the sign in popup and first use flow to highlight the benefits of using an Ultimaker account with Cura.

Updated installer. Small fixes have been made to the installer. To keep up with the times, we’ve also updated the images to display an Ultimaker S3 instead of an Ultimaker 3.

Bug fixes

Infill mesh ordering.
When you have three objects overlapping each other and you set two of them to "Modify settings for infill of other models", then the setting "Infill Mesh Order" determines which of the two infill meshes gets priority where they overlap. This was broken for cutting meshes, so BagelOrb contributed a fix.
[Pull request]

Backups storage size. We’ve put a hard limit on backup file size in this release to prevent other files being stored there.

3MF gcode comments removed. Fixed a bug where comments were removed from Start/End G-codes when opening from a 3MF.
[Source]

Print monitor preheat fields. Values in the print monitor preheat fields were broken in previous versions, they have now been fixed by fieldOfview. [Source]
[Pull request]

Stepper motor disarming during pause at height. Some printers automatically disable their steppers after a pause (after a certain time). This script makes it possible to set that in the pause script (instead of relying on default behavior of the firmware).
[Pull request]

Crash if logging in on two instances at the same time. During the beta period we caught a critical bug where logging in to an Ultimaker account with two instances of Cura would crash the second instance. It crashes because while the web page is open, Cura opens a web server in the local host. The web page redirects to that web server when you've logged in, so that it knows that the log-in was successful and what the credentials are. Both instances try to create a web server on the same port, which is impossible.
[Crash report]

"Changes detected from your Ultimaker account" message. We fixed a bug on MacOS where duplicate "Changes detected from your Ultimaker account" popups would appear at a single time.

Crashes when inactive. Some people reported experiencing crashes when the computer had been inactive for a long time, or when the laptop got suspended or went to sleep. This has been fixed.
[Crash report]

Support blocker is not blocking support. Fixed an issue where the support blocker was not blocking support.

Sending slice message takes too long when using mesh helpers. Fixed an issue where it would take too long to trigger a slice when using the mesh helpers and support blocker.

Third-party printers

Flying Bear printers. oducceu has contributed a machine definition for the Flying Bear Ghost 4S Printer.
[Pull request]

Magicfirm printers. jeffkyjin has contributed machine definitions for MBot Grid II+, MBot Grid II+ (dual), MBot Grid IV+ and MBot Grid IV+ (dual).
[Pull request]

HMS434. Updates to the HMS434 machine definition have been contributed by maukcc.
[Pull request]

FabX Pro. hussainsail2002 has contributed machine definitions for FabX Pro and print profiles for REDD materials
[Pull request]
[Pull request - REDD materials]

Want to add a third-party machine definition to Ultimaker Cura? Here’s how.

Disclaimer: Third-party machine definitions are accepted as contributed, and will not be tested or maintained in any way by the Cura development team. Make sure anything submitted to us is thoroughly tested.

Found a bug in this release? Spotted a mistake in these release notes? Open an issue and tell us.

4.6 BETA

Ultimaker Cura 4.6 beta

April 3, 2020

THANK YOU to all Ultimaker Cura users helping in the fight against COVID-19 – with 3D printing, volunteering, or just by staying home. Want to get involved? Find out more on our website.

New features

New Intent profiles. In version 4.4 we introduced Intent profiles for the Ultimaker S3 and Ultimaker S5 which allow you to start prints at the click of a button without a lot of configuration steps. Due to popular demand, version 4.6 expands the range of Engineering Intent profiles to include more of the Ultimaker material portfolio: PC, Nylon, CPE, and CPE+. These work with 0.4 print cores.

Show active post processing scripts. fieldOfview has contributed an ease of use improvement to the post processing plugin. The number of enabled post processing scripts will now display as a badge notification over the post processing scripts icon. A tooltip gives extra information about which scripts are enabled for quick and easy inspection, so there's no need to open the post processing dialog.
[Source]
[Pull request]

Hole Horizontal Expansion. smartavionics has contributed a new setting that applies an offset to all holes on each layer, allowing you to manually enlarge or contract holes to compensate for horizontal expansion.
[Source]
[Pull request - Frontend]
[Pull request - Engine]

Per-model settings. The "Infill only" checkbox has been changed to a dropdown selection: “Infill mesh only” or “Cutting mesh”.
[Source]

Transparent support rendering. In preview mode with ‘Line type’ selected, support material will render with transparency so you can easily see what’s being supported.
[Pull request]

No stair stepping for PVA profiles. Stair stepping is intended to reduce the adhesion between support and the model, where the support rests on the model, and to reduce scarring. As PVA doesn't suffer from scarring or adhesion issues due to its water-solubility, this value has been set to 0 for PVA profiles. A known issue with the stair stepping algorithm causes support to disappear sometimes, so doing this reduces the chance of that happening when PVA is used.

Separators in extensions menu. fieldOfview has contributed a method for plugin authors to add separators between menu items in the “Extensions” submenu. The method is backwards-compatible so changes don’t have to be made in Cura and Uranium together.
[Pull request]

Ultimaker account sign in prompt. Added clearer text to the sign in popup and first use flow to highlight the benefits of using an Ultimaker account with Cura.

Updated installer. Small fixes have been made to the installer. To keep up with the times, we’ve also updated the images to display an Ultimaker S3 instead of an Ultimaker 3.

Bug fixes

Infill mesh ordering. When you have three objects overlapping each other and you set two of them to "Modify settings for infill of other models", then the setting "Infill Mesh Order" determines which of the two infill meshes gets priority where they overlap. This was broken for cutting meshes, so BagelOrb contributed a fix.
[Pull request]

Backups storage size. We’ve put a hard limit on backup file size in this release to prevent other files being stored there.

3MF gcode comments removed. Fixed a bug where comments were removed from Start/End G-codes when opening from a 3MF.
[Source]

Print monitor preheat fields. Values in the print monitor preheat fields were broken in previous versions, they have now been fixed by fieldOfview. [Source]
[Pull request]

Stepper motor disarming during pause at height. Some printers automatically disable their steppers after a pause (after a certain time). This script makes it possible to set that in the pause script (instead of relying on default behavior of the firmware).
[Pull request]

Third-party printers

Flying Bear printers. oducceu has contributed a machine definition for the Flying Bear Ghost 4S Printer.
[Pull request]

Magicfirm printers. jeffkyjin has contributed machine definitions for MBot Grid II+, MBot Grid II+ (dual), MBot Grid IV+ and MBot Grid IV+ (dual). [Pull request]

HMS434. Updates to the HMS434 machine definition have been contributed by maukcc. [Pull request]

FabX Pro. hussainsail2002 has contributed machine definitions for FabX Pro and print profiles for REDD materials [Pull request] [Pull request - REDD materials]

Want to add a third-party machine definition to Ultimaker Cura? Here’s how.

Disclaimer: Third-party machine definitions are accepted as contributed, and will not be tested or maintained in any way by the Cura development team. Make sure anything submitted to us is thoroughly tested.



Found a bug in this release? Spotted a mistake in these release notes? Open an issue and tell us.

4.5.0

Ultimaker Cura 4.5

February 26, 2020

Usability

Ultimaker Marketplace sync. Plugins and print profiles downloaded from the Ultimaker Marketplace will now become associated with your Ultimaker account when logged in. If changes are detected in your installation after logging in, an option to sync a list of available packages will become available. You can also add packages to your installation using the web-based Ultimaker Marketplace.

Layer preview number. The layer slider number in preview mode is now at the top, instead of on the left, for a neater fit next to the settings panel.

Project name in window title. In the same way your browser shows the page title next to the name of the application, Cura now shows the name of the loaded file in the title bar.

Slicing enhancements

Fuzzy skin outside only. When enabled, this option prevents fuzzy skin inside holes. This way you can still fit your prints around other things – useful for printing grips or similar applications.

Brim distance. This new setting contributed by smartavionics allows you to define a gap between the brim and the model for easier brim removal and reduced chance of leaving a mark on the finished piece.

'Skin Edge Support' settings. It’s now possible to add an extra line inside your infill that supports the edge of the skin better. Two new settings contributed by smartavionics control this feature: ‘Skin Edge Support Thickness’ and ‘Skin Edge Support Layers’. Find these under ‘Infill settings’.

Bridge over low density infill. smartavionics has contributed a new setting that determines if the infill density in a location is lower than the specified infill density, skin and walls above it should be treated as bridging.

Shared heater. A new ‘Shared heater’ checkbox has been added to the machine settings page to support printers that have one nozzle and one heater, but multiple feeders. When enabled, heating and pre-heating procedures act differently so that the nozzle doesn’t cool down for the stand-by temperature or the initial/final printing temperatures. Contributed by smartavionics.

Material mixing. A new post-processing script can be used to mix materials if you have a mixing nozzle. Mix materials of different colors in order to print in a different color than either of your currently loaded materials. Contributed by Hrybmo.

Infill mesh planning. Another contribution from smartavionics optimizes the order in which infill meshes print their parts. It now takes the previous location into account instead of always the starting location.

Automatic extruder values. Automatic extruder values are now added for dual extrusion when slicing via the command line.

Gamma correction for lithopanes. Loading an image file into Cura creates a heightmap that can be used to make lithopanes. BagelOrb has altered the method of calculating this to apply gamma correction, so that the lightness of the pane is more truthful to the original lightness.

Support for alpha channels in ImageReader. Added support for images with transparency, such as PNGs. When using an image with transparency, the contours of the transparent layer will be followed. Contributed by BagelOrb.

Performance improvements

Speed up plugin loading. fieldOfview has contributed a code optimization to load plugins faster on start. Mileage may vary, but Cura’s startup speed should see a marked improvement.

Crash logging. We switched to a more robust provider for crash analytics, so we can develop a more stable product for you. We also added some extra datapoints to crash reports.

Scene re-rendering. A new performance enhancement that limits re-rendering of the application interface from ‘constant’ to ‘only-when-necessary’.

HTTP request handling. Previous versions used different ways of handling HTTP requests. This version uses a unified method, for better performance.

Jobnames less sensitive to being touched. A contribution from fieldOfview has fixed an issue where the jobname in the bottom-left of the scene is no longer made static by clicking on it. If you load a model and change to another printer, the prefix is now correctly updated.

Property checks on instance containers. A new speed optimization for reading setting values from profiles.

New printer definitions

Native support has been added for the following third-party printers. Find them in the ‘Add printer’ list.

BeamUp S. Contributed by BeamUp 3D.

Anet3D. Contributed by springtiger.

Lotmaxx. Contributed by sm3dp.

eMotionTech. KOUBeMT has contributed updates to eMotionTech materials and the Strateo3D printer.

HMS434. Updates contributed by maukcc.

3D Tech. Contributed by dvdsouza.

Skriware 2. Contributed by skriDude.

Leapfrog Bolt. Contributed by VincentRiemens.

Makeblock mCreate. Contributed by pkz0313.

Voron2. Contributed by Fulg.

Do you want to add a third-party printer definition to Ultimaker Cura? Here’s how.

Bug fixes

Application not starting (Windows). After a lot of sleuthing, we managed to fix a major bug for this release. The application was getting stuck on trying to load "qgif.dll", which is required to load the PNG file for the splash screen. In other cases, it was caused by trying to load a DLL file from the Intel graphics driver for OpenGL. Thanks to the community for the help and feedback to solve this one. Send logs!

Round interpolated z values. When spiralizing, the interpolated z values are rounded to the nearest micron. Contributed by smartavionics.

S-line build plate temp limit. Values over 125C will turn the setting input box orange for safety reasons. It’s still possible to print above these temperatures, though.

Apple keyboard delete button. Fixed an issue where pressing the delete button on an Apple keyboard wouldn’t delete things.

Added “all” setting visibility. Fixed an issue where selecting ‘all settings’ visibility in custom mode would override a custom selection of settings when switching back.

Min x/y distance on sloped walls. Contribution from smartavionics that uses minimum x/y distance when the layer below protrudes beyond current layer (i.e. sloped walls).

Large polygon ordering. Another contribution from smartavionics. This one speeds up the ordering of large numbers of polygons when using the combed travel distances.

Surface mode: Don't combine overlapping. Fixed an issue where overlapping volumes interfered with each other when in surface mode. Contributed by BagelOrb.

Time lapse post processing script. Fixed a wrong extrusion move between the last x/y position and the ‘park head to take a photo’ position.

Window size. Fixed an issue where window sizes weren’t saved when closing Ultimaker Cura. Contributed by fieldOfview.

Prime tower duplicate brim. Fixed an issue where a duplicate brim was created when adhesion and a prime tower was enabled at the same time. Contributed by smartavionics.

Different printer losing settings. Previous versions would lose modified settings when switching to a print group with printers of different types, e.g. adding an Ultimaker 3, modifying the infill settings from the default profile, and then switching to an Ultimaker S5 would change infill settings back to the default profile value. This version has fixed it.

One-at-a-time slice overlapping models. Fixed an issue where one-at-a-time mode was marking models as unprintable even though they were. This occurred a lot with Creality printers, due to print head definition issues.

Huge extrusions after bridging. Fixed an issue where there was a huge extrusion move after bridge wall lines.

Minimum support area eating into parts. Setting ‘Minimum Support Interface Area’ or minimum ‘Support area’ to a non-zero value larger than the area of a model’s layer would cause support material to eat into features of the model. This has been fixed by smartavionics.

CX_Freeze needs LD_LIBRARY_PATH. An issue caused by different Qt versions shipped with older versions of Cura would take a wrong instance which resulted in broken libraries. This has been fixed by smartavionics.

Retraction Min Travel broken. We recently discovered this was broken since version 4.0. Luckily it was fixed by smartavionics.

Mirror + Lay Flat behaves the other way. Fixed some broken behavior with mirror + lay flat settings when used together.

Cura splash screen loading indicator doesn’t always spin. During some load phases, the spinner stops spinning, which could give the impression of a crash. This has been fixed.

**UI elements get obscured on small ...

4.5 BETA

Beta release of the upcoming 4.5 version. We usually release the final release +/- 2 weeks after the beta. Please let us know of any remaining issues, so we can fix the 'criticals' and 'blockers' before the final is out!

Ultimaker Cura 4.5 beta

February 11, 2020

Usability

Ultimaker Marketplace sync. Plugins and print profiles downloaded from the Ultimaker Marketplace will now become associated with your Ultimaker account when logged in. If changes are detected in your installation after logging in, an option to sync a list of available packages will become available. You can also add packages to your installation using the web-based Ultimaker Marketplace.

Layer preview number. The layer slider number in preview mode is now at the top, instead of on the left, for a neater fit next to the settings panel.

Project name in window title. In the same way your browser shows the page title next to the name of the application, Cura now shows the name of the loaded file in the title bar.

Slicing enhancements

Fuzzy skin outside only. When enabled, this option prevents fuzzy skin inside holes. This way you can still fit your prints around other things – useful for printing grips or similar applications.

Brim distance. This new setting contributed by smartavionics allows you to define a gap between the brim and the model for easier brim removal and reduced chance of leaving a mark on the finished piece.

'Skin Edge Support' settings. It’s now possible to add an extra line inside your infill that supports the edge of the skin better. Two new settings contributed by smartavionics control this feature: ‘Skin Edge Support Thickness’ and ‘Skin Edge Support Layers’. Find these under ‘Infill settings’.

Bridge over low density infill. smartavionics has contributed a new setting that determines if the infill density in a location is lower than the specified infill density, skin and walls above it should be treated as bridging.

Shared heater. A new ‘Shared heater’ checkbox has been added to the machine settings page to support printers that have one nozzle and one heater, but multiple feeders. When enabled, heating and pre-heating procedures act differently so that the nozzle doesn’t cool down for the stand-by temperature or the initial/final printing temperatures. Contributed by smartavionics.

Material mixing. A new post-processing script can be used to mix materials if you have a mixing nozzle. Mix materials of different colors in order to print in a different color than either of your currently loaded materials. Contributed by Hrybmo.

Infill mesh planning. Another contribution from smartavionics optimizes the order in which infill meshes print their parts. It now takes the previous location into account instead of always the starting location.

Automatic extruder values. Automatic extruder values are now added for dual extrusion when slicing via the command line.

Gamma correction for lithopanes. Loading an image file into Cura creates a heightmap that can be used to make lithopanes. BagelOrb has altered the method of calculating this to apply gamma correction, so that the lightness of the pane is more truthful to the original lightness.

Support for alpha channels in ImageReader. Added support for images with transparency, such as PNGs. When using an image with transparency, the contours of the transparent layer will be followed. Contributed by BagelOrb.

Performance improvements

Speed up plugin loading. fieldOfview has contributed a code optimization to load plugins faster on start. Mileage may vary, but Cura’s startup speed should see a marked improvement.

Crash logging. We switched to a more robust provider for crash analytics, so we can develop a more stable product for you. We also added some extra datapoints to crash reports.

Scene re-rendering. A new performance enhancement that limits re-rendering of the application interface from ‘constant’ to ‘only-when-necessary’.

HTTP request handling. Previous versions used different ways of handling HTTP requests. This version uses a unified method, for better performance.

Jobnames less sensitive to being touched. A contribution from fieldOfview has fixed an issue where the jobname in the bottom-left of the scene is no longer made static by clicking on it. If you load a model and change to another printer, the prefix is now correctly updated.

Property checks on instance containers. A new speed optimization for reading setting values from profiles.

New printer definitions

Native support has been added for the following third-party printers. Find them in the ‘Add printer’ list.

BeamUp S. Contributed by BeamUp 3D.

Anet3D. Contributed by springtiger.

Lotmaxx. Contributed by sm3dp.

eMotionTech. KOUBeMT has contributed updates to eMotionTech materials and the Strateo3D printer.

HMS434. Updates contributed by maukcc.

3D Tech. Contributed by dvdsouza.

Skriware 2. Contributed by skriDude.

Leapfrog Bolt. Contributed by VincentRiemens.

Makeblock mCreate. Contributed by pkz0313.

Voron2. Contributed by Fulg.

Do you want to add a third-party printer definition to Ultimaker Cura? Here’s how.

Bug fixes

Application not starting (Windows). After a lot of sleuthing, we managed to fix a major bug for this release. The application was getting stuck on trying to load "qgif.dll", which is required to load the PNG file for the splash screen. In other cases, it was caused by trying to load a DLL file from the Intel graphics driver for OpenGL. Thanks to the community for the help and feedback to solve this one. Send logs!

Round interpolated z values. When spiralizing, the interpolated z values are rounded to the nearest micron. Contributed by smartavionics.

S-line build plate temp limit. Values over 125C will turn the setting input box orange for safety reasons. It’s still possible to print above these temperatures, though.

Apple keyboard delete button. Fixed an issue where pressing the delete button on an Apple keyboard wouldn’t delete things.

Added “all” setting visibility. Fixed an issue where selecting ‘all settings’ visibility in custom mode would override a custom selection of settings when switching back.

Min x/y distance on sloped walls. Contribution from smartavionics that uses minimum x/y distance when the layer below protrudes beyond current layer (i.e. sloped walls).

Large polygon ordering. Another contribution from smartavionics. This one speeds up the ordering of large numbers of polygons when using the combed travel distances.

Surface mode: Don't combine overlapping. Fixed an issue where overlapping volumes interfered with each other when in surface mode. Contributed by BagelOrb.

Time lapse post processing script. Fixed a wrong extrusion move between the last x/y position and the ‘park head to take a photo’ position.

Window size. Fixed an issue where window sizes weren’t saved when closing Ultimaker Cura. Contributed by fieldOfview.

Prime tower duplicate brim. Fixed an issue where a duplicate brim was created when adhesion and a prime tower was enabled at the same time. Contributed by smartavionics.

Different printer losing settings. Previous versions would lose modified settings when switching to a print group with printers of different types, e.g. adding an Ultimaker 3, modifying the infill settings from the default profile, and then switching to an Ultimaker S5 would change infill settings back to the default profile value. This version has fixed it.

One-at-a-time slice overlapping models. Fixed an issue where one-at-a-time mode was marking models as unprintable even though they were. This occurred a lot with Creality printers, due to print head definition issues.

Huge extrusions after bridging. Fixed an issue where there was a huge extrusion move after bridge wall lines.

Minimum support area eating into parts. Setting ‘Minimum Support Interface Area’ or minimum ‘Support area’ to a non-zero value larger than the area of a model’s layer would cause support material to eat into features of the model. This has been fixed by smartavionics.

CX_Freeze needs LD_LIBRARY_PATH. An issue caused by different Qt versions shipped with older versions of Cura would take a wrong instance which resulted in broken libraries. This has been fixed by smartavionics.

Retraction Min Travel broken. We recently discovered this was broken since version 4.0. Luckily it was fixed by smartavionics.

Mirror + Lay Flat behaves the other way. Fixed some broken behavior with mirror + lay flat settings when used tog...

4.4.1

Changelog for 4.4.1

Bug fixes

• Fixed problem where wrong material was selected by default.
• Fixed a problem where custom profiles were disappearing when loading a project without a nozzle profile.

4.4.0

Changelog for 4.4.0

• Intent profiles.
  What’s the intent of your print? A rapid prototype? A visual prototype? An end-use part with specific holes sizes? Intent profiles accelerate the CAD-CAM workflow by preconfiguring all the right settings in Ultimaker Cura for each of these use cases. Simply select a profile that matches the intent of your design, slice, and you’re ready to print immediately, without the need to adjust the typical settings. For now, there are three Intent profiles:

• ‘Draft’
  Intended for initial prototypes and concept validation, and will print your design in the shortest time possible.
• ‘Engineering’
  Intended for high-dimensional accuracy, to print functional prototypes and mechanical end-use parts.
• ‘Visual’
  Intended for visual prototypes and prints that need excellent aesthetic quality.
  For now, these profiles work for the Ultimaker S5 and Ultimaker S3 with Ultimaker PLA, Tough PLA, and ABS materials, and include PVA and Breakaway combinations. More profiles will follow over time.

• Per-model settings.
  Per-model settings are a set of very powerful features for users who need to tweak specific settings in specific parts of the model. In previous releases these were buried in the interface somewhat, so this release has made them more discoverable with clear icons in the toolbar, so everyone can discover them. The per-model settings can now be accessed both when working from the recommended and the custom print settings mode.

• Specify network printer.
  When connected to an Ultimaker Connect group of multiple printers, Ultimaker Cura once again shows a pop-up to select a designated printer for your printjob. This functionality had been disabled in the last version to ensure reliability when printing remotely.

• Performance improvements.
  Various tweaks under the hood for a snappier, more responsive interface. This improvement is most noticeable when switching extruders, print profiles, hovering over tooltips and when scrolling through the print settings list.

• SDK version increment.
  The changes made in version 4.4 (mainly for intents but also other things) are so thorough that we needed to do a major increment of the SDK version. Contributors – please update your packages!

• Pause at height message.
  A setting has been added to the pause at height script that displays a custom message on screen. This can be used to give instructions to operators to perform an action during the pause, e.g. ‘Place 626 bearings in slots now’.

• Restore window preference.
  https://github.com/fieldOfView has contributed a new preference around restoring the previous window position/size to the last used position/size on start up. This would be a workaround for those setups where starting Ultimaker Cura on a secondary screen will prevent it from working.

• Group Linux instances.
  https://github.com/MatthewCroughan has contributed a fix so that multiple instances of Ultimaker Cura get grouped in one application group in Gnome (the Linux front-end). It adds a bit of metadata to the .desktop file so that the windows can be grouped.

• Known bugs
  Cura not starting on Windows 10. Some users started reporting that Ultimaker Cura 4.3 and higher did not start properly, fur unknown reasons. We have implemented some code to get a better understanding of the issue, but we have not been able to fix it just yet.
  As a quick fix: Go to the install path, by default “C:\Program Files\Ultimaker Cura 4.4”. Right click Cura.exe and select ‘properties’. Click the ‘compatibility’ tab and select “Run This Program in Compatibility Mode For: Windows 8”. If this does not fix your issue, please contact your service provider.

• Minor improvements

• Reweighting stages.
• Small plug-in system improvements
• Add RetractContinue post-processing script by https://github.com/thopiekar
• Add DisplayRemainingTimeOnLCD post-processing script by https://github.com/iLyngklip
• Thickness of the very bottom layer

• Updated third party printers

• Strateo3D. https://github.com/KOUBeMT has updated the machine profile for Strateo3D.
• Key3D Tyro. https://github.com/DragonJe has created a definition, extruder, and profiles for the Key3D Tyro.
• Prusa i3 MK3/MK3S printer. https://github.com/samirabaza has contributed the latest definition for Prusa i3 MK3/MK3s made by Prusa Research with a minor modification to fit in Prusa folder under "add printer".
• Hellbot printer. https://github.com/F-Fischer has contributed a machine profile for the Hellbot printer.
• HMS434 update by https://github.com/maukcc
• Add CR-10 MAX and Ender-5 plus by https://github.com/trouch
• Modify Cubicon device profile by https://github.com/HUNIBEST-HyVISION
• Add Cubicon printer definitions by https://github.com/HUNIBEST-HyVISION

• Bug fixes

• Re-calculating retraction-safe area with every wall by https://github.com/smartavionics
• Fix Normals after Mirror Operation
• Crash when loading PJ with creality
• Per-object setting stacks checked for errors even if they are empty by https://github.com/smartavionics
• getAngleLeft gives wrong results when lines are colinear
• Lots of qml warnings regarding MaterialsTypeSelection.qml
• PR: Avoid unwanted travel with ironing by https://github.com/smartavionics
• PR: Remove all travel moves < 5um by https://github.com/smartavionics
• AMF files are mirrored
• Changes to Material diameter do not get applied
• Long string of text on profile names goes through borders
• CURA 4.3 - Crash when connecting networked Ultimaker S5
• Layer slider falls behind action panel, on low resolution displays only by https://github.com/AMI3
• Deleting profiles will not update the size of the drop-down menu
• Create / Update / Discard options are enabled when they should be greyed out
• Scroll bar for profile dropdown
• Can't change printhead X/Y Min/Max
• Syncing to a printer that has both nozzles disabled causes Cura to crash
• Project file open behavior preference is ignored when opening from command line.
• Create CFFF printer and change nozzle diameter will cause a crash
• Pause At Height resumes with wrong speed
• One-at-a-time ordering wrong
• Fix license extraction from CuraPackage
• Invalid firmware for UM2 update continues forever
• Infill inset too much with connected lines and thicker infill by https://github.com/smartavionics
• Reworked line polygon crossings by https://github.com/smartavionics

4.4 Beta

Beta for 4.4

Related blog post: https://ultimaker.com/learn/discover-intent-profiles-in-ultimaker-cura-4-4-beta

4.4 Beta Pre-release

This is a pre-release for the Beta of 4.4.0. Due to a major SDK change (7.0.0), a pre-release is made available to allow plugin developers more time to update their plugins.

We have added the following:

• The ContainerTree class provides easy access to which profiles are available for each configuration in Cura.
• QualityManagementModel is expanded to contain functions for duplicating, deleting, etc. of custom profiles.
• MaterialManagementModel is expanded to contain functions for duplicating, deleting, etc. of materials.
• Setting version is incremented to 10.
• Per-extruder container stacks now contain an additional entry: The "intent" profile, meant to indicate how the user intends to use the print: For strength, accuracy, just visual, etc.
• IntentCategoryModel provides a list of the available intent categories.
• IntentModel provides a list of the available intent profiles per intent category.
• A new decorator marks certain things as "API", to mark certain things as considered completely stable for plug-ins to use. These markers have not yet been added to all things that we consider stable to use, though.
• Metadata can now be set per PluginObject, allowing multiple of the same type of PluginObjects to be defined in one plug-in. PluginObjects have a getName function to disambiguate them.

We have removed the following:

• MaterialManager. Use ContainerTree or MaterialManagementModel instead.
• QualityManager. Use ContainerTree or QualityManagementModel instead.
• VariantManager. Use ContainerTree instead.

v4.3.0

4.3.0

Ultimaker S3

This release includes a new profile for our latest S-line of 3D printers: the Ultimaker S3. Eagle-eyed beta testers may have noticed this extra printer profile in the beta release, too. Well done to those who spotted it. Learn more about the Ultimaker S3 by reading the blog on Ultimaker.com.

Even more 3D file formats

This version is compatible with even more 3D file formats out-of-the-box, so you can integrate CAD software, 3D scanning software, and 3D modeling software into your workflow with ease. Natively open Collada, GLTF, OpenCTM, and PLY formats, to name a few. And don’t forget, downloading plugins from the Ultimaker Marketplace brings in support for many more.

Align faces to the build plate

Orienting your models with the rotation tool or the lay flat tool can be a hassle with complex geometries. This new time-saving feature lets you select a face of your model to rest on the build plate, so you can get the orientation you need quickly and easily. Please note this is disabled in compatibility mode (and if your machine is running OpenGL 3.2 or lower).

Support infill/interface line directions

Improve reliability with more precise control over certain aspects of your print. Choose the angle that support-infill and interfaces print at, thanks to a contribution from vgribinchuck (https://github.com/vgribinchuk). Input a set of angles you want lines generated at, and these will be placed sequentially throughout your 3D print.

Randomize infill start

Randomize which infill line is printed first. This distributes strength across the model, preventing one segment becoming the weakest link, at the cost of an additional travel move.

Print small features slower

Smartavionics (https://github.com/smartavionics) has contributed a setting which recognizes small perimeters and reduces print speed in order to boost the reliability and accuracy of small printed features. This is especially useful for small perimeters such as printed holes, as they tend to get ripped away from the build plate easily due to their low contact area.

Easy selector for Z seam positions

Z seams are now easier to position on your model, thanks to a contribution by trouch (https://github.com/trouch). A drop down selection box has been added to custom mode, giving you a list of presets to place the z seam on your model.

Colorblind assist theme

Nubnubbud (https://github.com/Nubnubbud) has added a new theme for colorblind users which makes more distinction between colors, such as the yellow/green line colors in the layer view.

DisplayFilenameAndLayerOnLCD script

Some improvements for this post processing script from the community. N95JPL (https://github.com/N95JPL) has contributed updates to offer a wider range of optional information. Adecastilho (https://github.com/Adecastilho) has contributed updates so that the layer count is displayed before the filename to prevent the layer number getting truncated in the event of long filename, as well as an option to start layer count at either 0 or 1. The ':' in the display string has also been removed as it is a GCODE command that splits the line into two different commands.

Peripheral information for output devices

Architectural changes in Ultimaker Cura to allow display information about peripherals in the printer output device, so that I can use it to later on show that information in the Monitor stage plugin.

Quality changes on import

Users can now import profiles that have been created on a different machine other than the active one.

Remove prime after coasting

Reduce the visibility of the z seam when printing with coasting by preventing nozzle priming.

Map Material Station slot data

The available configurations drop down will display information about a Ultimaker S5 Material Station if connected. Read more about the Ultimaker S5 Material Station on ultimaker.com

Manage Printer link

Added a “Manage Printer” link in the monitor tab which takes you to Ultimaker Connect.

Improvement in code quality

Improved code quality resulting in improved stability.

Bug fixes

• Uninstall in silent mode. Fixed an issue where a dialog displays when uninstalling in silent mode.
• Build Interface if Support is Present. In some cases, support could be pushed away by large support XY distance, but interfaces could be left on overhangs which leads to situation when interface is generated without support. This has been fixed.
• Install in silent mode. The bundled Arduino driver is signed by a certificate that's not trusted on Windows by default, so there was no way to suppress the prompt or to have the installer skip driver installation. This has been fixed.
• 3MF project printer connection not included. When loading a project file that was saved while a network connection was active, the network connection is not re-established. This has been fixed.
• Thin Walls broken. Fixed an error with thin walls being broken.
• Tray icon remaining. Fixed a bug where the tray icon would remain after closing the application.
• Marketplace text. Fixed an issue where Marketplace text is blurry on some screens
• Unsupported profile imports. Fixed an issue where exported profiles could not be reimported.
• Loading file message. Added visual feedback when loading files such as STLs
• Loading GCODE on disabled extruders. Fixed an issue where GCODE imported using multi-extrusion fails to load if an extruder is disabled.
• Support brim with concentric support pattern. Fixed an issue where support would be in mid-air.
• Reduced cloud logging. Logging has been reduced for cloud connections on unstable connections.
• Application menu extruder menu. Fixed an issue where changing the extruder via the application menu didn’t work.
• Tool handles move when rotating. Fixed an issue where rotate tool handles would change location when rotating.
• F5 reload. Fixed an issue where F5 doesn't reload GCODE.
• Application not starting before the splash screen. Fixed an issue where the application wouldn’t start before the splash window.
• Qt 5.13 crashes. Fixed an issue where the ShaderEffect crashes using Qt 5.13
• Can’t select other materials in print setting tab. Fixed an issue where other materials couldn’t be selected using the print settings tab.
• Drop down to buildplate after resize. Models don’t drop down to the build plate if they are scaled down from ‘too large to fit’.
• Unsupported quality profiles. Fixed unsupported quality profiles appearing for 0.25 + 0.8 print core combinations.
• 'Arrange all models' for groups. Fixed an issue where arrange all models hangs for grouped models.
• Update Checker not working. Fixed this so that updates are visible if using a legacy version.
• Missing support brim. Fixed an issue where support brim was missing if platform adhesion set to ‘None’.
• Multiply non-normal mesh doesn't work. Fixed instances where processes stopped and messages would hang.
• Settings not updating in GUI with inheritance. Fixed settings not updating GUI with inheritance.
• Prevent 'generic'-part in name of specific materials. Introduced checks for ‘generic’ material types to help material categorization.
• Hide temperature settings. The "Default Print Temperature" setting is currently editable, but editing this setting can cause problems with temperatures later especially when you have it in your custom profile. We decided to hide this setting so users can no longer edit it in the later releases to avoid confusion. The "Default Build Plate Temperature" has also been hidden because it causes a similar issue.
• Add machine_heated_build_volume. Introduced a new machine_heated_build_volume machine-setting, which is set it to false by default, and only set it to true for the Ultimaker S5. Users can alter their own definition if they do have a heated build volume.
• Z-hops on first layer. First move other start GCODE not z-hopped. Contributed by sailorgreg (https://github.com/sailorgreg).
• Preserve extruder-only moves in post stretch script. Contributed by sgtnoodle (https://github.com/sgtnoodle).
• “Print via Cloud” is no longer possible without an Internet connection
• Monitor tab no longer sometimes shows incorrect printer name or type
• Long print job names are no longer overlapping other text in the monitor tab
• “Connected to Cloud” pop-up now only displays when the currently selected printer is connected to Ultimaker cloud.
• Monitor tab is no longer greyed out when idle.

Third-party printer definitions

New machine definitions added for:

• IMADE3D Jellybox. Contributed by filipgoc for IMADE3D Jellybox printers, which adds JellyBOX 2 printer and revises settings of JellyBOX Original. https://github.com/filipgoc
• Vertex Nano. Contributed by velbn. https://github.com/velbn
• Felix Pro 2. Contributed by pnks. https://github.com/pnks
• JGAurora A35. Contributed by pinchies. https://github.com/pinchies
• eMotionTech Strateo3D. Contributed by KOUBeMT. https://github.com/KOUBeMT
• NWA3D A31. Contributed by DragonJe. https://github.com/DragonJe