Check out what makes every UltiMaker 3D printer tick and which one is finest suited to your initiatives.
Up to date on September 6, 2023
by
MatterHackers
UltiMaker has been, and continues to be, a distinguished participant within the desktop 3D printing business for a very long time. They provide a complete vary of options for each a part of the 3D printing course of, from filament and their free slicing software program, Cura, to polished, high-quality 3D printers and invaluable equipment that add comfort to your workflow. UltiMaker’s line of machines is a pressure to be reckoned with, providing highly effective choices that vary from their skilled S-series line like the only extrusion UltiMaker 2+ Join and their twin extrusion assortment of the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, and UltiMaker S7 3D printers. In addition they supply their specialised engineering Technique collection, which incorporates the dual-extrusion UltiMaker Technique XL. It may be difficult to check totally different fashions and decide the very best one to your wants with out understanding what to search for. Fortunately, the Execs at MatterHackers are right here to information you in your journey.
Let’s leap into it!
UltiMaker options quite a lot of 3D printers designed to satisfy your particular software wants.
UltiMaker 3D Printer Overview of Variations
1 Extra accent advisable/required.
○ The Technique XL doesn’t make the most of the identical Materials Station because the UltiMaker S-series line. Nevertheless, it does include a Materials Case designed to maintain filament dry whereas printing. Word filament nonetheless must be pre-dried earlier than inserting into materials case/station.
*Be taught extra within the Tech Specs Highlight part! Hyperlinks within the desk above immediately take you to the part going into larger element about that characteristic. Click on on the product title hyperlinks for extra info on that particular product.
UltiMaker 3D Printer Tech Specs Highlight
Want extra info to tell your choice? Carry on studying for extra particulars and proposals on a number of the technical specs described within the Overview desk.
Worth
It may be laborious to check pricing for machines that appear very related and but have some fairly important variations. Whereas the UltiMaker 2+ Join and UltiMaker S3 have comparable construct volumes, the two+ Join is kind of a bit cheaper than the S3 at the price of being solely single extrusion and leaving out handy options akin to interchangeable hotends and a cloth stream sensor. Leaping to the UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 worth tier is critical, however comes with way more capabilities and quality-of-life options that guarantee your manufacturing workflow runs as easily as attainable. If you happen to want an UltiMaker for essential on-demand initiatives that require excellent end-use, purposeful prototypes, the UltiMaker Technique XL is effectively value investing in.
TLDR; except your precedence is to maximise a restricted funds, your alternative will primarily come right down to their capabilities. The options can differ significantly between every mannequin so it’s laborious to actually evaluate, however relaxation assured each UltiMaker 3D printer is effectively value each penny, mirrored within the distinctive functions they provide.
The value leap from the UltiMaker 2+ Join and S3 to the UltiMaker S5 and S7 is obvious, however comprehensible as you study the various further handy capabilities you get every step up.
Variety of Extruders
If you have to print in a number of colours and/or complicated geometries, then the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, UltiMaker S7, and UltiMaker Technique XL are the advisable decisions to have a look at. The UltiMaker 2+ Join is proscribed to 3D printing in just one materials (or coloration) at a time. Assist constructions along with your complicated geometries should be extruded in the identical materials as your construct materials, which is completely serviceable. Nevertheless, this may require fairly a little bit of post-processing effort and time chipping and clipping away on the helps to disclose your 3D print beneath (which is able to in all probability want further sharpening of any help stubs left over). Twin-extrusion 3D printers assist you to use dissolvable help supplies so you possibly can toss your completed 3D print in a bath of water and easily watch for the helps to dissolve away and reveal a easy mannequin.
TLDR; if you wish to decrease post-processing complicated prints and/or wish to print elements in two colours, look no additional than the UltiMaker S3, S5, S7, and Technique XL.
Twin extrusion is effective for functions requiring a number of colours or complicated geometries. Look no additional than the UltiMaker Technique XL, UltiMaker S7, S5, and S3 to your twin extrusion wants.
Construct Quantity
Between the 4 UltiMaker fashions, there are basically two measurement lessons (see sizes under). The UltiMaker 2+ Join and UltiMaker S3 have related construct quantity dimensions with the S3 shedding some Y peak on account of having a twin extrusion head. Remember the fact that could also be well worth the loss if twin extrusion is essential to you! In distinction, the UltiMaker S5, UltiMaker S7, and UltiMaker Technique XL are significantly bigger. The S5 and S7 share the very same measurement whereas the Technique XL has a little bit bit extra complete quantity than the S5 and S7. If massive prints are in your future and you are not restricted in benchtop house, contemplate the worth of the mannequin and your software/characteristic wants as these can simply make or break your choice between the S5, S7, and Technique XL.
TLDR; if an enormous measurement issues and you haven’t any restrictions in workspace, contemplate worth and model-specific options when deliberating between the S5, S7, and Technique XL.
The UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 have the identical largest construct quantity within the S-series line whereas the UltiMaker Technique XL comes out only a bit bigger in complete quantity.
Most Temperatures
(Max Mattress Temp / Max Hotend Temp)
The temperatures that your 3D printer can attain dictate what supplies you possibly can and might’t work with. Within the case of the UltiMaker 2+ Join, its most mattress temperature is 110°. The UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, and UltiMaker S7 have a most mattress temperature of 140°C, so you possibly can relaxation straightforward understanding the mattress won’t be your limiting issue as it may well attain the perfect temperature for even probably the most excessive supplies like ABS or Polycarbonate. The UltiMaker Technique XL reaches a most mattress temp of 105°C which is often not the perfect most you’d need available if aspiring to print greater temperature supplies however isn’t any downside for this machine on account of its lively heating chamber that provides a further 100°C to its enclosed atmosphere, giving temperature-sensitive supplies the suitable house to succeed.
Moreover, they differ within the temperatures that the nozzle can attain; as a result of the UltiMaker S3, S5, S7, and Technique XL make the most of interchangeable hotends, the utmost printing temperature is 280°C (for the S-series) and 300°C (for the Technique collection) which ought to enable for the usage of most supplies that you would be able to 3D print with. Whereas the UltiMaker 2+ Join is proscribed to 260°C and is sufficient for any UltiMaker supplies, it might add problem for different manufacturers of filament that want greater temperatures.
TLDR; the UltiMaker S3, S5, S7, and Technique XL must be the go-to concerns for those who intend on printing any materials that requires greater than 260°C to efficiently print.
The beds of the UltiMaker S3, S5, and S7 are in a position to attain an astounding 140°C, greater than sufficient warmth for even probably the most troublesome 3D printing supplies.
Enclosed
(Enclosed / Heated Chamber)
All UltiMaker 3D printers are enclosed to some extent—how a lot relies in your software wants (and probably different components). If you happen to plan on simply printing PLA and PETG, then the UltiMaker 2+ Join could be an optimum alternative because it is not absolutely enclosed and would prevent more money. Nevertheless, for those who plan on printing a lot of ABS for manufacturing, then both the UltiMaker Technique XL or UltiMaker S7 could be the working candidates since each come out of the field absolutely enclosed. The Technique XL even has the distinctive bonus of getting an actively heated chamber, offering the perfect atmosphere for supplies like ABS to succeed. The UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S3 are principally enclosed and are able to printing supplies like ABS, nevertheless it’s value noting that the UltiMaker doesn’t have an Air Supervisor out there for the S3 to cowl the highest, and the Air Supervisor that’s out there for the S5 is a separate buy both by itself, as an improve bundle, or bundled along with the printer.
TLDR; if materials compatibility and success are the primary precedence, the 2+ Join is ideal for printing primarily PLA/PETG whereas the Technique XL and S7 are the highest decisions for out-of-the-box optimum efficiency with temperature-sensitive printing supplies.
Each the UltiMaker Technique XL (pictured) and UltiMaker S7 are designed to maintain temperature in and exterior variables out of the construct quantity space for max 3D printing success.
Materials Compatibility
(Composite Materials Compatibility / Steel Materials Compatibility)
It is vital to know whether or not or not the machines you are contemplating can print particular supplies. If you happen to intend to make the most of each steel and composite 3D printer filament, the UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S3 are the highest contenders. The UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker Technique XL knock composite 3D printing out of the park however are unable to print steel (inexperienced) elements presently. Word that no matter whether or not you are printing steel or composite filament, you will want a Print Core CC hotend for the S-series (S3, S5, S7) 3D printers as abrasive supplies like steel and composites will rapidly break brass nozzles that come customary on these printers. The UltiMaker Technique XL mechanically comes with an abrasive-resistant hotend (with further hotend choices out there). The UltiMaker 2+ Join is just not geared up with a dual-geared extruder to deal with the abrasive filament nor does it include an abrasive-resistant nozzle (it is also not appropriate with Print Core know-how).
TLDR; the UltiMaker S3 and S5 can fulfill each steel and composite 3D printing wants. The UltiMaker S7 and Technique XL are each viable choices as effectively if it is simply improbable composite 3D printing you want (whereas retaining in thoughts that Print Core CC‘s are crucial for the prolonged lifespan of your S-series [S3, S5, S7] 3D printer’s nozzle).
Be sure you decide the suitable UltiMaker that’s able to printing all of the supplies in your guidelines.
Handy Options
(Interchangeable Hotend / Materials Circulate Sensor / Construct Floor / Mattress Leveling)
Once you’re on a time crunch for an essential undertaking, all of a sudden that quality-of-life characteristic turns into a necessity as an alternative of a need. Whereas the UltiMaker 2+ Join has the frequent built-in hotend format, the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, UltiMaker S7, and UltiMaker Technique XL design their hotends in an simply detachable package deal. If you would like a brand new nozzle measurement, new nozzle materials, or if you wish to take away it for normal upkeep, you possibly can swap out your complete hotend in seconds and have one other pre-packaged hotend able to go whereas the opposite is out of fee. Having this interchangeable characteristic saves huge and is a superb funding in the long term in a manufacturing world the place downtime is just not an possibility.
Different time and value saving handy options you must contemplate when choosing your 3D printer candidates are if they arrive with a cloth stream sensor (pauses your printer when it runs out of filament), what sort of construct floor it contains (versatile plates imply simpler print elimination and an simply swappable construct floor), and what sort of mattress leveling system it makes use of (automated leveling equals assured accuracy and handy hands-off strategy). See the desk under for which capabilities every mannequin has.
TLDR; if absolute minimal downtime is a high precedence to your wants, contemplate the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker Technique XL for prototyping functions or the UltiMaker S7 for print farm jobs.
UltiMaker Print Cores make-up your complete hotend within the S Collection, from warmth sink to nozzle it is all rapidly removeable and interchangeable.
Air Filtration and Management
If you understand you’re going to be printing with a number of the stinkier 3D printing supplies like ABS or Polycarbonate, having built-in filtration to wash the air of the printer is a worthwhile funding. Each the UltiMaker Technique XL and UltiMaker S7 come built-in with an air filtration system. The UltiMaker 2+ Join and The UltiMaker S5 have the Air Supervisor add-on that you would be able to buy that merely plug into the again of the Ultimaker, snap onto the highest, and supply full management of the air surrounding the 3D print. Within the case of the UltiMaker S3, there isn’t a filtration possibility out there from UltiMaker.
TLDR; in case your workspace requires filtration otherwise you actually don’t desire the smelly scents that come up with filaments like ABS and PC, contemplate the Technique XL or UltiMaker S7 which incorporates an air filter system. The S5 and 2+ Join are additionally candidates for those who mix them with their respective Air Supervisor add-ons.
UltiMaker Air Managers or third celebration add-ons are in a position to each filter outgoing air and cycle to maintain the inner temperature inside a constant vary.
Materials Station
The UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 actually stand out on this lineup by having the choice to make the most of the Ultimaker Materials Station which manages as much as 6 of your supplies without delay with none consumer intervention. Maintain a number of supplies or colours loaded and on the prepared (though you possibly can solely use 2 supplies per print job). The primary goal of that is to totally make the most of the Ultimaker Cloud to ship, for instance, a Yellow PLA with PVA print to your cloud-synced print farm and have the UltiMaker S7 / S5 mechanically unload filament and cargo within the desired supplies to get began. Paired with a sensor in each bay to find out in the event that they’ve run out of fabric earlier than the job is finished, and you’ll have a virtually utterly hands-free print job from begin to end, save for the print elimination. It is value noting that, whereas not the identical factor as a Materials Station, the UltiMaker Technique XL comes with a Materials Case that shops two spools of filament to take care of a humidity-controlled atmosphere to your materials (essential for printing success).
TLDR; if growing automated materials loading for max manufacturing uptime is a should, look no additional than the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker S5 fashions.
A totally loaded Materials Station cycles by means of totally different supplies to maintain UltMaker S5’s and UltiMaker S7’s stocked and loaded.
Summarized Advice Information
The desk under is a simplified suggestion on which 3D printers are most definitely finest to your functions.
Word that there could also be private variations on specifics akin to “restricted house”, “restricted funds”, “minimal manufacturing downtime”, and many others. Evaluate the Tech Specs Highlight once more for any info you could have missed or click on on the product names under if you wish to study extra about these particular machines.
| I’ll… | 2+ Join | UltiMaker S3 | UltiMaker S5 | UltiMaker S7 | Technique XL |
| Want Wonderful Print High quality | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Run a Print Farm | ○ | ○ | ✔ | ✔ | ○ |
| Want Hotend Interchangeability | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Print Composite Supplies | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Print Robust, Finish-Use Elements/Prototypes | ○ | ○ | ○ | ✔ | |
| Print Primarily ABS and Different Superior Supplies |
○ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Print Complicated Geometries | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Print Massive Elements | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Print Steel Supplies (Inexperienced Elements) | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Print Primarily PLA / PETG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Want Materials Humidity Management | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Want Minimal Manufacturing Downtime | ○ | ✔ | ○ | ||
| Have Restricted Workspace | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Have a Restricted Price range | ✔ |
○ – The mannequin is able to that want, however might not be probably the most optimum possibility both as a result of there’s one other mannequin that’s higher geared up for that want or different varied causes.
As you possibly can see, UltiMaker has a variety of 3D printers that encompasses varied additive manufacturing wants. Hopefully issues are a bit clearer now and you’ve got a greater sense of which UltiMaker 3D printer would be the powerhouse manufacturing machine for you!
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Fascinated with extra comparability content material? Take a look at the video under! Please observe, the under video was created in mid-2021.
Fashions launched post-2021 will not be talked about such because the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker Technique XL.