Check out what makes every UltiMaker 3D printer tick and which one is greatest suited to your tasks.
Up to date on September 6, 2023
by
MatterHackers
UltiMaker has been, and continues to be, a distinguished participant within the desktop 3D printing trade 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 drive 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. Additionally they supply their specialised engineering Technique sequence, which incorporates the dual-extrusion UltiMaker Technique XL. It may be difficult to check completely different fashions and decide the very best one to your wants with out realizing what to search for. Fortunately, the Professionals at MatterHackers are right here to information you in your journey.
Let’s bounce into it!
UltiMaker options a wide range of 3D printers designed to satisfy your particular software wants.
UltiMaker 3D Printer Overview of Variations
1 Extra accent beneficial/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 putting into materials case/station.
*Be taught extra within the Tech Specs Highlight part! Hyperlinks within the desk above instantly take you to the part going into higher element about that characteristic. Click on on the product identify hyperlinks for extra data on that particular product.
UltiMaker 3D Printer Tech Specs Highlight
Want extra data to tell your determination? Carry on studying for extra particulars and proposals on a few of the technical specs described within the Overview desk.
Worth
It may be exhausting 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 move sensor. Leaping to the UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 worth tier is important, however comes with rather more capabilities and quality-of-life options that guarantee your manufacturing workflow runs as easily as doable. If you happen to want an UltiMaker for necessary on-demand tasks that require excellent end-use, purposeful prototypes, the UltiMaker Technique XL is effectively value investing in.
TLDR; until your precedence is to maximise a restricted funds, your selection will primarily come right down to their capabilities. The options can differ drastically between every mannequin so it’s exhausting to actually evaluate, however relaxation assured each UltiMaker 3D printer is effectively value each penny, mirrored within the distinctive functions they provide.
The worth bounce from the UltiMaker 2+ Join and S3 to the UltiMaker S5 and S7 is clear, however comprehensible as you be taught the various extra handy capabilities you get every step up.
Variety of Extruders
If you must print in a number of colours and/or complicated geometries, then the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, UltiMaker S7, and UltiMaker Technique XL are the beneficial selections to have a look at. The UltiMaker 2+ Join is restricted to 3D printing in just one materials (or coloration) at a time. Help 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 extra sharpening of any assist stubs left over). Twin-extrusion 3D printers let you use dissolvable assist supplies so you possibly can toss your completed 3D print in a bath of water and easily look ahead to the helps to dissolve away and reveal a clean mannequin.
TLDR; if you wish to reduce post-processing complicated prints and/or need 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 primarily two dimension courses (see sizes beneath). The UltiMaker 2+ Join and UltiMaker S3 have related construct quantity dimensions with the S3 dropping some Y top as a result of having a twin extrusion head. Needless to say could also be well worth the loss if twin extrusion is necessary to you! In distinction, the UltiMaker S5, UltiMaker S7, and UltiMaker Technique XL are significantly bigger. The S5 and S7 share the very same dimension whereas the Technique XL has a bit bit extra whole quantity than the S5 and S7. If giant prints are in your future and you are not restricted in benchtop area, take into account the value of the mannequin and your software/characteristic wants as these can simply make or break your determination between the S5, S7, and Technique XL.
TLDR; if a giant dimension issues and you don’t have any restrictions in workspace, take into account 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 whole 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 simple realizing the mattress is not going to be your limiting issue as it will probably attain the best temperature for even essentially the most excessive supplies like ABS or Polycarbonate. The UltiMaker Technique XL reaches a most mattress temp of 105°C which is generally not the best most you’d need available if meaning to print greater temperature supplies however is not any drawback for this machine as a result of its lively heating chamber that provides an extra 100°C to its enclosed surroundings, giving temperature-sensitive supplies the suitable area 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 sequence) which ought to enable for using most supplies you can 3D print with. Whereas the UltiMaker 2+ Join is restricted 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 ought to be the go-to concerns when you intend on printing any materials that requires greater than 260°C to efficiently print.
The beds of the UltiMaker S3, S5, and S7 are capable of attain an astounding 140°C, greater than sufficient warmth for even essentially the most tough 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 doubtlessly different elements). If you happen to plan on simply printing PLA and PETG, then the UltiMaker 2+ Join can be an optimum selection because it is not totally enclosed and would prevent extra cash. Nevertheless, when you plan on printing numerous ABS for manufacturing, then both the UltiMaker Technique XL or UltiMaker S7 can be the working candidates since each come out of the field totally enclosed. The Technique XL even has the distinctive bonus of getting an actively heated chamber, offering the best surroundings for supplies like ABS to succeed. The UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S3 are largely enclosed and are able to printing supplies like ABS, nevertheless it’s value noting that the UltiMaker doesn’t have an Air Supervisor obtainable for the S3 to cowl the highest, and the Air Supervisor that’s obtainable 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 selections 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 important 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 metallic 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 metallic (inexperienced) elements presently. Word that no matter whether or not you are printing metallic or composite filament, you will want a Print Core CC hotend for the S-series (S3, S5, S7) 3D printers as abrasive supplies like metallic and composites will rapidly wreck brass nozzles that come customary on these printers. The UltiMaker Technique XL robotically comes with an abrasive-resistant hotend (with extra hotend choices obtainable). The UltiMaker 2+ Join shouldn’t be 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 expertise).
TLDR; the UltiMaker S3 and S5 can fulfill each metallic and composite 3D printing wants. The UltiMaker S7 and Technique XL are each viable choices as effectively if it is simply unbelievable composite 3D printing you want (whereas maintaining in thoughts that Print Core CC‘s are vital for the prolonged lifespan of your S-series [S3, S5, S7] 3D printer’s nozzle).
Make sure to choose the suitable UltiMaker that’s able to printing all of the supplies in your guidelines.
Handy Options
(Interchangeable Hotend / Materials Stream Sensor / Construct Floor / Mattress Leveling)
Whenever you’re on a time crunch for an necessary 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. In order for you a brand new nozzle dimension, new nozzle materials, or if you wish to take away it for normal upkeep, you possibly can swap out the 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 massive and is a good funding in the long term in a manufacturing world the place downtime shouldn’t be an choice.
Different time and price saving handy options you need to take into account when selecting your 3D printer candidates are if they arrive with a cloth move sensor (pauses your printer when it runs out of filament), what kind of construct floor it contains (versatile plates imply simpler print removing and an simply swappable construct floor), and what kind of mattress leveling system it makes use of (automated leveling equals assured accuracy and handy hands-off method). See the desk beneath for which capabilities every mannequin has.
TLDR; if absolute minimal downtime is a prime precedence to your wants, take into account the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker Technique XL for prototyping functions or the UltiMaker S7 for print farm jobs.
UltiMaker Print Cores make-up the complete hotend within the S Sequence, 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 few of the stinkier 3D printing supplies like ABS or Polycarbonate, having built-in filtration to scrub 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 you can 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 choice obtainable from UltiMaker.
TLDR; in case your workspace requires filtration otherwise you actually don’t need the smelly scents that come up with filaments like ABS and PC, take into account the Technique XL or UltiMaker S7 which incorporates an air filter system. The S5 and 2+ Join are additionally candidates when you mix them with their respective Air Supervisor add-ons.
UltiMaker Air Managers or third celebration add-ons are capable of 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 directly with none consumer intervention. Preserve 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 completely 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 robotically 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 completed, and you may have an almost utterly hands-free print job from begin to end, save for the print removing. 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 keep up a humidity-controlled surroundings 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 way of completely different supplies to maintain UltMaker S5’s and UltiMaker S7’s stocked and loaded.
Summarized Suggestion Information
The desk beneath is a simplified advice on which 3D printers are almost definitely greatest to your functions.
Word that there could also be private variations on specifics akin to “restricted area”, “restricted funds”, “minimal manufacturing downtime”, and so on. Evaluate the Tech Specs Highlight once more for any data you might have missed or click on on the product names beneath if you wish to be taught extra about these particular machines.
| I’ll… | 2+ Join | UltiMaker S3 | UltiMaker S5 | UltiMaker S7 | Technique XL |
| Want Glorious Print High quality | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Run a Print Farm | ○ | ○ | ✔ | ✔ | ○ |
| Want Hotend Interchangeability | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Print Composite Supplies | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Print Powerful, Finish-Use Elements/Prototypes | ○ | ○ | ○ | ✔ | |
| Print Primarily ABS and Different Superior Supplies |
○ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Print Advanced Geometries | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Print Giant Elements | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Print Steel Supplies (Inexperienced Elements) | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Print Primarily PLA / PETG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Want Materials Humidity Management | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Want Minimal Manufacturing Downtime | ○ | ✔ | ○ | ||
| Have Restricted Workspace | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Have a Restricted Finances | ✔ |
○ – The mannequin is able to that want, however is probably not essentially the most optimum choice 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!
Wish to learn the article from the highest? Click on right here.
Fascinated by extra comparability content material? Try the video beneath! Please observe, the beneath video was created in mid-2021.
Fashions launched post-2021 will not be talked about such because the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker Technique XL.
