Check out what makes every UltiMaker 3D printer tick and which one is greatest suited in your tasks.
Up to date on September 6, 2023
by
MatterHackers
UltiMaker has been, and continues to be, a outstanding 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 pressure to be reckoned with, providing highly effective choices that vary from their skilled S-series line like the one extrusion UltiMaker 2+ Join and their twin extrusion assortment of the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, and UltiMaker S7 3D printers. In addition they provide their specialised engineering Methodology sequence, which incorporates the dual-extrusion UltiMaker Methodology XL. It may be difficult to check totally different fashions and decide the perfect one in your wants with out figuring out what to search for. Fortunately, the Execs 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 utility wants.
UltiMaker 3D Printer Overview of Variations
1 Extra accent advisable/required.
○ The Methodology XL doesn’t make the most of the identical Materials Station because the UltiMaker S-series line. Nonetheless, it does include a Materials Case designed to maintain filament dry whereas printing. Observe 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 larger element about that function. 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 resolution? Carry on studying for extra particulars and proposals on among the technical specs described within the Overview desk.
Worth
It may be onerous to check pricing for machines that appear very related and but have some fairly vital 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 resembling interchangeable hotends and a fabric stream sensor. Leaping to the UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 worth tier is critical, however comes with rather more capabilities and quality-of-life options that guarantee your manufacturing workflow runs as easily as attainable. For those who want an UltiMaker for necessary on-demand tasks that require very good end-use, useful prototypes, the UltiMaker Methodology XL is effectively value investing in.
TLDR; until your precedence is to maximise a restricted funds, your selection will primarily come all the way down to their capabilities. The options can differ vastly between every mannequin so it’s onerous 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 study the numerous further handy capabilities you get every step up.
Variety of Extruders
If that you must print in a number of colours and/or complicated geometries, then the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, UltiMaker S7, and UltiMaker Methodology 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. Help buildings together with your complicated geometries must be extruded in the identical materials as your construct materials, which is completely serviceable. Nonetheless, this could 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 assist stubs left over). Twin-extrusion 3D printers permit you to 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 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 Methodology XL.
Twin extrusion is efficacious for functions requiring a number of colours or complicated geometries. Look no additional than the UltiMaker Methodology XL, UltiMaker S7, S5, and S3 in your twin extrusion wants.
Construct Quantity
Between the 4 UltiMaker fashions, there are primarily two dimension lessons (see sizes under). The UltiMaker 2+ Join and UltiMaker S3 have related construct quantity dimensions with the S3 shedding some Y peak attributable to having a twin extrusion head. Needless to say could also be definitely worth the loss if twin extrusion is necessary to you! In distinction, the UltiMaker S5, UltiMaker S7, and UltiMaker Methodology XL are significantly bigger. The S5 and S7 share the very same dimension whereas the Methodology XL has a bit bit extra complete 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 worth of the mannequin and your utility/function wants as these can simply make or break your resolution between the S5, S7, and Methodology XL.
TLDR; if a giant dimension issues and you haven’t any restrictions in workspace, take into account worth and model-specific options when deliberating between the S5, S7, and Methodology XL.
The UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 have the identical largest construct quantity within the S-series line whereas the UltiMaker Methodology 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 may’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 figuring out the mattress is not going to be your limiting issue as it may possibly attain the perfect temperature for even essentially the most excessive supplies like ABS or Polycarbonate. The UltiMaker Methodology XL reaches a most mattress temp of 105°C which is often not the perfect most you’d need readily available if meaning to print greater temperature supplies however is not any downside for this machine attributable to its lively heating chamber that provides an extra 100°C to its enclosed atmosphere, giving temperature-sensitive supplies the best area to succeed.
Moreover, they differ within the temperatures that the nozzle can attain; as a result of the UltiMaker S3, S5, S7, and Methodology XL make the most of interchangeable hotends, the utmost printing temperature is 280°C (for the S-series) and 300°C (for the Methodology sequence) which ought to permit for using most supplies you can 3D print with. Whereas the UltiMaker 2+ Join is proscribed to 260°C and is sufficient for any UltiMaker supplies, it could add issue for different manufacturers of filament that want greater temperatures.
TLDR; the UltiMaker S3, S5, S7, and Methodology XL must be the go-to issues 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 in a position to attain an astounding 140°C, greater than sufficient warmth for even essentially the most troublesome 3D printing supplies.
Enclosed
(Enclosed / Heated Chamber)
All UltiMaker 3D printers are enclosed to some extent—how a lot depends in your utility wants (and probably different components). For those who 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. Nonetheless, when you plan on printing numerous ABS for manufacturing, then both the UltiMaker Methodology XL or UltiMaker S7 can be the working candidates since each come out of the field totally enclosed. The Methodology 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 largely enclosed and are able to printing supplies like ABS, but it surely’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 Methodology XL and S7 are the highest decisions for out-of-the-box optimum efficiency with temperature-sensitive printing supplies.
Each the UltiMaker Methodology XL (pictured) and UltiMaker S7 are designed to maintain temperature in and exterior variables out of the construct quantity space for optimum 3D printing success.
Materials Compatibility
(Composite Materials Compatibility / Metallic Materials Compatibility)
It is vital to know whether or not or not the machines you are contemplating can print particular supplies. For those who 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 Methodology XL knock composite 3D printing out of the park however are unable to print steel (inexperienced) elements right now. Observe that no matter whether or not you are printing steel or composite filament, you may want a Print Core CC hotend for the S-series (S3, S5, S7) 3D printers as abrasive supplies like steel and composites will rapidly wreck brass nozzles that come customary on these printers. The UltiMaker Methodology XL routinely comes with an abrasive-resistant hotend (with further hotend choices out there). The UltiMaker 2+ Join isn’t outfitted 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 Methodology XL are each viable choices as effectively if it is simply improbable composite 3D printing you want (whereas conserving in thoughts that Print Core CC‘s are mandatory for the prolonged lifespan of your S-series [S3, S5, S7] 3D printer’s nozzle).
You should definitely choose the best UltiMaker that’s able to printing all of the supplies in your guidelines.
Handy Options
(Interchangeable Hotend / Materials Move Sensor / Construct Floor / Mattress Leveling)
If you’re on a time crunch for an necessary undertaking, abruptly that quality-of-life function turns into a necessity as an alternative of a need. Whereas the UltiMaker 2+ Join has the widespread built-in hotend format, the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, UltiMaker S7, and UltiMaker Methodology XL design their hotends in an simply detachable bundle. If you’d like a brand new nozzle dimension, new nozzle materials, or if you wish to take away it for normal upkeep, you possibly can swap out all the hotend in seconds and have one other pre-packaged hotend able to go whereas the opposite is out of fee. Having this interchangeable function saves large and is a good funding in the long term in a manufacturing world the place downtime isn’t an choice.
Different time and price saving handy options you must take into account when selecting your 3D printer candidates are if they arrive with a fabric stream 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 strategy). See the desk under for which capabilities every mannequin has.
TLDR; if absolute minimal downtime is a prime precedence in your wants, take into account the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker Methodology XL for prototyping functions or the UltiMaker S7 for print farm jobs.
UltiMaker Print Cores make-up all the 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 among 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 Methodology 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 out there 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 Methodology 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 get together 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 directly 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 function 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 routinely 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 fully 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 Methodology XL comes with a Materials Case that shops two spools of filament to take care of a humidity-controlled atmosphere in your materials (essential for printing success).
TLDR; if growing automated materials loading for optimum manufacturing uptime is a should, look no additional than the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker S5 fashions.
A completely loaded Materials Station cycles by totally different supplies to maintain UltMaker S5’s and UltiMaker S7’s stocked and loaded.
Summarized Suggestion Information
The desk under is a simplified advice on which 3D printers are most definitely greatest in your functions.
Observe that there could also be private variations on specifics resembling “restricted area”, “restricted funds”, “minimal manufacturing downtime”, and so forth. Assessment 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 | Methodology 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 Advanced Geometries | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Print Massive Elements | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Print Metallic Supplies (Inexperienced Elements) | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Print Primarily PLA / PETG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Want Materials Humidity Management | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Want Minimal Manufacturing Downtime | ○ | ✔ | ○ | ||
| Have Restricted Workspace | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Have a Restricted Funds | ✔ |
○ – The mannequin is able to that want, however might not be essentially the most optimum choice both as a result of there’s one other mannequin that’s higher outfitted for that want or different numerous causes.
As you possibly can see, UltiMaker has a variety of 3D printers that encompasses numerous 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.
Interested by extra comparability content material? Try the video under! Please observe, the under video was created in mid-2021.
Fashions launched post-2021 should not talked about such because the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker Methodology XL.