Ultimaker
Ultimaker S5
The Ultimaker S5 in between the Ultimaker 3 (left) and the Ultimaker 2+ (right).
Ultimaker has launched the Ultimaker S5, the latest addition to its professional 3D printer portfolio, and will showcase it at RAPID + TCT this week in Fort Worth, Texas.
The machine is Ultimaker’s biggest to date, with build envelope dimensions of 330 x 240 x 300 mm – giving it the same capacity in the Z axis as the Ultimaker 3 Extended, but an additional 115mm work space in the X axis. Ultimaker believes it is its most effective product yet for the printing of functional prototypes and manufacture of tools and end-use parts.
Launched alongside a new material, Ultimaker Tough PLA, and the new Ultimaker App, the S5 boasts fully integrated hardware, software and materials configuration. It also features an improved feeder system with a filament flow sensor, which automatically pauses when material runs out and resumes when new material is loaded. Enhanced bed levelling not only ensures a precise first layer, but continually compensates the print bed during the print, while a wider range of materials can be supported, from PLA to engineering plastics, like Nylon and PC.
The company has launched its own Tough PLA filament, optimised for printing larger-sized models for prototyping, tooling or manufacturing aids. It is said to have an impact strength similar to the company’s ABS filament, with a higher stiffness, and be less brittle than regular PLA, giving more matte surface finish quality. Ultimaker has also developed and mobile and tablet app which enables users to keep updated with a print’s progress while on the move. It also notifies users when a print is complete or needs attention. Available from May 15th, the app is supported on Android and iOS devices and can be used with Ultimaker S5 and Ultimaker 3 3D printers.
Representing Ultimaker's first addition to its 3D printing hardware portfolio since the Ultimaker 3 was launched in 2016, the company has sought to build on the increasingly professional and industrial application of its technology. Volkswagen Autoeuropa and Jabil are both notable users of Ultimaker machines for tooling, jigs and fixtures, and Ultimaker wants to better serve this type of clientele.
“The development of the Ultimaker S5, in combination with the new material solutions and the Ultimaker App, sets a new standard for smart and accessible professional 3D printing,” commented Jos Burger, CEO of Ultimaker. “Our commitment to building a complete 3D printing solution, from hardware to software and materials, offers our growing professional user base an increasingly integrated, automated and reliable process with a very high succession rate.
"The time needed to configure this new 3D printer is lower than ever, which allows users to fully focus on the creation of functional prototypes, larger projects and other designs and models that require full geometrical design freedom capabilities. Combined with our continuously updated software and our global sales and service network, we have made local digital manufacturing a reality.”
The Ultimaker S5 will be showcased on Stand #410 at RAPID + TCT and be available on May 15th through Ultimaker’s network of global partners, as will the Ultimaker Tough PLA material.
