UltiMaker has introduced its latest Factor 4 3D printer, the Factor 4 Plus, offering twice the print speeds of the standard Factor 4 model and automatic print validation features.
It’s being positioned for applications in defence due to a more rugged architecture suited to harsh or remote environments, and new UltiMaker TRACE (Technical Reporting And Certification Engine) software, which supports quality assurance and creates CAD-validation reports based on continuous recording of key print parameters, including extrusion behaviour and chamber temperatures.
“When I talk directly with our customers, one message comes through consistently: speed is great, but proving the quality of the part is the real challenge,” says Arjen Dirks, UltiMaker CTO. “TRACE was built directly in response to that feedback and I’ve seen firsthand what an incredible improvement it makes. Pulling validation data straight from the hardware gives customers the confidence and traceability they need to scale additive manufacturing into true production environments.”
The speed boost comes from its advanced Cheetah motion planner, which removes abrupt changes that cause vibrations, enabling faster production with superior dimensional accuracy. It is also fully compatible with new AA+ and CC+ high-flow print cores.
In addition to defence, Factor 4 Plus is being pitched as the ideal machine for a wide range of industrial production applications such as custom jigs and fixtures, spare parts, tools and end-use components in materials like PPS-CF high-heat and chemical-resistant composites.
Last year, senior leaders at UltiMaker spoke to TCT about the the growing usage of its printers in defence. The Royal Netherlands Navy, for example, is deploying UltiMaker S series 3D printers to produce spare parts on-demand, and the Dutch Air Force is also using its machines to create custom tools to maintain its fleet of helicopters, fighter jets, and cargo planes. For users in defence, the company emphasised the importance of data security and trust as distinguishing features when measuring its systems against other lower cost desktop FDM systems, and insisted it is operating in a different market, “building valuable systems with great software” rather than “box shifting.”
