Oct 18, 2016 | By Alec
After the huge success of the Ultimaker 2+ and Ultimaker 2 Extended+ 3D printers, it was very likely that the Dutch desktop 3D printing pioneers would soon be back with an even superior successor. That moment has just arrived, as Ultimaker has just announced the global availability of the Ultimaker 3. Building on the tried-and-true capability of its predecessors, the Ultimaker stands out through a fully integrated professional 3D printing environment, access to industrial grade filaments and a reliable dual extrusion setup. Truly a professional-grade desktop 3D printer.
Of course the Ultimaker 2+ and Ultimaker 2 Extended+ models already provided a very welcome level of flexibility to professional users, in part thanks to the interchangeable nozzles introduced at the beginning of the year. But truly professional use means not being bogged down by geometric constraints, and Ultimaker therefore purposefully designed the Ultimaker 3 to allow for “an unlimited number of geometry options.” While visually very similar to the Ultimaker 2+, the Ultimaker 3 achieves this by including a dual extrusion system. “The impact: design is not constrained, opening up opportunities for experimentation, creativity and innovation,” The developers proudly say.
However, there is a lot more going on than just incorporating another PLA or ABS extrusion unit. Specifically, the Ultimaker 3 will come with two AA extrusion heads (for conventional building materials including Nylon), and an interchangeable BB head for PVA dissolvable supports. These professional-grade material options should greatly help you get the most out of your geometric experiments, while a clever extraction system ensures that only the active nozzle reach the object in question – keeping your 3D prints as clean as they need to be.
But aside from those geometric possibilities, the Ultimaker 3 simply looks like an excellent 3D printer that maximizes performance and minimizes hassle. A material-matching print core design allowed for high uptime, while users can also easily switch cores optimized for Ultimaker’s own industry-grade materials in a matter seconds. That means low-maintenance and high output volumes.
This is further supported by a high level of automation, which takes care of most of the printing prep for you. NFC technology provides smart material detection features, while active bed leveling ensures that the best possible settings are always active while errors are actively corrected. A fully integrated hardware, software and materials configuration, finally, ensures efficient workflows for people of all skill levels.
Aside from those appealing features, the Ultimaker 3 will include everything you expect from a top level desktop 3D printer anno 2016. That means Wi-Fi capabilities, USB and Ethernet connections, a built-in camera, and CURA software connection for remote monitoring. Combine that with a 215 x 215 x 200 mm build volume, 20 - 200 micron layer resolution and a 12.5, 12.5, 2.5 micron accuracy (X, Y, Z axes) and you’ve got an excellent dual-extrusion 3D printer suitable for a very wide range of applications.
Unsurprisingly, the Ultimaker team believes that they are reaching the next-generation in desktop 3D printers, which perfectly aligns with market demands of today and tomorrow. “Our team is constantly working to evolve the 3D printing market, and the Ultimaker 3 represents three years of development with the goal of delivering a product that serves the needs of demanding businesses,” said Jos Burger, CEO of Ultimaker. “3D printers have historically been tapped by businesses for straight-forward prototyping and short run production. The extended capabilities of the Ultimaker 3 introduce a wide variety of new applications and we’re excited to get them into the hands of professionals that can capitalize on the benefits of 3D printing across a variety of industries.”
US-based digitial manufacturer Jabil has already adopted the new 3D printer with an eye on product development. "Additive manufacturing is a key aspect of Jabil's digital manufacturing strategy, positively impacting numerous areas within our business including the acceleration of product development and affording greater supply chain flexibility," said John Dulchinos, Vice President of Digital Manufacturing at Jabil Circuit. "Ultimaker has proven a valuable partner in collaborating with our team to bring solutions to market that meet the needs of our factories and customers."
If you’re interested, the Ultmaker 3 3D printer is launching today through the company’s network of global partners and resellers. It starts at $3,495 and more info can be found at Ultimaker’s website here. And as was the case with the Ultimaker 2 range, an Ultimaker 3 extended, providing an additional four inches of build height, is also forthcoming.
Posted in 3D Printer
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Ultimaker is based in the Netherlands, not the US.