The Ultimaker S3 professional 3D printer [Source: Ultimaker]

Ultimaker announced a new 3D printer, the S3.

The S3 appears to be a somewhat smaller and more affordable version of their very popular Ultimaker S5 device, introduced in April 2018.

Ultimaker S3 Features

Like the S5, the new S3 includes a number of very useful productivity features:

• Ability to 3D print almost any 2.85mm filament using their robust extrusion system

• Full color touchscreen control panel

• Ultimaker’s print profile system for highly reliable 3D printing

• Dual extruders, allowing for use of soluble support on highly complex prints

• Heated build plate

• “Active Leveling”

• Higher-grade stepper drivers for more accurate motion

• Dual filament flow sensors for detection of filament-out conditions

I think you’ll agree that this is a very good combination of useful 3D printer features.

Ultimaker S3 Build Volume

One thing we’re not quite sure about is the build volume of the new S3. It’s clearly smaller than the S5, if only by counting the number of doors, one versus two. But more seriously, the intent here is to provide a smaller build volume in a more economical platform. Not everyone needs to 3D print larger objects in the S5’s rather large 330 x 240 x 300 mm volume.

We’ll find out more about the S3 when we can get our hands on one. But interestingly, Ultimaker says:

“The wider nozzle coverage ensures that no space is wasted, which offers an increased build-volume-to-size ratio.”

It seems that Ultimaker has found a way to optimize the design of their motion system to enable an unexpectedly larger build volume for the given case size. When we determine the build volume, this deserves further analysis.

The Ultimaker S3 professional 3D printer [Source: Ultimaker]

The Ultimaker S3 is most definitely a professional-grade 3D printer.

It seems to pack in quite a few convenience features that would make the device suitable for professional use, and reduce the frustration encountered when using machines of lesser quality.

The Ultimaker S3 professional 3D printer [Source: Ultimaker]

Ultimaker S3 Price and Availability

Pricing for the new Ultimaker S3 is set at US$4,395, a price typical for professional 3D printers these days, and while it’s far above the inexpensive hobby 3D printers, it actually performs far better too.

One thing still bothers me a bit. When the S5 was announced, its name seemed a bit of a departure from Ultimaker’s previous machine naming strategy. I always wondered what the “S5” meant, as it was not obvious. Now with the S3 their names make a bit more sense, as there is now an “S” series. Could we expect to see an S7 in the future?

Via Ultimaker