Something you haven’t heard in a while: There’s a new MakerBot 3D printer!
MakerBot, one of the pioneers of desktop 3D printing, has undergone a series of corporate moves and now is a brand of UltiMaker. While MakerBot’s former flagship 3D printer, the METHOD, now lives under the UltiMaker brand, the company operates their educational products under the MakerBot brand.
The 3D printer offered in that market has been the MakerBot Sketch, which was first announced in 2020, when MakerBot was operating under the Stratasys banner. Since then UltiMaker announced the MakerBot Sketch Large in 2022.
The base MakerBot Sketch is now four years old, and it’s time for an update. Today UltiMaker announced the MakerBot Sketch Sprint 3D printer.
The Sprint is visually similar to the original Sketch, as it is an enclosed desktop FFF 3D printer, with side-mounted spool. The control panel has been relocated to the top, and you can still see inside through the clear chamber door, at least at the front. The original Sketch had windows on three sides, but it seems that the Sprint is only transparent at the front.
What’s different inside the machine? The main feature seems to be far faster print speeds. The device is now “five times faster than standard desktop 3D printers”. They don’t state the print speeds or other specifications as of this writing, but it’s likely on par with other higher speed desktop 3D printers.
The Sprint includes a heated build plate, automated leveling, and vibration compensation for high speed operations, as well as other standard features you’d expect to see on a desktop 3D printer these days.
For software, the Sprint is tied into UltiMaker Digital Factory, a cloud-based system for controlling fleets of 3D printers. Normally this is used in a manufacturing setting, but the workflows are similar to those in education: jobs are accepted from users (students in this case), and routed to available Sprint 3D printers. UltiMaker Digital Factory includes the ability to prepare jobs through the use of UltiMaker Cura slicing software via Cura Cloud.
Finally, UltiMaker spent considerable effort to ensure the safety of the Sprint, as it is used in public spaces by students and children. They explain:
“The printer underwent rigorous testing and is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a nationally recognized test laboratory and a global leader in applied safety science. Sketch Sprint has been independently verified to meet the safety levels of the UL 2904 standards for particle and chemical emissions from 3D printers. Sketch Sprint has a fully enclosed structure, an integrated and active HEPA + carbon filtration system, and safety precautions, including a digital PIN to prevent unauthorized access. With classroom-friendly PLA and Tough PLA filaments, the printer promotes a safe and clean environment for students.”
MakerBot has long been successful in the education market, and with the new MakerBot Sketch Sprint, they should generate some upgrades from earlier Sketch systems.
Via MakerBot
