Desktop 3D printer manufacturer UltiMaker has unveiled the latest model of its best-selling S-series: the UltiMaker S7.
        The first new UltiMaker S series since the merger of Ultimaker and MakerBot last year features an upgraded desktop sensor and air filtration, making it more accurate than its predecessors. With its advanced platform leveling feature, the S7 is said to improve first layer adhesion, allowing users to print with more confidence on a 330 x 240 x 300mm build plate.
        “More than 25,000 customers innovate every day with the UltiMaker S5, making this award-winning printer one of the most widely used professional 3D printers on the market,” said UltiMaker CEO Nadav Goshen. “With S7, we took everything that customers loved about the S5 and made it even better.”
        Even before the merger with former Stratasys subsidiary MakerBot in 2022, Ultimaker has built a strong reputation for designing versatile desktop 3D printers. In 2018, the company released the Ultimaker S5, which remained its flagship 3D printer until the S7. While the S5 was originally designed for dual extrusion composites, it has since received several upgrades, including a metal extension kit that allows users to print in 17-4 PH stainless steel.
        Over the past five years, the versatile S5 has been adopted by various top brands including Ford, Siemens, L’Oreal, Volkswagen, Zeiss, Decathlon and many more. In terms of applications, Materialize has also successfully tested S5 in the case of medical 3D printing, while ERIKS has developed a workflow that meets food safety standards using S5.
        For its part, MakerBot is already well known in the world of desktop 3D printing. Prior to the merger with Ultimaker, the company was known for its METHOD products. As shown in the METHOD-X 3D Printing Industry Review, these machines are capable of producing parts strong enough for end use, and companies like Arash Motor Company are now using them to 3D print custom supercar components.
        When Ultimaker and MakerBot first merged, it was announced that their businesses would pool resources into one combined entity, and after closing the deal, the newly merged UltiMaker launched MakerBot SKETCH Large. However, with the S7, the company now has an idea of ​​where it intends to take the S series brand.
        With the S7, UltiMaker introduces a system that includes new features designed for easy access and reliable part production. The titles include an inductive build plate sensor that is said to detect build areas with less noise and more accuracy. The system’s automatic tilt compensation feature also means users don’t have to use knurled screws to calibrate the S7 bed, making the task of leveling the bed less difficult for new users.
        In another update, UltiMaker has integrated a new air manager into the system that has been independently tested to remove up to 95% of ultra-fine particles from every print. This does not reassure users as the air around the machine is properly filtered, but it also improves the overall print quality due to the fully enclosed build chamber and single glass door.
        Elsewhere, UltiMaker has equipped its latest S-series devices with PEI-coated flexible build plates, allowing users to easily remove parts without using glue. What’s more, with 25 magnets and four guide pins, the bed can be changed quickly and accurately, speeding up tasks that can sometimes take a long time to complete.
        So how does the S7 compare to the S5? Ultimaker has gone to great lengths to retain the best features of its S7 predecessor. The company’s new machine is not only backwards compatible, but also capable of printing with the same library of over 280 materials as before. Its upgraded capabilities are said to have been tested by polymer developers Polymaker and igus with excellent results.
        “As more and more customers are using 3D printing to grow and innovate their business, our goal is to provide them with a complete solution for their success,” adds Goshen. “With the new S7, customers can be up and running in minutes: use our digital software to manage printers, users, and projects, expand your 3D printing knowledge with UltiMaker Academy e-learning courses, and learn from hundreds of different materials and materials. using the UltiMaker Cura Marketplace plugin.”
        Below are the specifications of the UltiMaker S7 3D printer. Pricing information was not available at the time of publication, but those interested in purchasing the machine can contact UltiMaker for a quote here.
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       Paul graduated from the Faculty of History and Journalism and is passionate about learning the latest news about technology.