Editor's Pick: Increasing Filament Print Reliability 

UltiMaker introduces a new flagship for its popular S Series of fused filament 3D printers, the S7. The S7 offers several new features which the company says “take ease-of-use and reliability to a new level.” 

The S7 is a fused filament fabrication 3D printer, which accepts the more than 200 materials available to other products in the UltiMaker S Series line. It is also compatible with UltiMaker’s popular Cura software program for 3D printing management. 

The build box is 330x240x300 mm, (12.9x9.4x11.8 in). It features a new flexible build plate coated with polyetherimide (PEI) for easier part removal. The company says this build plate uses 25 magnets and four alignment pins for simplified placement and removal. 

A new integrated air manager in the build box removes more than 95% of ultrafine particles created during a build, as tested by Fraunhofer Institute. The company says the exact percentage varies with the print material in use. 

The print head features a new inductive sensor. Ultimaker says the new sensor probes the build plate with less noise and more accuracy than other S Series printers. The sensor also has automated tilt compensation, which the company says eliminates the need for manual thumbscrew bed calibration. 

The Ultimaker S7 increases build box size and offers a new air filtration system, compared to other printers in the S Series. Image courtesy of UltiMaker.

 

UltiMaker says all digital model files created to print on other S Series printers will work on the S7 without modification with no reslicing required. A 1080p camera inside the build box provides high resolution monitoring using UltiMaker Digital Factory. 

“The new bed leveling system on the S7 helps us print very precise parts with the right mechanical properties using our materials,” says the testing team at Igus, a manufacturer of materials compatible with the UltiMaker S7. 

Also available is the UltiMaker S7 Material Station, a front-loading spool manager with six spool bays. The Material Station provides automated humidity control and material handling. 

UltiMaker S7 is now available from the manufacturer. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.