Netherlands-based 3D printer manufacturer UltiMaker has launched the S8, its new high-speed FDM 3D printer for industrial manufacturing. Boasting 500mm/s 3D print speeds and up to 50,000mm/s2 acceleration, the Ultimaker S8 is reportedly 4x more productive than its predecessor, the UltiMaker S7.
UltiMaker’s new FDM 3D printer features a 330 x 240 x 300 mm build volume, improved filament feeding system, and updated high-flow print cores. Additionally, the S8 comes equipped with UltiMaker’s recently developed Cheetah motion planner. This reportedly enhances 3D printer motion control to enhance precision and eliminate common 3D printing defects like ringing. As such, it aims to unlock high-speed fabrication without sacrificing part quality. Dual extrusion capabilities further boost productivity, allowing users to achieve multi-material 3D printing.
Targeting industrial applications requiring fast production capabilities, the S8 is compatible with a wide range of high-performance, engineering materials in the Ultimaker Marketplace. This includes the Dutch OEM’s new Nylon CF Slide which can resist temperatures up to 180°C.
Ultimaker calls the S8 “one of the most versatile, professional 3D printing solutions on the market today.” The company’s Product Manager, Marc Uyttenboogaard, commented, “the UltiMaker S8 sets a new standard in 3D printing, building on the legacy of the S series with significant improvements.”
He added that the new 3D printer is engineered to deliver “faster printing speeds, improved reliability and precision, robust security features, enhanced connectivity, and dual-material capabilities.” Compatible with Ultimaker’s Digital Factory print preparation and Cura Cloud slicing software, Uyttenboogaard believes the S8 “offers users a simple, secure, and efficient 3D printing experience.”
With prices starting at around $9,000, the UltiMaker S8 is geared towards professional users requiring rapid prototyping and high-speed production with engineering-grade materials. Prospective customers can request a quote on the official UltiMaker website.
The UltiMaker S8: high-speed, industrial-grade 3D printing
Central to the Ultimaker S8 is an updated electronics system that provides 5x more processing power than the S7. This powers UltiMaker’s new Cheater process control technology to accelerate production speeds for 4x faster 3D printing. Cheater reportedly allows the S8 to achieve 500 mm/s speeds at 0.15mm ± 0.15% precision. This eliminates the ringing, blobs, and mechanical stress defects often associated with high speed 3D printing, UltiMaker claims.
The S8’s speed is enhanced by its hot-swappable AA+ and CC+ print cores, built for high-speed extrusion. These cores reportedly deliver 2.5 times more flow than previous models, boosting efficiency and print quality when processing composite and engineering-grade materials. A newly designed hardened filament feeder module is also included to support material control during rapid 3D printing.
What materials can be 3D printed on the UltiMaker S8? The 14-year-old 3D printer OEM points to wide compatibility with its over 300-strong materials marketplace. These include the company’s Tough PLA, PETG, ABS, CPE, TPU, PET-CF, CPE+, and PC.
UltiMaker’s recently released Nylon CF Slide copolymer-based filament can also run on the S8. This material is free of toxic PFAS forever chemicals, delivering strong wear resistance and temperature stability. UltiMaker claims Nylon CF Slide can replace polyoxymethylene (POM) in complex, custom 3D printed designs. It also reportedly significantly reduces friction, increasing the durability of moving parts.
The new high-speed FDM 3D printer is also designed to integrate with UltiMaker’s Digital Factory software, which allows users to manage 3D print jobs remotely and securely. This platform combines with the company’s Cura slicing software, which has now been expanded from desktop to the cloud. Cura’s 5.10 beta release is now available on the desktop version, and features 3D print and material profiles optimized for the UltiMaker S8.
“We are thrilled to add the UltiMaker S8, the next generation in our popular S series, to our growing 3D printing ecosystem,” added UltiMaker’s CEO Michiel Alting von Geusau. “The S8 reflects our commitment to providing solutions that enable businesses to innovate and grow. Built with our customers in mind, UltiMaker’s ecosystem is designed to enhance production while also providing lasting value for customers and partners.”
Technical Specifications of the UltiMaker S8
| Technology | Fused deposition modeling (FDM) |
| Print head | Dual-extrusion print head with an auto nozzle-lifting system, flood detection and inductive probing |
| Feeder type | Dual gripper feeder with tension adjustment, release functionality and filament feed-rate control |
| Motion planner | UltiMaker Cheetah |
| Filament diameter | 2.85 mm |
| Compatible print cores | AA+ 0.4, CC+ 0.4 print cores (included), BB 0.4 and DD 0.4 (sold separately) |
| Nozzle temperature | Up to 340 °C (644 °F) |
| Dimensional accuracy | ± 0.15 mm ± 0.15% feature nominal length |
| Build plate | Heated flexible PEI build plate. Up to 120 °C (248 °F) |
| Build volume (XYZ) | 330 x 240 x 300 mm (~ 13 x 9.4 x 11.8 in) |
| 3D printer dimensions | 495 x 585 x 800.5 mm (~ 19.5 x 23 x 31.5 in) |
| 3D printer net weight | 30 kg (66 lbs) |
| Build volume temperature | Enclosed build volume < 50 °C (122 °F) open-loop temperature control |
| Layer resolution | 60 – 300 microns (depending on the print core nozzle size and print profile) |
| Extrusion flow | Up to 35 mm3/s |
| XY speed, acceleration, jerk | Up to 500 mm/s, up to 50.000 mm/s2, up to 100.000.000 mm/s3 |
| Air manager | Removes up to 95% of UFPs |
| Material handling | Dual spool holder with NFC recognition |
| Operating sound | < 50 dBA |
| Display | Color touchscreen |
| Monitoring | Full HD HDR camera |
| System on module | ARM cortex quadcore at 1.8 GHz |
| Real-time controller | 600 MHz Arm-cortex M7 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 2.4 & 5 GHz: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/acLAN: Gigabit EthernetUSB: 2.0 |
| Operating temperature | 15 – 32 °C (59 – 90 °F), 10 – 90 % RH non-condensing |
| Non-operating temperature | 0 – 32 °C (32 – 90 °F), 10 – 90 % RH non-condensing |
| Print preparation software | UltiMaker Cura 5.10 or newer |
| Printer management software | UltiMaker Digital Factory |
| Supported OS | Windows, MacOS, Linux |
| Warranty period | 12 months |
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Featured image shows the UltiMaker S8 3D printer. Photo via UltiMaker.
