If you're wondering about the order and are confused by UltiMaker's naming sequence, you are not alone.
The Dutch-based company announced the S8 FDM a little while ago. The S7 debuted in 2023, and today, they’ve announced the S6. Not the S9, but the S6.
The Ultimaker S6 is the successor to the reliable S5. The S5 is one of the most widely deployed FDM printers in schools, universities, and SMEs, with over 40,000 units installed worldwide.
This new model inherits innovative technologies like the S8's speed, bringing them to an affordable desktop machine. Meanwhile, some "pro" features found on the S7 and S8, such as the fully enclosed chamber, have been omitted. Let's take a closer look.
S6: Focused on Productivity
Fans of the UltiMaker S5 who didn't need the versatile features of the S7 or S8 have been waiting for this new model.
The UltiMaker S6 is four times faster than the S5 and supports multi-material printing via the same dual-extrusion capability.
The S6 comes with two types of build plates: a flexible plate suitable for a wide range of applications, and a glass plate for medical or food packaging prints with strict hygiene requirements.
The S6 is fully backward compatible with the UltiMaker S5, allowing users to utilize many options for the S5, such as the Material Station, Air Manager, and print cores.
In large-scale production environments, data from previously sliced parts can be reused, allowing production to continue smoothly without the need to recreate files.
Supports a Wide Range of Materials
UltiMaker S-series 3D printers (S5, S6, S7, S8) support a wide range of materials, including:
PLA (Polylactic Acid) – Easy to print and suitable for general applications.
Tough PLA – More durable than standard PLA.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) – Strong and heat-resistant, but requires an enclosed build chamber.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) – Excellent durability and chemical resistance with slight flexibility.
Nylon (Polyamide) – Flexible, abrasion-resistant, and hygroscopic.
TPU 95A (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) – Flexible with rubber-like properties.
PC (Polycarbonate) – High strength and heat resistance.
PP (Polypropylene) – Lightweight with excellent fatigue resistance.
PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) – Water-soluble support material.
UltiMaker printers also support third-party filaments, including metals (such as stainless steel) and advanced composite materials (carbon fiber reinforced filaments, wood-filled PLA, special engineering materials, etc.).
Combined with Ultimaker materials and third-party materials with available print profiles, this offers one of the most extensive material selections among FDM printers.
Ultimaker Material Station
While material handling units are now widely available for FDM 3D printing, Ultimaker was a pioneer in introducing this technology to the industry.
The UltiMaker Material Station is a material management system compatible with the S5, S6, S7, and S8 3D printers.
All four of these models use the same material handling unit.
One of the main features of the Material Station is its ability to hold up to six filament spools simultaneously.
This allows for automatic material detection, loading, and switching without manual intervention.
When one spool is exhausted, the system automatically switches to another.
Technical Specifications
In terms of specifications, the S-series printers are quite similar to one another.
The S7 shares 90% of its features with the S5, but offers higher reliability and production efficiency, making it better suited for advanced users. The S8 further evolves this performance, increasing speed and accuracy.
Meanwhile, the Factor 4 is a unique model specialized for industrial printing. With a rugged steel and aluminum chassis, an actively heated build chamber, a triple-insulated build area, a direct-drive extruder with high-torque motors, and nozzle temperatures up to 340ºC, it is built to handle engineering materials.
The S6 is very similar to the S5 but incorporates the innovative technology of the S8.
A detailed comparison follows:
| Factor 4 | S8 | S7 | S6 | S5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build Size | 330 x 240 x 300 mm | 330 x 240 x 300 mm | 330 x 240 x 300 mm | 330 x 240 x 300 mm | 330 x 240 x 300 mm |
| Total Weight | 120 kg (265 lb) | 29.1 kg (64.2 lb) | 29.1 kg (64.2 lb) | 29.1 kg | 29.1 kg (64.2 lb) |
| Layer Height | 60 µm | 20 µm | 20 µm | 20 µm | 20 µm |
| Accuracy | ± 0.2 mm | ± 0.15 mm | – | – | – |
| XYZ Resolution | 6.25, 7.8, 2.5 µm | 6.9, 6.9, 2.5 µm | 6.9, 6.9, 2.5 µm | 6.9, 6.9, 2.5 µm | 6.9, 6.9, 2.5 µm |
| Build Plate | PEI coated flexible steel | PEI coated flexible steel | PEI coated flexible steel | Glass build plate, flexible steel plate optional | Glass |
| Max Nozzle Temp | 340°C | 340°C | 280°C | 280°C | 280°C |
| Nozzle Heat-up Time | — | < 2 min | < 2 min | < 2 min | < 2 min |
| Nozzle Diameter | 0.25, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mm | 0.25, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mm | 0.25, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mm | 0.25, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mm | 0.25, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mm |
| Chamber | Fully enclosed, active heating, up to 70ºC | Fully enclosed, passive heating | Fully enclosed, passive heating | Partially enclosed, passive heating | Partially enclosed, passive heating |
| Air Filter | HEPA filter | Replaceable EPA filter | Replaceable EPA filter | Air Manager optional | Air Manager optional |
| File Transfer | Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5 GHz), Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5 GHz), Ethernet, USB 2.0 | Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5 GHz), Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5 GHz), Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), Ethernet, USB |
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