[3D Printing News] UltiMaker Launches New Large 3D Printer!

[3D Printing News] UltiMaker Launches New Large-Scale 3D Printer for MakerBot SKETCH

Like its predecessor, the MakerBot SKETCH Large offers accuracy and filament compatibility, facilitating academic 3D printing applications. The new system features a larger print volume of 220 x 200 x 250 mm, meaning up to 10 student projects can be printed simultaneously, allowing instructors to prioritize education over a continuous manual printing process.

UltiMaker continues to refine its key features
Prior to the merger of Ultimaker and MakerBot , the two companies operated independently, each building their own desktop 3D printer lines. Ultimaker developed a range of advanced thermal fusion stack (FFF) systems, including the Ultimaker S2+ Connect , Ultimaker S3 , Ultimaker S5 , and Ultimaker S5 Pro .

These devices have applications in both industry and academia. 3D Metalforge established the Ultimaker print farm in 2020, and Ultimaker donated several printers to schools last year. Prior to the merger, Ultimaker tended to market its products as a profitable 3D printing portfolio and launched several software programs to support this portfolio, such as Ultimaker Essentials.

Meanwhile, MakerBot launched the METHOD , Replicator+, and SKETCH series, with the SKETCH series specifically designed to meet academic teaching needs. Like Ultimaker , MakerBot has consistently supported STEM education programs by donating machines, most recently in June by donating several machines to underserved communities in the United States. With the merger of the two companies, they now appear to remain focused on 3D printing for education and expanding their joint product offerings in this area.

UltiMaker CEO Nadav Goshen said, "3D printing is more than just a printer; our goal is to provide teachers and students with the tools and resources they need to unleash their creativity and unlock the possibilities of learning. That's why we continuously improve our education ecosystem—aiming to be the most comprehensive and mature 3D printing solution on the market specifically designed for educators."

Introduction to the MakerBot SKETCH Large feature, image from UltiMaker.

New, larger size MakerBot SKETCH Large
The MakerBot SKETCH Large is not only larger than before, allowing students to conduct experiments on a larger scale, but it can also be shipped in heavy-duty packaging. It can be used in single-machine or dual-machine classroom combinations. Each Large is equipped with a three-axis, easy-to-print MakerBot PLA, theoretically sufficient to supply the entire semester.

Each printer comes with an additional print platform, scraper, and scissors, as well as a MakerBot certified training program. One teacher's license and 15 student licenses are included. The software primarily explains how users can maximize the use of the 3D printer, including a comprehensive curriculum plan for teachers and an "Interactive Design Thinking" course for students.

In terms of hardware, the MakerBot SKETCH Large also features a fully enclosed design, a microparticle filter, a heated flexible printing platform, a touchscreen, and a layer resolution of 100–400 microns. Just as UltiMaker aspires to allow users to confidently print large projects , ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the models.

On the software side, MakerBot Sketch Large is primarily used in conjunction with MakerBot CloudPrint, a prepress and classroom management application. Users can access the Thingiverse educational resource library from MakerBot Education, which currently contains hundreds of lesson plans and projects for all grades and subjects, as well as an active community of educators.

UltiMaker's SKETCH 3D printing series, image courtesy of UltiMaker.

Product Name	MakerBot Sketch Classroom	MakerBot Sketch Large
Print volume	150 x 150 x 150mm	220 x 200 x 250mm
Layer resolution	100–400 microns	100–400 microns
wire diameter	1.75mm	1.75mm
Nozzle diameter	0.4mm	0.4mm
Product Dimensions	433.4 x 423.1 x 365mm	547 x 535 x 470mm
Product weight	11.8 kg	23.2kg
Transmission method	USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi	USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

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