[3D Printing] Comprehensive Comparison of UltiMaker 3D Printers: S5/S7/S8/Factor 4

Which model is right for you?
It all depends on your intended use.
These four UltiMaker 3D printer models are each tailored to specific applications and budgets.

If you are using high-temperature engineering filaments, choose the Factor 4 .
This is because it has superior temperature control capabilities and can prevent part warping.

If the print materials you need are closer to carbon fiber-reinforced nylon, choose the S8. The S8 outperforms the Factor 4 in terms of speed.
However, if your budget is limited and you cannot purchase the S8, choose either the S7 or the S5.
Because they share many commonalities, the S7 or S5 will likely meet your expectations.

Speed and Efficiency
The S8 has a speed of 500 mm/h, making it the fastest 3D printer from the company. It rivals the Bambu Lab X1C.
This increase in speed is due to a combination of a new technology called Cheetah, adopted for the printer's motion control, along with other advanced technologies. It achieves higher speeds without compromising quality.

Materials
UltiMaker S series 3D printers (S5, S7, S8) support the same range of filaments (over 300 types), including:
PLA – Easy to print and suitable for general use.
ABS – Excellent strength and heat resistance, requires an enclosed build chamber.
PETG – Durable, chemical resistant, and has slight flexibility.
Nylon – Excellent flexibility and wear resistance; absorbs moisture.
CPE – Similar to PETG, but with higher chemical resistance.
CPE+ – More heat resistant than standard CPE.
TPU 95A – Flexible with rubber-like properties.
Polycarbonate – High strength and heat resistance.
PP – Lightweight with excellent fatigue resistance.
PVA – Water-soluble support material.
Breakaway Support – A substitute for PVA that can be removed easily.

Third-party and Experimental Materials:
UltiMaker printers also support third-party filaments, including metals (like stainless steel) and advanced composites (carbon fiber-reinforced filaments, wood-filled PLA, special engineering materials, etc.).
By combining UltiMaker materials with third-party materials that have available print profiles, you get one of the widest material selections in the FDM category.

On the other hand, because the Factor 4 specializes in engineering materials, it cannot use all 300+ materials available for the S series, but it can use high-temperature materials like PPS-CF and PEKK.

Metal Filament
The S5 and S7 can print stainless steel parts using the optional UltiMaker Metal Expansion Kit.
At this time, it is unclear whether the S8 supports the metal expansion kit.
The Factor 4 supports printing with stainless steel filament as standard and does not require an expansion kit.

UltiMaker Material Station
Currently, material stations are widely used in FDM 3D printing, and the UltiMaker Material Station is one of the pioneering material switching devices.
The UltiMaker Material Station is a filament management system for S5, S7, and S8 3D printers.
The same device can be used for these three models and is offered as an option.

The Factor 4 has a different type of material delivery system built into the main unit.

One of the main features of the Material Station is its ability to store up to six filament spools simultaneously.
It automatically detects, loads, and switches filaments, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
When one spool is exhausted, the system automatically switches to another.

Humidity control is also a major benefit of the Material Station.
By keeping humidity below 40% RH, it prevents moisture absorption for materials sensitive to humidity, such as PVA and nylon.

The Material Station works with UltiMaker Cura software and supports both UltiMaker certified filaments and third-party filaments.

Technical Specifications
Overall, the S-series printers are quite similar in their specifications.
The S7 enhances reliability and productivity for advanced users. The S8 takes this further, making it faster and more precise.
Although the S5 is slightly inferior in performance, it offers better cost-performance as a result.
The Factor 4 occupies a unique position, focusing on industrial manufacturing applications. It features a rugged steel and aluminum chassis, an active temperature-controlled chamber, a triple-insulated build space, a direct-drive extruder with a large motor, and a nozzle capable of reaching 340ºC, allowing for the use of engineering materials.

Note that the S5 does not have air filtration capabilities unless you purchase the optional air filter that mounts to the top.

	Factor 4	S8	S7	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
Weight	120 kg (265 lbs)	29.1 kg (64.2 lbs)	29.1 kg (64.2 lbs)	29.1 kg (64.2 lbs)
Min. Layer Height	60 µm	20 µm	20 µm	20 µm
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
Build Plate	PEI-coated flexible steel	PEI-coated flexible steel	PEI-coated flexible steel	Glass
Max. Nozzle Temp.	340 ºC	340 ºC	280 ºC	280 ºC
Nozzle Diameter	0.25 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm	0.25 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm	0.25 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm	0.25 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm
Chamber	Fully enclosed, Active heated chamber, max 70ºC	Fully enclosed, Passively heated	Fully enclosed, Passively heated	Semi-enclosed, passive heating
Air filter	HEPA filter	Replaceable EPA filter	Replaceable EPA filter	Air filter must be purchased separately
File transfer	Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Ethernet, USB	Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5 GHz: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac LAN: Ethernet USB: 2.0	Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Ethernet, USB	Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Ethernet, USB

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