[3D Printing] Check out these 10 differences before choosing an Ultimaker 3D printer!

📚 Table of Contents

Differences Summary
Technical Specifications Focus
Summary and Recommendation Guide

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Overview of differences in UltiMaker 3D printers

model	2+ Connect	UltiMaker S3	UltiMaker S5	UltiMaker S7
Ideal application	personal	Entry-level professional	major	Advanced, Professional
Extruder	single head	Double-headed	Double-headed	Double-headed
Construction volume	223×220×205 mm (8.7 inches × 8.6 inches × 8 inches)	230×190×200 mm (9 inches × 7.4 inches × 7.9 inches)	330×240×300 mm (13 inches × 9.4 inches × 11.8 inches)	330×240×300 mm (13 inches × 9.4 inches × 11.8 inches)
Maximum hot end temperature	260℃	280℃	280℃	280℃
maximum bed temperature	110℃	140℃	140℃	140℃
Closed	part	part	part (Fully usable) 1	completely
Heated room	passive heating	passive heating	passive heating	passive heating
Hot end exchange	/	✔	✔	✔
Composite material compatibility	/	Optional 1*	Optional 1*	Optional 1*
Metal material compatibility	/	Optional 1*	Optional 1*
Material flow sensor	/	✔	✔	✔
Surface construction	Glass	Glass	Glass	Flexible plate on magnetic bed
Bed leveling	assist	automation	automation	automation (Induction type with bed tilt compensation )
Air filtration	Optional	/	Optional	✔
Material station	/	/	Optional	Optional

1. Suggested/Required Additional Accessories.
Please note that the cable still needs to be pre-dried before being placed in the material box/station. * Learn more in the Technical Specifications section ! The links in the table above will take you directly to the section with more detailed information about that feature. Click the product name link for more information about that specific product.

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UltiMaker 3D Printer Specifications Focus

Need more information to help you make a decision? Please read on for more details and recommendations regarding some of the technical specifications outlined in the overview table!

price
Comparing prices for machines that appear very similar but are actually quite different can be difficult. While the UltiMaker 2+ Connect and UltiMaker S3 have comparable throughput, the 2+ Connect is significantly cheaper than the S3, at the cost of being single-extrusion only and lacking convenient features such as interchangeable hot ends and material flow sensors. Upgrading to the UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 involves a significant price difference, but they offer more features and a higher quality of life , ensuring your production workflow runs as smoothly as possible. If you need an UltiMaker for important on-demand projects and require excellent end-use functional prototyping, the UltiMaker S7 is a worthwhile investment.

In short, unless your primary objective is to maximize your limited budget, your choices will largely depend on their features. Each model offers significantly different capabilities, making a true comparison difficult, but rest assured, every UltiMaker 3D printer offers excellent value for money, reflected in the unique applications they provide.

Number of extruders
If you need to print multiple colors and/or complex geometries, it is recommended that you choose UltiMaker S3 , UltiMaker S5 , or UltiMaker S7 . UltiMaker 2+ Connect can only 3D print with one material (or color) at a time. It is entirely possible to use the same material as the building material to extrude support structures with complex geometries. However, this can require significant post-processing time and effort to remove the support structure to expose the 3D print underneath (and possibly polish the remaining support remnants). Dual extrusion 3D printers allow you to use dissolvable support materials , so you can drop the finished 3D print into a basin of water and wait for the support material to dissolve, revealing a smooth model.

In summary, if you want to minimize post-processing of complex prints and/or want to print parts in two colors, please choose UltiMaker S3, S5, and S7.

The UltiMaker S3, S5, and S7 have print bed temperatures that can reach an astonishing 140°C, easily handling even the most difficult 3D printing materials.

Closed
(Enclosed/Heated Chamber)

All UltiMaker 3D printers have a degree of enclosure, depending on your application needs (and possibly other factors). If you only plan to print PLA and PETG , the UltiMaker 2+ Connect is the best choice because it's not fully enclosed, saving you additional costs. However, if you plan to print large quantities of ABS for production, the UltiMaker S7 is the best option, as both are fully enclosed. The UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S3 are mostly enclosed and can print materials like ABS, but it's worth noting that UltiMaker does not provide an air manager to cover the top for the S3, while the air manager for the S5 needs to be purchased separately, bundled with an upgrade, or bundled with the printer.

In summary, if material compatibility and success rate are the primary considerations, then the 2+ Connect is the perfect choice for printing PLA/PETG, while the S7 is the preferred option for achieving optimal out-of-the-box performance when using temperature-sensitive printing materials .

Material compatibility
(Compatible materials compatibility/Compatible materials with metals)

Understanding whether the machine you're considering can print specific materials is crucial. If you plan to use both metal and composite 3D printing filaments , the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, and UltiMaker S7 are the best choices. Note that regardless of whether you're printing metal or composite filaments, you'll need to equip your S-series (S3, S5, S7) 3D printers with a Print Core CC hot end, as abrasive materials like metals and composites can quickly damage the standard brass nozzles on these printers. The UltiMaker 2+ Connect does not have a dual-gear extruder for handling abrasive filaments, nor does it have anti-abrasive nozzles (and is incompatible with Print Core technology).

In summary, the UltiMaker S3, S5, and S7 can meet the needs of 3D printing on metals and composite materials (while keeping in mind that Print Core CC is essential for extending the nozzle life of the S-Series [S3, S5, S7] 3D printers).

The Ultimaker Metal Extension Kit brings a new experience to 3D printed metal for the S3, S5, and S7!

Convenience features
(Interchangeable hot end/material flow sensor/construction surface/bed leveling)

When you're pressed for time on a critical project, quality-of-life features suddenly become a necessity rather than a wish. The UltiMaker 2+ Connect features a common built-in hot end configuration, while the UltiMaker S3, UltiMaker S5, and UltiMaker S7 offer hot ends designed for easy disassembly . If you need a new nozzle size, new nozzle material, or require disassembling a nozzle for routine maintenance, you can replace the entire hot end in seconds, and another pre-packaged hot end is readily available when the other is out of service. In production environments where downtime is not an option, this interchangeability can save significant costs and is a huge investment in the long run .

When selecting candidate 3D printers , you should also consider other convenient features that save time and costs, such as whether they are equipped with a material flow sensor (which pauses the print when the filament runs out), the type of build surface included (flexible sheets mean easier print removal and easy-to-replace build surfaces), and the type of bed leveling system used (automatic leveling ensures accuracy and hands-free operation). Please refer to the table below for the features of each model!

In conclusion, if minimizing downtime is your top priority, consider using the UltiMaker S7 for prototyping applications or for printing farm operations.

model	2+ Connect	UltiMaker S3	UltimakerS5	UltiMaker S7
Hot end exchange		✔	✔	✔
Material flow sensor		✔	✔	✔
Surface construction	glass plate	glass plate	glass plate	Flexible plate on magnetic bed
Bed leveling	assist	automation	automation	Automation (with) Bed tilt compensation (Inductive)

The UltiMaker printhead forms the entire hot end of the S series, and everything from the heatsink to the nozzle can be quickly disassembled and interchanged.

Air filtration and control
If you know you'll be using some of the more smelly 3D printing materials (like ABS or polycarbonate), then a built-in filtration system to clean the printer's air is a worthwhile investment. The UltiMaker S7 integrates an air filtration system . The UltiMaker 2+ Connect and UltiMaker S5 offer an optional air manager , which, when plugged into the back of the UltiMaker and clipped to the top, provides complete control over the air around the 3D printer. The UltiMaker S3, however, does not have a filtration option.

In summary, if your workspace requires filtration, or you genuinely dislike the odor produced by cables such as ABS and PC, consider the UltiMaker S7 , which includes an air filtration system. Combining the S5 and 2+ Connect with their respective air manager add-ons is also a good option.

UltiMaker Air Manager or third-party add-ons can filter exhaust air and recycle it, keeping the internal temperature within a consistent range.

Intelligent feeding station
The UltiMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 stand out in this product line because they offer the option to use the UltiMaker Material Station , which can manage up to six materials simultaneously without user intervention. You can have multiple materials or colors ready at any time (although only two materials can be used per print job). The main purpose of this is to fully utilize UltiMaker's cloud technology; for example, sending yellow PLA and PVA print jobs to a cloud-based synchronized print farm will allow the UltiMaker S7/S5 to automatically unload the cable and load the necessary materials. Combined with sensors on each tray that determine if materials are used up before the job is finished, this enables almost entirely hands-free printing from start to finish—simply remove the prints.

In summary, if you must add automated material loading to achieve the longest possible production uptime, then the UltiMaker S7 and UltiMaker S5 models are the best choice.

A fully loaded material station can reuse different materials to keep UltMaker S5 and UltiMaker S7 stocked and fully loaded.

Summary and Recommendation Guide

The table below provides a simplified recommendation on which 3D printer is best suited for your application.

Please note that there may be individual differences regarding specific issues such as "limited space," "limited budget," and "minimal production downtime." If you would like to learn more about a specific machine, please review the technical specifications again to see if you have missed any information, or click on the product name below.

As you can see, the UltiMaker 3D printer family covers a wide range of rapid prototyping manufacturing needs, and now you can better understand which UltiMaker 3D printer will be your powerful manufacturing machine!

Want to learn more about Ultimaker products? Click "Contact Us " below!

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SanDiMa offers more than just 3D printing ; we provide three major OEM services: " 3D Printing Manufacturing ," " 3D Scanning Services ," and " Spatial 3D Scanning Services "!

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