Ultimaker’s new 3D printer—and the most ‘democratized’ type of AM

Ultimaker Americas’ VP of worldwide accounts, Greg Elfering, told Additive Report Editor Don Nelson at FABTECH 2019 that a 3D printer is one of the most powerful tools in a manufacturer’s toolbox.

“It is an extremely powerful tool because it produces mechanical parts quickly,” he said. “Is it always the least expensive? No. Is it always the strongest or best? No. But is it frequently the fastest? Yes. And is it the most accessible to the most people of all skill levels in a shop? Yes. And for those reasons it’s going to become a more attractive part of a manufacturer’s toolbox.”

Elfering also invited manufacturers curious about how AM might work for them to download Ultimaker’s Cura software. The free software gives the uninitiated insights into the types of parts that can be 3D-printed, material selection, and ROI.

And he discussed the company’s new S5 Pro Bundle printer. The climate-controlled unit autoloads filament and allows users to easily combine different types of materials when building a part.