Meet the New UltiMaker S6: Speed of the S8, Simplicity of the S5
Move over UltiMaker S5, the S6 is four-times as fast. Take a look at the newest S-series FDM.
If you’re a chronologically oriented person and can’t keep up with the UltiMaker versions, you’re not alone. The Netherland-based company’s S8 FDM launched just shy of three months ago, the S7 debuted back in 2023, while today, the company launched the S6; not the 9, the 6.
The S6 is the new generation of the trusty S5, one of the most installed FDMs ever in schools, universities, and small businesses (40,000+ units globally). It takes some innovations developed for the S8, namely speed, and puts them into an affordable desktop unit without some of the more “pro” features of the S7 and S8 like the fully enclosed chamber. Let’s take a look.
UltiMaker Printer Value Statements
S6: Focused on Productivity
UltiMaker S5 fans who don’t need the bells and whistles of the S7 or S8, have been waiting for a updated version.
The UltiMaker S6 is up to four-times faster than the S5 and has the same dual extrusion capabilities for multi-material printing. The S6 also offers a choice of two build plates: a flexible plate for broad application versatility, and a glass plate ideal for medical or food-packaging prints where enhanced hygiene is essential, the company says.
The S6 is fully backward compatible with the UltiMaker S5, ensuring that you can use a lot of your S5 optional accessories, such as material stations, air managers, and print cores. And for larger manufacturing operations, previously sliced parts can be reused, keeping production flowing without the need to recreate files.
S6 Materials
UltiMaker S series 3D printers (S5, S6, S7, S8) support a wide range of filaments, including:
- PLA (Polylactic Acid) – Easy to print, good for general use.
- Tough PLA – More durable than standard PLA.
- ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) – Strong and heat-resistant, requires an enclosed build chamber.
- PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) – Durable, chemical-resistant, and slightly flexible.
- Nylon (Polyamide) – Flexible, wear-resistant, absorbs moisture.
- CPE (Co-Polyester) – Similar to PETG, but more chemical-resistant.
- CPE+ – More temperature-resistant than standard CPE.
- TPU 95A (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) – Flexible and rubber-like.
- Polycarbonate (PC) – High strength and temperature resistance.
- PP (Polypropylene) – Lightweight, fatigue-resistant.
- PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) – Water-soluble support material.
- Breakaway Support Material – Alternative to PVA for easy removal.
Third-Party & Experimental Materials:
UltiMaker printers also support third-party filaments, including metal, such as stainless steel, and advanced composites, such as carbon-fiber-reinforced filaments, wood-filled PLA, and specialty engineering-grade materials.
Taken together, UltiMaker’s materials plus third-party materials for which there are print-profiles available, you have one of the longest menus of materials of any FDM.
UltiMaker Material Station
Although materials changers have become ubiquitous with FDM 3D printing today, UltiMaker’s was one of the first. The UltiMaker Material Station is a filament management system for the S5, S6, S7, and S8 3D printers. It’s the same unit for all four printers and it’s an optional accessory retailing for around $3,500.
Note that the UltiMaker isn’t a material changer like those offered by Bambu Lab, Prusa, or Creality, that enable you to print with three, four, or even 8 materials on one time. All UltiMaker printer can only print with a maximum of two materials at a time. One of the key features of the Material Station is its ability to hold up to six spools of filament simultaneously. This allows for automatic filament detection, loading, and switching, and eliminating manual intervention. When one spool runs out, the system automatically switches to another.
Tech Specs & Price
On paper, the S series printers are very much alike. The S7 is 90% the S5 with boosted reliability and productivity for power users; the S8 expands on this with added speed and accuracy. The Factor 4 is in a class by itself, focusing on being an industrial version with a sturdy steel and aluminum chassis, an actively heat-controlled chamber, triple-insulated build volume, a direct-drive extruder with a bigger motor, and a nozzle temperature that can reach 340ºC to enable engineering grade materials. Then there’s the S6, which is very much like the S5 but with S8 innovations.
Here’s a break out comparison.
Software
All UltiMaker machines use the same software in the Digital Factory print management tool and Cura slicer. There are different subscription levels for Digital Factory, but they are not machine specific.
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