Feel Good Factor: Why UltiMaker Factor 4 is reinventing on-site production

When the UltiMaker Factor 4 shipped in August, it topped out an impressive line-up from the European 3D printer manufacturer. It has much in common with the existing S7, including a flexible PEI-coated build plate and identical build volume, but in every other respect, it marks a significant step up.

The UltiMaker Factor 4 is as much at home on the factory floor as it is in the office or lab – as its name would suggest – because alongside a rigid chassis and steel gantry, it’s got a dual-geared feeder and modular design. That makes it more durable and, in the unlikely event it needs spares or to be repaired, it will be easier and quicker to get back up and running.

“In almost every way, we’re seeing this as an upgrade from the UltiMaker S7,” says Laser Lines’ Vicki Bromley. “But the S7 isn’t going anywhere. The two will be sold side by side, with the Factor 4 aimed squarely at the most demanding users.”

An on-site factory

Factor 4 is tailored for high-end production of end-use parts. Its dual-gauge feeder has been reinforced for use with robust engineering-grade consumables, including the new PPS-CF, which is flame retardant and resistant to temperatures over 230°C (a good alternative to steel/aluminium). Working with these is only possible at higher temperatures, so the HT core has been designed to reach 340°C, the heated bed to 120°C and the build chamber to achieve 70 degrees.

The five-degree increase on the maximum chamber temperature is a significant improvement that required an end-to-end redesign of the UltiMaker S7. The chamber is now fully sealed, and triple insulated to control the airflow and achieve consistent temperatures to ensure reliable part quality.

UltiMaker has taken advantage of this design requirement to give the machine a thorough refresh. The black facing and metal sides look great in any environment. It really is a printer you’ll be proud to have on display.

Internally, the material’s climate control is integrated, rather than having a separate unit as is the case with the UltiMaker S7, and here, it helps keep humidity below 15%. That’s a ten percentage-point improvement on the 25% cut-off seen in the S7. Again, this may sound marginal, but it’s a significant change that’s testament to the Factor 4’s strengths as a high-performance production unit. Materials are highly sensitive to moisture, after all, so humidity is a significant consideration that can’t be ignored when working at this level.

No compromise

Laser Lines has been running a Factor 4 in its customer demonstration room for a while and the team has already noted that its dimensional accuracy is second to none.? Officially, this stands at 0.2mm or 0.2% in either direction.

The machine has a built-in physical analytics system, which tracks the extruder’s motion throughout the production process to grade the finished product with reference to its input data.?For companies wanting to monitor and improve their 3D printing process, the new Print Process Reporting feature is available via activation of a premium software licence.

“It’s called Onboard Structural Integrity Validation,” says Vicki. “This delivers an in-depth report on the overall extrusion parameters and any deviations from nominal values, their locations in the 3D model, and severity. If you’re producing end use parts with fine tolerances, we reckon that this alone is reason enough to put Factor 4 on your shortlist.”

Better yet, despite all these additional features, the finer tolerances, and the analytics system, UltiMaker Factor 4 is around 50% faster than the S7 which, as Vicki points out, will help it to more quickly offset the purchase price in throughput and time saved.

Available today

UltiMaker Factor 4 is a stock item. Vicki adds: “Anyone who places an order can expect delivery in about a week. In the meantime, we’re more than happy to show one in action to any prospective customers – or produce a free benchmark or sample part. Come and see the printers at our HQ in Banbury – we’d love to see you.”

Laser Lines can also help you work out exactly what your ROI will be, and how soon the Factor 4 will pay for itself.

For more information, a demonstration (on-site or online), or simply to talk through your options, email [email protected] or call Vicki today on 01295 672541.