[3D Printing Information] Ultimaker 3 Unboxing and Hands-on Review!!

By now, everyone must have seen a lot of information released about the Ultimaker 3 3D printer. If not, you can check out our article [3D Printer] Ultimaker 3: The New Generation of 3D Printers.
But what is it like in actual printing? Hehe~ Let 3DMart tell you.
After unboxing the machine, the first thing to do is, of course, to re-print samples that I always thought would be "even more amazing if printed with a powerful dual-extruder 3D printer,"
using the Ultimaker 3. What's the use of a dual extruder, and why can only Ultimaker 3 do it? Let us tell you all at once!


The first item remade was ski goggles. As you can see, unlike single-extruder machines, the support material used is water-soluble PVA support~
File source: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:278294


After printing, depending on the amount of support, place it in water for a period, and the support will naturally dissolve!



After taking it out of the water, rinse it clean with clear water, and once the object is dry, it's done!



Additionally, to reduce dissolving time, most of the support can be removed before placing it in water.
This is the PVA dissolving in water. Seeing the previously difficult-to-remove, hard, and hand-scratching support turn soft and squishy gives an indescribable sense of satisfaction.



Friends who have used FDM printers will know that the marks left after removing support are often unacceptable.



But look at this support surface after dissolving in water; its fineness will definitely make you question if it was really made by FDM?!



The second major refurbishment was the bicycle frame previously printed with nylon and carbon fiber. Why do you think a dual extruder is needed?
File source: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:892442


The holes around the object are for inserting brackets later, but the problem with a single extruder was that deep supports were difficult to remove, and even after removal, they might leave marks, making assembly difficult.



With the original single-extruder method, one side would definitely have to sacrifice to grow supports. Now, with water-soluble supports, even the support surface can have perfect surface quality.



The third item we tackled was a bone model. In terms of 3D printing difficulty, this is definitely one of the top ones!



Why? Besides the complex shape, there are many hollow parts enclosed within that even photopolymerization machines might not be able to achieve, let alone single extruders!



Water-soluble support can completely support every corner of the object, ensuring perfect performance no matter how complex the object is!



What else can a dual extruder do besides water-soluble support? Of course, dual-color printing! From now on, objects are no longer limited to a single color, and unlike changing colors mid-print, which only allows changes in height.
File source: https://www.youmagine.com/designs/ultimaker-3-drill


The two colors are distinct and seamlessly connect! Why can Ultimaker 3 achieve such excellent quality so easily?
The answer lies in the newly designed print head system. Common problems with previous dual-extruder machines included:
1. Difficulty in adjusting the height of the two nozzles, leading to collision with the object. 2. The non-printing nozzle tended to string and ooze during movement.
Ultimaker 3's exclusive patented design features:
1. Improved nozzle tip with flow-blocking design to prevent oozing and stringing during movement. 2. Automatic nozzle lifting system; the second nozzle automatically retracts when not printing to avoid affecting the object.
Combined with Ultimaker's consistent stability and high quality, this ultimately leads to perfect printing results!