Ultimaker S5

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Revision as of 14:23, 19 July 2026 by Chris (talk | contribs) (Created page with "= Ultimaker S5 = '''⚠️ HOT SURFACES — NOZZLES REACH 280°C AND THE BED REACHES 140°C. DO NOT TOUCH DURING OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER PRINTING. ⚠️''' '''⚠️ MOVING PARTS — NEVER REACH INSIDE WHILE THE PRINTER IS RUNNING. ALLOW 5 MINUTES TO COOL BEFORE REACHING IN. ⚠️''' '''⚠️ 2.85mm FILAMENT ONLY — THIS MACHINE USES 2.85mm FILAMENT, NOT THE 1.75mm USED BY MOST GRM PRINTERS. DO NOT LOAD 1.75mm. ⚠️''' ---- The '''Ultimaker S5''' is a large-forma...")
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Ultimaker S5

⚠️ HOT SURFACES — NOZZLES REACH 280°C AND THE BED REACHES 140°C. DO NOT TOUCH DURING OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER PRINTING. ⚠️

⚠️ MOVING PARTS — NEVER REACH INSIDE WHILE THE PRINTER IS RUNNING. ALLOW 5 MINUTES TO COOL BEFORE REACHING IN. ⚠️

⚠️ 2.85mm FILAMENT ONLY — THIS MACHINE USES 2.85mm FILAMENT, NOT THE 1.75mm USED BY MOST GRM PRINTERS. DO NOT LOAD 1.75mm. ⚠️

The Ultimaker S5 is a large-format, dual-extrusion FDM printer with swappable print cores and a partially enclosed build chamber (front glass doors). It's the bigger, more capable sibling of the Ultimaker 3 Extended: same dependable dual extrusion and water-soluble PVA support workflow, but with a much larger build volume, a color touchscreen, a filament-runout sensor, and glass doors that stabilize chamber temperature. Great for tall or wide functional prototypes, dual-material prints, and clean dissolvable-support geometries. With a CC (hardened steel) print core it can also handle abrasive composite filaments.

Specifications

Property Detail
Technology Fused deposition modeling (FDM / FFF)
Print head Dual-extrusion with auto nozzle-lifting system and swappable print cores
Build volume 330mm × 240mm × 300mm (left or right nozzle, or dual extrusion)
Filament diameter 2.85mm
Nozzle diameter 0.4mm (standard); 0.25mm, 0.6mm, and 0.8mm cores also available
Layer resolution 20–200 micron (0.4mm nozzle); down to 60 micron (0.25mm), up to 600 micron (0.8mm)
Nozzle temperature 180–280°C
Build plate Heated glass, 20–140°C, active leveling (capacitive sensor)
XYZ resolution 6.9 / 6.9 / 2.5 micron
Build speed < 24 mm³/s
Enclosure Partial — front glass doors (stabilizes chamber airflow/temperature)
Connectivity Wi-Fi, LAN (Ethernet), USB; built-in camera for live monitoring
Interface 4.7-inch color touchscreen
Filament sensor Auto-pause on filament runout
Software UltiMaker Cura

Overview

The Ultimaker S5 uses swappable print cores in a dual print head:

  • Type AA — for build materials (PLA, Tough PLA, ABS, Nylon, CPE, PC, etc.) and Breakaway support
  • Type BB — for water-soluble PVA support material
  • Type CC — hardened steel nozzle for abrasive materials (carbon-fiber / glass-fiber filled)

The machine ships with two AA 0.4mm cores and one BB 0.4mm core, so it's ready for two-color printing (two AA) or dissolvable PVA supports (one AA + one BB) out of the box. The auto nozzle-lifting system raises the inactive core during printing to prevent oozing and stringing.

Print core sizes: Cores come in 0.25mm (fine detail), 0.4mm (standard), 0.6mm, and 0.8mm (fast/draft). Material compatibility differs slightly by core size and type — check in Cura before swapping.

Vs. the Ultimaker 3 Extended: The S5 has a wider and taller build area, a touchscreen instead of a scroll wheel, glass doors, and a filament-runout sensor. The workflow is otherwise nearly identical, so anyone trained on the Ultimaker 3 Extended will find the S5 familiar.

Software

⭐ Recommended: UltiMaker Cura

🏆 Use UltiMaker Cura for This Machine

UltiMaker Cura is the recommended slicer for the Ultimaker S5. It ships with tuned S5 profiles, handles the dual-extrusion / PVA support workflow, and can send jobs directly to the printer over the network. Free.

  • Select "UltiMaker S5" when adding the printer so the correct build volume and print core config are set.
  • Always use the latest stable version of Cura.

Download UltiMaker Cura →

System requirements: Windows/macOS/Linux (64-bit), OpenGL 2 graphics, 4GB RAM minimum (8GB+ recommended).

Tip: For a dual-color or PVA-support print, assign material colors to each model and merge the models before slicing. For support, choose which extruder prints the support structure — pick the BB/PVA core for dissolvable supports.

Startup / First-Print Workflow

  1. Complete mandatory training before use, and sign in on the equipment log.
  2. Turn on the printer using the power switch at the back.
  3. Confirm the correct print cores are installed (check slot assignment on the touchscreen) and the correct materials are loaded.
  4. Verify the glass plate is installed, clean, and seated correctly.
  5. Apply a thin layer of glue stick to the glass plate for adhesion.
  6. In UltiMaker Cura, load your model, confirm the print core + material config matches the machine, and slice.
  7. Send the job via network ("Print over network") or save G-code to USB and select it from the print menu on the touchscreen.
  8. Watch the first layer to confirm good bed adhesion.
  9. Stay reachable during the print; check in periodically on long jobs.
  10. Allow the print and bed to cool before removing. Sign out on the log sheet.

Loading materials: Load material 2 (rear, e.g. PVA) first, then material 1 (front). Use the material guide for material 1 to prevent the spools from tangling. Follow the on-screen prompts — the printer heats the core, feeds the filament, and confirms extrusion.

Materials

Approved Materials

Material Status Notes
PLA / Tough PLA ✅ Best all-around choice; use AA core
PETG / CPE / CPE+ ✅ Good durability; use AA core
PVA ✅ Water-soluble support only; use BB core
Breakaway ✅ Mechanical support; use AA core
ABS / ASA ✅ (with care) Enclosed chamber helps; still ensure adequate room ventilation; use AA core
TPU 95A ✅ (with care) Flexible; print slow, use AA core
Nylon ⚠️ Caution Keep dry (hygroscopic); use AA core
PC (Polycarbonate) ⚠️ Caution High-temp; enclosure helps, but ventilate for fumes; use AA core
PP (Polypropylene) ⚠️ Caution Tricky adhesion; ask a volunteer; use AA core
Carbon-fiber / glass-fiber / abrasive filled ✅ (CC core only) Requires a CC hardened-steel core. Do not run abrasives through an AA/BB core — brass nozzles wear out. Ask a volunteer.

When in doubt about a material/machine combination, ask a volunteer before printing.

Material Handling & Storage

⚠️ 2.85mm Filament — Cross-Contamination Warning
The Ultimaker S5 uses 2.85mm filament. This is incompatible with every other 1.75mm printer at GRM. Never load 1.75mm filament into this machine, and never load S5 (2.85mm) filament into a 1.75mm printer. Keep 2.85mm spools clearly separated from the 1.75mm stock.
  • Store spools dry, cool, and out of direct sunlight in a resealable bag with desiccant.
  • PVA is highly hygroscopic — reseal it with desiccant immediately after printing, or it absorbs moisture, gets sticky, and grinds in the feeder.
  • Ultimaker's PRO Series 2.85mm filament feeds most reliably through the PTFE tubing.

Safety

⚠️ Burns: The print head reaches 280°C and the heated bed reaches 140°C. Do not touch either with bare hands. Allow the printer to cool ~30 minutes before maintenance or modifications.

⚠️ Moving parts: Keep hands out of the reach of the build plate and print head during operation. Control the printer only with the touchscreen or the rear power switch. Allow 5 minutes to cool before reaching inside.

⚠️ Ventilation: The front glass doors reduce airflow disturbance and help chamber stability, but this is not a filtered/sealed enclosure. Ensure adequate room ventilation, especially for higher-fume materials (ABS, PC). Non-Ultimaker materials may release VOCs — check the material SDS.

⚠️ Electrical: Use the supplied power supply and cord with an earthed wall socket. Always unplug before maintenance.

General rules:

  • Complete mandatory training and sign in before use.
  • Never leave the first layer unattended.
  • Do not store items inside the printer — objects on the bottom panel prevent proper homing and cause errors.
  • Use scrapers and cutters carefully — cut and scrape away from your body.
  • Report jams, failures, and maintenance issues. Clean the bed and remove scraps when done.

Troubleshooting

Issue Likely Cause Fix
Poor bed adhesion Bed unlevel, no glue, wrong settings Re-run active leveling, apply thin glue layer, use a default Cura profile
Under-extrusion (thin/missing layers, holes) Feeder tension, Bowden friction, particles, partial clog Check feeder tension and Bowden tube; clean print core if clogged
Warping (corners lift) Material shrinkage / poor adhesion Active leveling, glue, correct temps, default Cura profile; keep doors closed
Clogged print core (no flow 10+ min) Dirt / carbonized material Perform hot & cold pull with cleaning filament (or PLA)
Print core not recognized Dirty PCB contacts on core Clean contact points with a cotton swab and alcohol — do not touch the chip with bare fingers
PVA grinding in feeder Moisture (most common), coated Bowden tube, clog Dry/replace PVA, keep humidity below 50%, clean Bowden tube, clean core
Print paused unexpectedly Filament runout sensor triggered Reload/replace the spool and resume from the touchscreen
Error code on display Various (see manual) Note the ER## code and go to ultimaker.com/ER## for that specific error

Resources

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