Ultimaker s5
Ultimaker S5
⚠️ HOT SURFACES — NOZZLES REACH 280°C AND THE BED REACHES UP TO 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. ⚠️
⚠️ SEMI-ENCLOSED, NOT FILTERED — THIS UNIT DOES NOT HAVE THE AIR MANAGER FILTER INSTALLED. USE ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND AVOID HIGH-FUME MATERIALS (see Approved Materials below). ⚠️
⚠️ USES 2.85mm FILAMENT, NOT THE COMMON 1.75mm — IT'S NOTICEABLY THICKER. DO NOT LOAD 1.75mm FILAMENT; IT WILL NOT FEED CORRECTLY AND CAN JAM THE FEEDER. ⚠️
The Ultimaker S5 is our large-format dual-extrusion FDM printer, built for bigger parts and more dependable unattended prints than the Ultimaker 3 Extended. It shares the same swappable print core system and water-soluble PVA support workflow as the UM3 Extended, but adds a larger build volume, a hotter bed (up to 140°C), a built-in live camera, a touchscreen interface, and tinted glass front doors that partially enclose the build chamber. It's best suited to PLA, PETG, and support-heavy dual-material prints; without the optional Air Manager filter installed, treat it like an open-frame machine for anything high-fume. Great for large functional prototypes, big assemblies, and clean dual-material prints with dissolvable supports.
Specifications
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Technology | Fused deposition modeling (FDM) |
| Print head | Dual-extrusion with auto nozzle-lifting system and swappable print cores |
| Build volume | 330mm × 240mm × 300mm (single nozzle or dual extrusion) |
| Filament diameter | 2.85mm |
| Nozzle diameter | 0.4mm (standard); 0.25mm and 0.8mm cores also compatible |
| Layer resolution | 60–400 micron (varies by nozzle size) |
| Nozzle temperature | 180–280°C |
| Build plate | Heated glass, 20–140°C, active leveling |
| XYZ resolution | 6.9 / 6.9 / 2.5 micron |
| Feeder | Dual-geared, abrasion-resistant (composite-ready) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, LAN (Ethernet), USB; built-in live camera |
| Material recognition | NFC scanner (auto-detects genuine Ultimaker spools) |
| Display | 4.7" color touchscreen |
| Enclosure | Semi-enclosed: tinted glass front doors, open top/back (no Air Manager filter installed on this unit) |
| Dimensions / weight | 495mm × 457mm × 520mm / 20.6kg |
| Software | Ultimaker Cura |
Overview
Like the Ultimaker 3 Extended, the S5 uses two swappable print cores in the print head:
- Type AA — for build materials (PLA, ABS, Nylon, CPE, etc.) and Ultimaker Breakaway support
- Type BB — for water-soluble PVA support material
The auto nozzle-lifting system raises the inactive core during printing to prevent oozing and stringing on the part. The printer reads NFC-chipped Ultimaker spools, so material settings can auto-populate in Ultimaker Cura when connected over the network. A built-in live camera lets you check on a print remotely from Cura or the Ultimaker Digital Factory app without opening the doors. Print core sizes: The standard cores are 0.4mm. The machine also accepts 0.25mm (fine detail) and 0.8mm (fast/draft) cores — material compatibility differs slightly by core size, so check in Cura before swapping. Enclosure note: The S5's tinted glass front doors help with draft control and heat retention, but the top and back are open on this unit — there is no Air Manager filter installed. Don't treat this machine as a sealed/filtered enclosure; ventilation rules are the same as for an open-frame printer.
Software
⭐ Recommended: Ultimaker Cura
| 🏆 Use Ultimaker Cura for This Machine |
|---|
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Ultimaker Cura is the recommended slicer for the Ultimaker S5. It ships with tuned Ultimaker S5 profiles, handles the dual-extrusion / PVA support workflow, and reads NFC material data when connected over the network. Free.
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System requirements: Windows/macOS/Linux (64-bit), OpenGL 2 graphics, 4GB RAM minimum (8GB+ recommended). Where to slice: Cura is installed on the makerspace lab PCs — you're welcome to use those, or install it free on your own laptop. Either way, save the sliced file to a USB flash drive to bring to the printer (see Startup workflow below). Tip: When slicing a dual-color or PVA-support print, assign material colors to each model and merge the models before slicing. For support, you can choose which extruder prints the support structure — pick the BB/PVA core for dissolvable supports.
Startup / First-Print Workflow
- Complete mandatory training before use, and sign in on the equipment log.
- Turn on the printer using the power switch at the back.
- Confirm both print cores are installed (AA in slot 1, BB or second AA in slot 2) and the correct materials are loaded.
- Verify the glass plate is installed, clean, and that the build plate clamps are closed (open clamps can damage the printer when the bed raises).
- Apply a thin layer of glue stick to the glass plate for adhesion.
- Slice your model in Ultimaker Cura on one of the makerspace lab PCs, or on your own laptop with Cura installed — either way, confirm the print core + material config matches the machine before slicing.
- Save the sliced file to a USB flash drive, then plug it into the printer and select the file from the touchscreen menu. (This is our standard process at GRM; the printer also supports sending jobs over Wi-Fi/Ethernet network printing, but USB is what we use here.)
- Watch the first layer to confirm good bed adhesion.
- Stay reachable during the print; check in periodically on long jobs (or use the live camera to check remotely).
- 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 two spools from tangling. Follow the on-screen prompts on the touchscreen — the printer heats the core, feeds the filament, and confirms extrusion.
Materials
Approved Materials
| Material | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | ✅ | Best all-around choice; use AA core |
| PETG / CPE | ✅ | Good durability; use AA core |
| PVA | ✅ | Water-soluble support only; use BB core |
| Breakaway | ✅ | Mechanical support; use AA core |
| TPU 95A | ✅ (with care) | Flexible; print slow, use AA core |
| Nylon | ⚠️ Caution | Keep dry (hygroscopic); adequate ventilation |
| ABS / ASA | ⚠️ Ventilation required | Officially supported by Ultimaker, but this unit has no Air Manager filter installed — the front doors are tinted glass, but the top/back are open and fumes are not contained. Use only with strong ventilation, or prefer an enclosed/filtered machine. Ask a volunteer first. |
| PC (Polycarbonate) | ⚠️ Caution | High fume; the hotter 140°C bed helps adhesion, but without the Air Manager filter, ventilation limits apply the same as ABS/ASA |
| Carbon-fiber / abrasive filled | ❌ Not recommended | Standard brass nozzle — abrasives wear it out. Use a hardened-nozzle machine. |
When in doubt about a material/machine combination, ask a volunteer before printing. If our S5 later gets an Air Manager filter installed, update this table.
Material Handling & Storage
| ⚠️ Filament Diameter Warning |
|---|
| This machine uses 2.85mm filament — not the common 1.75mm. It's noticeably thicker. Do not load 1.75mm filament; it will not feed correctly and can jam the feeder. |
- 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 (2.88mm true diameter) feeds most reliably through the PTFE tubing.
Safety
⚠️ Burns: The print head reaches 280°C and the heated bed reaches up to 140°C — hotter than the UM3 Extended's 100°C bed. 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, and open the front doors carefully. ⚠️ Ventilation: This unit is semi-enclosed (tinted glass front doors, open top/back) with no fume filtration — there is no Air Manager installed. Ensure adequate ventilation, especially for any higher-fume material. Non-Ultimaker materials may release VOCs — check the material SDS. ⚠️ Electrical: Use the printer's own power cord with an earthed wall socket. Always unplug before maintenance.
| ⚠️ Build Plate Clamp Warning |
|---|
| Always keep the build plate clamps closed when the glass plate is installed. Leaving them open can damage the printer when the build plate raises. Take the glass plate out of the printer when using a spatula, to avoid damaging the clamps. |
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.
- Close the front doors during printing to help with draft control, but remember they do not filter fumes on this unit.
- 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 to reduce drafts |
| 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 |
| Touchscreen unresponsive / frozen | Firmware hiccup | Power-cycle the printer using the rear switch; report to a volunteer if it recurs |
| Error code on display | Various (see manual) | Note the ER## code and go to ultimaker.com/ER## for that specific error |
Resources
- Ultimaker Cura (slicer download)
- Ultimaker / MakerBot Support
- 📄 Ultimaker 3 Extended (sister machine)
- 📄 Back to 3D Printing Area
- Full user manual: available at the printer / GRM equipment files
