Ultimaker with increased build volume

[ecoscan 0]

Hi Guys

Just wondering if there are some developments re. a larger Ultimaker. In previous discussions it was referred to as (possibly) an Ultimaker 3+.

I have just finished a feasibility study and concluded that I can start manufacturing my products using 3D-printing. However the build plate is a bit small which means I currently have to glue the components. For this I use ordinary PVC cement and it appears to work fantastic for the PLA that I use. Now this is however not desirable for a number of reasons. Having said that, accuracy and aesthetics are not so much an issue but it is really productivity and reliability that I am looking for.

Before embarking on an adventure with other printers with a large build volume I would like to see if I could purchase a (number of) Ultimakers that are build with a build plate of approx. 300 x 300 or there abouts. Simply(?) a standard UM2(+) with extended rods and so forth. I don't need the extended height.

Any reply welcome.

[nallath 1,124]

There are a ton of problems with larger printers. It's not just "simply" increasing the axis (Only increasing the length will mess up tolerances / sagging, etc).

If you do manage to get that right (at which point you already redesigned the head & entire carriage system), you also need to swap out the bed & power supply (as the current external power supply is the biggest you can get). Due to legal issues Ultimaker (or any commercial company) can't sell this as a ready to go product (selling kits for this however is allowed)

Even if you get all this, you still have the problem of it being freakishly slow. A "normal" ultimaker has a build volume of +- 223 x 223 x 205 = 10194445 cubic mm

Your increased version would have 300 x 300 x 205 = 18450000 cubic mm.

This usually means that printing on full bed will take about 1.8 times as much (and you only added 80 mm on both ends!)

[ecoscan 0]

Thanks for quick respond.

I appreciate that it is not simply a matter of longer rods and bigger box and build plate and must admit that my gut find the rods indeed a bit thin for such lengths. Some Chinese manufacturers though (up to approx 400 x 300 build plate) have done this, look a bit like a stretched UM and seem to work and are being sold (legal issues?) even though some reviews are a bit 'scary'. I find it a bit strange that Ultimaker, considering its commercial succes, has not entered this avenue (albeit as a kit with stronger rods, etc) as it is a logical fact that this too will find a huge market closing another gap towards hard-tooling.

I am building relatively large flat 'trays' and despite your arguments about a large printer being 'freakishly slow' (you are just building bigger products, print speed may be slightly less considering added inertia) I think that I would gain massive time (and simpler and more reliable design) printing them in one-go instead of all the warming-up, cooling down, gluing, tolerance issues and whatnot.

Note: I bought an UM2 based on specs re. build surface of 223 x 223 which turned out to be a mere 195 x 195

So from your much appreciated reply I understand that no efforts are being undertaken but if I am wrong I would be more than happy to hear from Ultimaker (community) or others on what the status is. Meanwhile I will have to conclude to go on outlook for an alternative.

[neotko 1,417]

Last ultimaker interview said they are making a bigger ultimaker, probably this year.

https://ultimaker.com/en/community/19088-new-machines-this-year

[xeno 108]

your best bet would be to buy a UM+ and rebuild the frame to the width you need,

I have doubled the height, and did need to adjust some parts like longer wires, and adjusted z-plaform and rails.

adding sideways 10cm to the construction would probably be doable, just make larger body panels, and enlarging the z-stage.

but I don't know if you can get a heated bed at that format

you might have to change the rods that support the print head to a thicker diameter.

[nallath 1,124]

look a bit like a stretched UM and seem to work and are being sold (legal issues?) even though some reviews are a bit 'scary'. I find it a bit strange that Ultimaker, considering its commercial succes, has not entered this avenue (albeit as a kit with stronger rods, etc) as it is a logical fact that this too will find a huge market closing another gap towards hard-tooling.

 

We have done research in this area, but there is a massive difference in getting one printer to work and getting thousands to work. Those chinese sellers tend to not care about the quality. I do.

There is no legal issue with selling Ultimaker clones, as long as you don't use our trademarks.

 

I am building relatively large flat 'trays' and despite your arguments about a large printer being 'freakishly slow' (you are just building bigger products, print speed may be slightly less considering added inertia) I think that I would gain massive time (and simpler and more reliable design) printing them in one-go instead of all the warming-up, cooling down, gluing, tolerance issues and whatnot.

 

Fair enough. My responses are rather standard as most people seem to overlook these things.

 

Note: I bought an UM2 based on specs re. build surface of 223 x 223 which turned out to be a mere 195 x 195  

 

The build surface is 223 by 223. There are small area's (the clips) that you can't print. It's definately not 195 x 195. I just did a ton of tests to get the right sizes in the new Cura, so i'm pretty confident about this.

[Talmar 0]

I was looking at the Taz 5 before I bought my Ultimaker2. It has a larger build area, which might be as large as you need. I ultimately went with the Ultimaker2 because the build quality was much better, even though I gave up a little build volume and duel extruders. Hopefully you guys will get around to making an official duel extruder for this machine!