The desktop 3D printing company announced the availability of the first material print profiles in Ultimaker Cura 3.6.
The company revealed the news at the Formnext conference in Frankfurt, Germany, where it hosted a press conference together with BASF, Clariant, DSM, and DuPont to launch Ultimaker Cura 3.6, and highlight the importance and share first results of the open Ultimaker Material Alliance Programme for the further development of professional desktop 3D printing.
The latest version of the free print preparation software, Ultimaker Cura 3.6, offers a Marketplace where users can install print profiles that ensure “high-quality” 3D print results. These material profiles are fully optimised for Ultimaker 3D printers, with no need to manually input parameters before printing. Recent hardware launches from Ultimaker, such as the Ultimaker S5, combined with the new CC Red 0.6 print core, allow users to print with composite and abrasive materials.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” explained Paul Heiden, Ultimaker’s Senior Vice President of Product Management. “Since the start of our Material Alliance Program this spring, more than 60 companies showed interest in enabling new and existing materials to fit on Ultimaker 3D printers. Professionals that are looking for composite, flame retardant, ESD or transparent materials can now choose the right print profiles from an evolving marketplace of materials and benefit from a complete solution where hardware, software and materials are fully aligned. This integration is what enables reliable print results and this is what will help to unlock new 3D print applications.”
Analysts have noted an increasing demand from the professional industry for filaments that influence the 3D printing plastics market. The 3D printing plastics market size is projected to reach $1.96 billion (€1.73 billion) by 2023, at a CAGR of 26.1 percent between 2018 and 2023. The filament segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the 3D printing plastics market in 2018, and is projected to dominate the market by 2023.
“The open material alliance initiated by Ultimaker helps to meet the growing demand for more diverse materials for desktop 3D printing,” the company stated.
