Source: Ultimaker

Smoother surfaces, finer detail and faster 3D prints are what Ultimaker promises with the release of its new Cura 5.0 cutting software.

Ultimaker, the Dutch desktop 3D giant, recently announced a new version of its free open source cutting software. Girl, which is the most popular application in the world for the preparation of digital models for 3D printing. Instead of a few changes and upgrades, Ultimaker promises that Cura 5.0 makes the impossible possible when it comes to unique applications in design, architecture, engineering and metallic 3D printing.

Ultimaker CEO Jürgen von Hollen says that "companies that looked at 3D printing before and thought they weren't ready now have time to look again."

If you're already looking for the download button, wait, it's still in beta. But you can download the beta version  and rotate it.

Jürgen von Holen, CEO of Ultimaker, says Cura 5.0 is a "game change" designed to make 3D printing more accessible to more businesses (Source: Ultimaker)

What has changed?

Cura 5.0 represents "a real revolution in 3D printing technology," said Miguel Calvo, the company's technical director, adding that it was "the biggest leap forward in print quality the software has ever seen." But essentially what the noise is about is the width of the line.

If you are a Cura user, you know that the line width used to cut a file is determined by the nozzle diameter and the line width settings selected. Once selected and cut, the width of the line is constant throughout. This means that if part of the print is two and a half lines thick, two lines are used and a small gap is left between them, or a series of diagonal lines are often generated to fill. This malfunction requires the print head to make a series of small abrupt print movements that cause vibration and noise.

DYNAMIC VARIABLE LINE WIDTH

Now, however, the latest version has the option of dynamic variable line width, which improves the ability to print thin walls and finer details. The smarter variable line width function of the new cutting motor increases and decreases the line width to create the most efficient tool path and print fine details more accurately.

Girl decides and adjusts the width of the line according to where the material should be deposited. The end result is even filling of the parts, which becomes much closer to the quality of the injection molding, says Ultimaker.

Fewer gaps on the inside of the parts and better quality when printing thin walls and fine details mean that the printed parts are stronger, which can lead to more use of FDM technology for finished products.

Filling lines Ultimaker Cura 4.13 / Filling lines Ultimaker Cura 5.0 (Source: Ultimaker)

Because line width is such a key feature of the Cura, its change has had a wavy effect throughout the software. Print profiles are being updated and expanded. And now you can print parts and features of parts that were not actually possible before. Just look at the Benchy example below, comparing the same model in Cura 4.13 and Cura 5.0. Gray areas are parts of prints that were too small or too thin to print.

The standard Benchy, cut in Cura 4.13 above, shows that the 10% model cannot be printed, with the gray area showing walls and details that are too small to print. The same model, cut with the new Cura 5.0 (below), shows that it is already in print (Source: Ultimaker)
Standard Benchy, cut in Cura 5.0 (Source: Ultimaker)
The smallest bench shown above, made with Cura 5.0, was not previously printed with Cura 4.13 (Source: Ultimaker)

FASTER PROFILE PROFILES

As you might expect, a more efficient tool path results in faster print times. Ultimaker says the new speeds could be up to 20% faster than the Cura 4.13 on Ultimaker machines. How do I handle machines of other brands? Ultimaker expects feedback from the community on this.

In fact, Ultimaker recognizes its active user community with the feedback and suggestions that have enlivened Cura 5.0.

BETTING ON A BETTER METAL 3D PRINTING

Among the changes to the printer profile in Cura you will find those for using BASF Ultrafuse 17-4PH and Ultrafuse 316-L stainless steel metal threads on the Ultimaker Marketplace. Two new features in Cura 5.0 - automatic scaling and alternate wall directions - offer better part control, easier prepress workflow and a higher success rate for metal printing, the company said.

By making metal parts easier and more predictable to print with FDM, Ultimaker is targeting a potentially huge audience of users looking for metal parts, tools and prototypes (Source: Ultimaker)

Ultimaker also says it is working on a new metal 3D printing solution that will unlock more industrial applications, with more news to be revealed in the coming weeks.

ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS

Other bug fixes and settings are also included in the beta version of Ultimaker Cura 5.0:

  • Support for Apple M1 chips to correct a number of visual errors.
  • Streamlines the workflow to access the Ultimaker Marketplace in Ultimaker Cura. The user interface has been improved and it is now easier and faster to find and install plugins and material profiles.
  • Updated menus and improved virtual build board.
  • Shrinkage compensation is now available for PLA, tPLA and PETG.
  • Improved default spiral line widths.
  • Reduce the resolution to eliminate some buffer gaps.

After Ultimaker gathers feedback from beta testers and the user community in general, expect the final version of the software later this year.

Ultimaker Showcase April 2022 (Source: Ultimaker)


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