During the Spring Showcase, Ultimaker, the global leader in professional 3D printing, released the beta for Ultimaker Cura 5.0, the latest version of its free, open source slicing software. The improved slicing engine, which sets a new standard for finer and faster 3D prints, has enabled new applications in design, architecture, engineering, and metal 3D printing. This slicing engine’s newly developed variable line width capability improves its ability to print thin walls and fine details. Parts printed with this engine will be stronger as well. Other enhancements include faster print profiles for Ultimaker printer owners, support for Apple M1 chips, and much more.
Ultimaker Cura 5.0 represents the biggest leap forward in print quality that the software has ever seen. This is the start of a true revolution in 3D printing technology. We believe that even those who have looked at 3D printing before and concluded that it may not be ready for their use, today it is time for them to look again. Until now, you had to make your design work for 3D printing. It’s time to turn the table… from designing for 3D printing, to 3D printing for design.”
– Miguel Calvo, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Ultimaker
Improvements in Ultimaker Cura 5.0
Thinner walls and finer details
The new slicing engine in Ultimaker Cura 5.0 enables the use of variable line width when slicing a 3D model to print fine details more accurately.
Stronger parts
The variable line width capabilities of Ultimaker Cura 5.0’s new slicing engine result in fewer gaps on the inside of printed parts, making them more solid and thus stronger. The improved printing of thin walls brings Ultimaker Cura 5.0 parts closer to the strength of injection moulded parts.
Another unintended consequence of this behaviour was that when slicing a file, a series of diagonal lines would frequently be generated to fill a small but significant gap between two walls.
“Cura is evolving and there is much more freedom in the design for FFF, so the software is less of a limiting factor. Thin walls, and the kind of small design features that are often featured in injection molded parts, are created more efficiently and this results in applications being produced in an improved way in 3DP.”
– Steve Cox – Engineer and 3D printing advocate
Faster print profiles
Print profiles for Ultimaker printers have been updated to take advantage of the enhanced capabilities of Ultimaker Cura 5.0, resulting in print time reductions of up to 20%.
New possibilities and new applications
The Showcase featured 3D printing community innovators and thought leaders demonstrating unique applications enabled by the latest version of Ultimaker Cura 5.0. Anyone who missed the original presentation of Cura 5.0 can watch it here.
Download Ultimaker Cura 5.0 beta here.
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