If the answer is yes, look no further than the Ultimaker platform. Whether you’re a start-up or a global enterprise, Ultimaker software is secure, stable, and easy to use. And it can give you a serious competitive edge over companies using traditional manufacturing methods.
How? The major benefit of a 3D printing software plan for an organization is that it gives you access to an entire 3D printing platform – not only 3D printers. By cutting out the lead times of traditional centralized manufacturing and delivery, and lowering costs through greater automation, choosing the right 3D printing software can unlock serious added value.
Which 3D printing software plan is right for your business?
The 3D printing market is expected to reach $13 billion by 2022¹. Progress is being driven by making the technology accessible to anyone, anywhere. But with that can come challenges for an organization adopting 3D printing. These include meeting IT policies, managing who has access to software, and upskilling team members who do not already have 3D printing knowledge. Sound familiar?
Ultimaker enterprise software lets you efficiently manage your 3D printers
Our platform supports a complete, end-to-end production workflow. That includes the ability to store parts in a globally accessible library, comment on and version designs, and print them when and where they’re needed.
Regardless of the subscription, you’ll enjoy direct software support and enterprise security features like data encryption and two-factor authentication. All you need to do is choose the plan that best suits your business needs. To help you decide, we’ve put together this handy comparative guide.
What’s included?
Whichever plan you decide on, you’ll have access to:
Ultimaker Digital Factory. Remotely manage users and workflows with powerful cloud-based tools. And print from anywhere in the world. Access management lets admins invite users, control admin rights, or remove access entirely. A firmware firewall blocks uncontrolled network access to Ultimaker 3D printers, increasing security. Use the Digital Library to access the parts and tools your organization has created and shared. This encourages the evolution of even more successful 3D printing applications. Ultimaker Digital Factory integrates seamlessly with Ultimaker Cura Enterprise
Ultimaker Cura Enterprise. Simple, seamless print preparation that's packaged for deployment and designed to meet business infrastructure standards. Prepare files for 3D printing at the click of a button or fully customize with over 400 settings. Ultimaker Cura Enterprise receives two independently assessed updates a year. These are thoroughly tested to ensure the most stable desktop application and the highest levels of continuity. We support updates for 12 months after release, including security patches and major bug fixes
Prepare prints with Ultimaker Cura Enterprise software
Manage 3D printers and print jobs through Ultimaker Digital Factory
Ultimaker Marketplace. Securely customize your 3D printing workflow with downloadable third-party material profiles. Tailor further with verified plugins such as Teton Simulation's Smart Slice. These allow you to unlock more applications while maintaining security and IT stability
Ultimaker 3D Printing Academy. Upskill your engineers, printer operators, and IT admins with e-learning courses. Created by our 3D printing experts, these flexible, role-based courses ensure your team uses 3D printing to maximum effect
Support. Reduce disruptions with direct software support dedicated to your success. Our expert team is on hand to help you Monday to Friday. If you need software assistance, log a ticket for help with an Ultimaker technician
Now, let’s dive into the specifics of Ultimaker’s software options one by one.
Ultimaker Essentials: Start 3D printing at work
Ultimaker Essentials now comes included with every Ultimaker 3D printer and allows you to centrally manage 3D printing workflows. Designers and engineers can create parts when and where they are needed and spend less time fixing IT issues.
Features include remote printer management, a firmware firewall, and verified plugins. Create up to five private projects in the Digital Library and store 20 files per project.
Your company also benefits from Associate level e-learning courses and direct software support. Ultimaker Essentials gives you the tools to start 3D printing and accelerate innovation. At the same time, IT requirements are met.
Ultimaker Professional: Elevate your operation
Take the next step with Ultimaker Professional, our advanced software package. Elevating your 3D printing capabilities, you enjoy all the benefits of Ultimaker Essentials, plus more. Extra features include the ability to open CAD files directly in Ultimaker Cura Enterprise (coming summer 2021) so you can skip conversion to STL.
With Ultimaker Professional, use the Digital Library for sharing and unlimited storage. Building a company-wide Digital Library increases the number of available applications. In turn, that enables collaboration and innovation.
Furthermore, you gain access to additional Ultimaker 3D printing e-learning courses with this package. That allows you to professionalize your 3D printing and scale-out. Our Professional courses give you in-depth knowledge to improve collaboration and foster innovation. And when you need help, our software support team is on hand within a 12-hour response time.
Ultimaker Excellence: The complete package
Ultimaker Excellence offers a complete, custom solution for enterprises. Benefit from all that Ultimaker Professional offers alongside additional features. These include an open platform with two-way cloud API access and federated single sign-on capabilities.
We provide specialist support too. From advice on application development to business intelligence support, our skilled team is on hand. We guarantee no more than a six-hour response time. What’s more, support is available 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday. These services ensure you stay active, efficient, and productive.
And if you’d like your workforce to learn the full capabilities of 3D printing, this plan unlocks full access to the Ultimaker 3D printing Academy.
Conclusion
For organizations of any scale, we have a software subscription to meet your digital transformation needs.
If you’re starting out, Ultimaker Essentials may be the best option to set you on your 3D printing journey. Looking to professionalize your organization’s 3D printing with enhanced features and support? You may prefer Ultimaker Professional. While mid-to-large enterprises with more complex and custom needs may be more suited to Ultimaker Excellence.
The choice is yours, depending on your business requirements and budget (see pricing). Fancy sampling Ultimaker Professional first? Try it free today.
1. 3D Printing Services Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2017-2022