Ultimaker 2+ vs. Ultimaker 2+ Connect

February 18, 2021

The Ultimaker 2+ is one of the most reliable 3D printers we have tested. The Ultimaker 2+ in our print farm has thousands of hours of print time and is still going strong! But this 3D Printer was launched in 2015, and the technology has fallen behind. The Ultimaker 2+ Connect is a true spiritual successor. But let's take a look at what makes the Ultimaker 2 Plus Connect an upgrade from the Ultimaker 2.

First Impressions

At first glance, you might think the Ultimaker 2+ Connect looks similar to the Ultimaker 2+. However, up close you can clearly see the Connect looks more polished and modern than the 2+ and you can visibly see the new and upgraded features: USB key, WiFi/Ethernet, touchscreen, new feeder, and of course, the option to add an air filter.

During our unboxing we found that this is a ready to print machine and you can start printing within 10-15 minutes or less.

What Stayed the Same?

The Ultimaker 2+ set the standard for a reason, so let's take a look at the great  features that carried over to the new machine:

• Build volume
  While the 2+ had a build volume of 223x223x205 mm the 2+ Connect has a very similar build volume of 223 x 220 x 205 mm. 
  
  
• Single head
  While the other Ultimaker printers have two heads for dual extrusion, both the 2+ and 2+ Connect have a single head. This means one colour / one material but does result in cost savings. If your projects don't need dual extrusion then this makes the 2+ Connect ideal for your workspace.
  
  
• Overall foot print
  At 342 x 460 x 580 mm, including bowden tubes and spool holder, the Ultimaker 2+ Connect maintains the small footprint of the 2+. Ideal for home, office, libraries and classrooms where space is a concern.
  
• The print head is that same reliable design
  Both printers have swappable nozzles, allowing you to change to a different nozzle size or switch to a hardened or ruby nozzle. 
  
  
• Still using a glass plate
  Borosilicate glass is highly durable, consistently flat and eliminate warpage in completed parts when paired with the Ultimaker 2+ and 2+ Connect's use of a heated bed.
  
  
• Open filament system
  Utimaker's open filament system lets you print with any 2.85 mm filament, and the 166 (and counting) print profiles from the Ultimaker Marketplace streamline print preparation and maximize your print success rate.

Ultimaker seems to have gone with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" idea and we agree! The Ultimaker 2+ is a workhorse that lasts years (maybe some day we could say it lasts decades), and has been one of our most popular machines. We see this continuing with the Ultimaker 2+ Connect, but with a collection of new features.

Modernizing the Ultimaker 2+ Connect

The Ultimaker 2+'s rotary dial and SD card is old school cool but in a cloud connected world, the Ultimaker 2+ has fallen behind. The Ultimaker 2+ Connect brings key features from the Ultimaker S line of printers for a more modern, streamlined experience.

The major upgrades on the Ultimaker 2+ Connect include:

• WiFi/Ethernet
  The Ultimaker 2+ only had an SD card slot, while the Ultimaker 2+ Connect offers WiFi connectivity.
  
  
• Touch Screen
  No more rotary dial and LED screen, the 2+ Connect has a modern touch screen.
  
  
• USB key
  Where the Ultimaker 2+ had an SD card slot, the 2+ Connect offers a USB key slot as an alternative to WiFi/Ethernet.  
  
  
• Ergonomic feeder latch over push lever feeder
  The Ultimaker 2+ Connect has an ergonomic feeder latch rather than the 2+'s push lever feeder. What does this mean for you? Easier maintenance, a better bite on the filament and easier feeding overall.
  
  
• Air filter and front door
  The addition of an enclosed front-door and air filter addresses two major points of feedback from education institutions. 
  
  
• Consistent and sleek modern appearance
  What can we say? The Ultimaker 2+ looks dated beside the streamlined appearance of the Ultimaker 2+ Connect. You'll also notice the previous "Ultibot" logo has been swapped out for the newer Ultimaker U. 

These changes make the 2+ Connect easier and safer to use on top of making it cloud compatible.

Behind the good looks

Like the Ultimaker S3 and S5, the Ultimaker 2+ Connect is fully integrated with Cura's best features and cloud functionality. Trusted by millions of users, Ultimaker Cura is the world’s most popular 3D printing software. But Cura is not the only behind-the scenes benefit. The 2+ Connect also has:

• OTA firmware update prompts makes sure your machine has the latest features and software reliability
• Access to the Ultimaker academy for courses on how to use the machine to its full potential
• Integration with Ultimaker Marketplace allows you to get verified 3rd party print profiles for free and use them with the 2+ connect with no tinkering
• Ability to queue jobs up through the cloud and add the machine to Ultimaker Digital Factory for full and proper printer fleet control
• Air manager and front door will filter out UFP particles and also make your printer fully enclosed so that cats and curious adults won't be able to easily reach in.
• New z-stage assembly inherited directly from the Ultimaker S3 makes the platform more rigid, increasing print quality
• New sliding blocks inherited from the S-line machines are longer lasting
• Full colour touch screen guides you through every step
• Integration to Ultimaker phone app to get notified about print status
• Low noise, especially with the covers on.

Key Differences

Spec	Ultimaker 2+	Ultimaker 2+ Connect
Build volume	223mm x 223mm x 205mm	223 mm x 220mm x 205mm
Heated build plate	Up to 100C	Up to 110C
Nozzle compatibility	0.25m, 0.4mm, 0.6mm, 0.8mm	0.25m, 0.4mm, 0.6mm, 0.8mm
Build plate leveling	User assisted	User assisted
Z-stage	Old design	Stiffer z-stage inherited from the Ultimaker S3
Operational Noise	< 50 dBA	< 50dBA
Screen & input type	Rotary dial and LED screen	2.4" color touch screen
Feeder type	Old	Ergonomic feeder, inherited from the S-line machines
Connectivity	SD Card	USB, WiFi, Ethernet
Cloud capability	N/A	Ultimaker Digital Factory Phone App Ultimaker Marketplace
Ease of use	+	++
Price	$3,250	$3,299

 

Final Thoughts

The Ultimaker 2+ Connect is better than it's predecessor in every way. Ultimaker kept the price similar to the 2+ while improving on every aspect that matters. Boasting cloud capability, sleeker looks, improved build quality, better connectivity and the air filter.

The Ultimaker core identity is a reliable and easy-to-use single extrusion 3D printer. The Ultimaker 2+ Connect keeps that identity and updates it with a modern experience by adding a touchscreen and network connectivity. This 3D printer is ideal for educators who want to equip their students with future skills and small enterprises who want a modern Ultimaker at a lower price point.

So if you're looking for an easy-to-use reliable workhorse, the Ultimaker 2+ Connect is the way to go.

Shop the Ultimaker 2+ Connect

Learn more about the Ultimaker 2+ Connect

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