The Newest UltiMaker Innovation: Cheetah Motion Planner

Current 3D printer motion planners rely on "jerk" settings and input shaping to manage speed changes, but these methods only reduce - rather than eliminate - vibrations and print defects.

This article will introduce UltiMaker’s latest innovation, the UltiMaker Cheetah motion planner, which takes motion control to the next level. By eliminating speed jumps and optimizing motion profiles, it enables smoother, faster, and more precise printing.

The new UltiMaker S8, featuring the Cheetah motion planner, improves print quality to 0.15mm ± 0.15% while being the fastest dual-material printer made in Europe. Let’s dive in!

What is a motion planner?

A motion planner is software that determines the optimal movement path for the print head, bed, and feeder based on various input parameters. It dictates how the printer slows down before a corner and adjusts material extrusion to match the movement of the print head precisely.

The next evolution in motion planning

To push 3D printing technology further, we developed a new motion planner - the UltiMaker Cheetah motion planner. Not only does it reduce the effects of high force peaks on the print head but it eliminates the speed jumps that cause them entirely. This ensures that every movement of our printer is smoother, more controlled, and highly accurate.

Our motion planner applies input shaping to motion profiles to further reduce any remaining vibration artifacts. With these optimized motion profiles, the input shaper becomes even more effective in delivering superior print results. Additionally, pressure advance ensures that material flow accurately follows the motion profiles of the print head, preventing inconsistencies in extrusion.

Through detailed experiments, we determined the safest and most efficient motion speed, acceleration, and jerk settings. This data-driven approach allows us to create optimized print profiles that maximize performance.

The result? Faster prints, enhanced visual quality, and superior dimensional accuracy. With the new UltiMaker Cheetah motion planner, you can achieve professional-grade results without compromising on speed.