How to Get More Out of UltiMaker Digital Factory (Without Upgrading)

Managing 3D printing in a school is harder than it looks. Students submit files from different devices, queues pile up across multiple printers, and keeping track of it all takes time you do not have. UltiMaker Digital Factory is the platform built to fix that, and the core version is completely free for teachers, makerspace coordinators, and school IT teams.

This guide covers everything in the free tier so you can set it up properly and get the most out of 3D printing classroom management without paying for an upgrade.

What Is UltiMaker Digital Factory?

For example, UltiMaker Digital Factory is a cloud-based platform that connects your printers, organises student files, and lets you monitor print jobs from any device. Known in many schools as MakerBot Digital Factory, it covers the full MakerBot and UltiMaker printer ranges. That is over 15 current and legacy models in one platform.

The free tier is not a trial. It does not expire, and there are no hidden fees for standard classroom use. For most schools running 3D printers for schools programmes, the free version covers everything they need. The key is knowing how to use it well. Here is what each feature does and how to get the most from it.

Organise Your School With Workspaces

Building on that free access, schools get 3 workspaces per account. Each workspace is a separate organisational unit. Run one for Year 9 Design, another for your STEM club, and a third for a shared print lab. Each operates independently with its own printers, users, and file library.

Inside each workspace, you get:

• Up to 8 connected printers per workspace

• Up to 10 users with admin access

• A dedicated Library with print projects and student submissions

Three workspaces at 8 printers each gives you up to 24 connected printers across a single account. Colleagues can also invite you to their workspaces, which extends that count further. For schools with multiple labs or shared equipment across departments, this structure keeps everything clean and separate.

Once your workspaces are set up, the next step is organising your files and lesson materials.

Store and Manage Files With the Project Library

This means each workspace includes a Library where you create up to 5 Projects. Think of a Project as a dedicated folder for a specific unit, print challenge, or class group. Inside a Project, store STL files, GCODE, and PDF instructions in one place. Many Australian school teachers set up one Project per term unit. Design briefs, print files, and student work all stay in one place.

Projects collect student submissions alongside your own files, so everything for a given task stays in one view. Leave comments on files, add print notes, and review work before it goes to the queue. This replaces the usual scramble of email attachments and shared drives.

How Students Submit Files (No Accounts Required)

Additionally, one of the most useful features in Digital Factory is the Print Submission link. From any Project, you generate a secure link and share it with students. They upload their STL files and add notes, and the submissions appear in your dashboard ready to review.

Students do not need a Digital Factory account. This works well in schools running Google Classroom or Chromebook setups. The submission system keeps file intake simple and avoids the back-and-forth of email attachments.

After reviewing a submission, you can send it directly to the print queue on any connected MakerBot Sketch Classroom Bundle or other networked printer.

Slice, Monitor, and Print From One Place

Beyond file management, slicing is built directly into the browser. Upload an STL file, set your print parameters, and review time and material estimates before sending the job to the printer. From the same screen, monitor active print jobs remotely from any device.

For schools with printers across multiple rooms or buildings, remote monitoring removes the need to physically check each machine. After-school clubs and makerspaces running longer overnight prints benefit most from this. You check progress from your phone instead of walking the building.

Google Single Sign-On comes with the free tier. Teachers and administrators sign in with their Google accounts, which fits neatly into schools already using Google Workspace for Education. No new passwords to manage, no separate login systems for IT to maintain.

Offline Slicing: Works With Older Printers Too

That said, not every school printer needs a network connection to benefit from Digital Factory. The platform supports offline slicing, so you prepare and slice files for a printer without it being connected. Export the GCODE and transfer it manually. This suits older lab printers, restricted networks, or schools still running legacy hardware from earlier purchases.

Printers compatible with offline slicing include:

• MakerBot Sketch Standard, Sketch Large, and Sketch Sprint

• MakerBot Method, Method X, and Method XL

• UltiMaker S3, S5, S6, S7, and S8

• UltiMaker Factor 4, UltiMaker 3 and 3 Extended, UltiMaker 2+ Connect

• MakerBot Replicator+

This compatibility list covers both current models and legacy hardware still running in many Australian school labs. Schools do not need to replace older printers to start using Digital Factory for file management and slicing.

What IT Administrators Can Do in the Free Tier

Furthermore, school IT teams get full control over how Digital Factory runs across a school, not just classroom teachers. In the free tier, IT administrators can:

• Create and configure up to 3 workspaces across the school

• Assign teachers, aides, or trusted students to workspaces with appropriate permissions

• Set up centralised print labs or distribute access across multiple classrooms

• Manage all of this without any per-licence fees

No software licences to track or renew. IT sets it up once, assigns access, and the platform handles the rest. For schools with multiple buildings or year groups, the workspace structure gives department heads control over their own printers. IT keeps visibility across the whole account. Larger schools benefit most: individual teachers stay within their own workspace without touching printers in other areas.

When You Need More: The Classroom Tier

However, for schools managing multiple classrooms at scale or needing advanced reporting, the Classroom Tier adds extra functionality. As an educator, you can trial the Classroom Tier free for one year with no commitment required.

If you are looking at MakerBot printers for your school, the MakerBot Sketch Classroom Bundle is worth looking at alongside Digital Factory. The Sketch range is built for exactly this kind of managed classroom environment. Read about how educators are using it in our Beverly Owen educator spotlight and the Sketch Sprint classroom launch.

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FAQ: UltiMaker Digital Factory for Schools

For example, here are answers to the questions teachers and IT coordinators ask most often about Digital Factory.

Is UltiMaker Digital Factory free to use?

Yes. UltiMaker Digital Factory has a permanent free tier. It includes 3 workspaces, up to 8 connected printers per workspace, project libraries, print submission links, remote monitoring, and Google SSO. There is no trial period. Premium tiers are available for larger school districts, but most individual schools operate fully within the free tier.

What printers work with Digital Factory?

Digital Factory works with all current MakerBot Sketch models (Standard, Sprint, Large, Classroom), MakerBot Method models, and UltiMaker S and Factor 4 series printers. Older models like the MakerBot Replicator+ are supported for offline slicing. Full compatibility includes the UltiMaker S3, S5, S6, S7, S8, Factor 4, UltiMaker 3, and UltiMaker 2+ Connect.

How do students submit 3D print files in Digital Factory?

Students use a Print Submission link generated from any Project in Digital Factory. The teacher shares the link and students upload their STL files directly, with optional print notes. Students do not need a Digital Factory account. Submissions appear in the teacher's dashboard for review before being sent to the print queue.

Can I use Digital Factory with Google Classroom?

Yes. Digital Factory supports Google Single Sign-On (SSO), so teachers and admins can log in with Google credentials. The Print Submission link system also works well alongside Google Classroom, since students can upload files without needing a separate platform account. This makes Digital Factory a practical fit for schools already running Google Workspace for Education.

How many printers can I connect to Digital Factory for free?

The free tier supports up to 3 workspaces per account, with up to 8 printers connected per workspace. That gives you a maximum of 24 directly connected printers. If you are invited to other workspaces by colleagues, you can access additional printers beyond that limit.

What is offline slicing in Digital Factory?

Offline slicing lets you prepare and slice 3D model files in Digital Factory without the printer being connected to the network. You export the GCODE file and transfer it manually to the printer. This is useful for older printers, schools with restricted Wi-Fi, or setups where some printers are not on the main network.

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Want to see which MakerBot or UltiMaker printers work with Digital Factory? View the full MakerBot range or request a quote for school pricing.

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