The Silhouette Alta model (2018) and its supporting products are no longer manufactured or offered.
You can still purchase consumables that are compatible with other models.
Alta Machine Measurements
Alta & Alta Plus measurements are as follows:
- Width: 10 inches
- Height: 18.8 inches
- Depth: 9 inches
- Weight: 9.7 lbs
About the Silhouette Alta
The Silhouette Alta® is an easy-to-use 3D printer.
The Alta is perfect for beginners and experts alike. It can create models out of PLA filament (1.75 mm), and is great for building a variety of customized 3D models.
The Alta 3D printer comes preassembled, precalibrated, and ready to plug and play right out of the box. That means you can start printing unique 3D objects right away.
The Alta has a footprint of about 10 inches round and stands at about 19 inches in height. With a top-loading filament spool, it is an ideal 3D printer for limited workspace needs.
Printing Specifications:
The Alta 3D printer provides the following print specifications:
- Maximum Printing Speed: 80 mm/second
- Maximum printing Area: 124 mm in diameter | 130 mm tall (about 5 inches around | 5 inches tall)
- Layer Height: Ranges from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm
Silhouette 3D™ Software
Create custom 3D model designs using the Silhouette 3D™ software program included with the Silhouette Alta 3D printer.
With Silhouette 3D, you can do the following:
- Create your own model from scratch
- Convert Silhouette Design Store designs into 3D models
- Import images from Silhouette Studio to convert them into 3D models
- Open and use common 3D model files
- Manipulate existing models with easy-to-use editing tools
3D Model Content
Silhouette offers 25 free models (3D designs) with machine registration of the Alta 3D printer. Once the machine is registered, these models are automatically added to your Silhouette 3D software library under the 'Free with Machine' folder.
Silhouette also offers a variety of 3D designs for purchase in the Silhouette Design Store.
The Silhouette 3D software can also import STL and OBJ file types.
Alta Filament
The Silhouette Alta is compatible with 1.75 mm PLA filament.
It is not compatible with any other types of filament, such as ABS, PETG, PVA, or others.
Alta Video
Alta vs Alta Plus
The Alta Plus model has all of the same capabilities as the original Alta model, with the following differences:
- The Alta Plus includes a built-in fan, which improves print quality over the original Alta.
- The Alta Plus has updated manual turn screws on the Delta arms that hold the printer head. This allows the machine to be calibrated by hand, making the calibration process easier and more precise.
- The Alta Plus has an updated printer head providing an easier method to remove and replace the heating element
- The Alta Plus model is grey, whereas the original Alta model is white. This helps to quickly identify the different models from each other.
Alta Filament Tube
The Silhouette Alta® 3D printer includes a Filament Tube.
Filament is fed into this tube so that it can be pulled through the 3D printer properly during the print job. The curved tube keeps filament from bending or kinking during operation, allowing easy feeding through the machine during your print job.
Loading Filament
To load filament into the outer feed tube:
- Place the filament spool on the top of the machine. When using loose filament that is not on a spool holder, first apply the included filament spool holder, then apply the filament to the spool holder
- Feed the end of the filament through the eye located on top of the machine
- Slide the end of the filament into either side of the tube until it has gone through and come out the other end
- Proceed to load the filament into the machine
Loading Video
Replacement Tubes
The Filament Tube generally does not require replacement. However, if the tube is lost or otherwise needs to be replaced, you can purchase one from SilhouetteAmeria.com.
Alta Optimal Operating Environment
The following are optimal environmental conditions for operating the Silhouette Alta® 3D printer.
Room Temperature
We recommend using the Alta in a room that is between 15ºC/60ºF and 30ºC/85ºF to avoid problems that can impact print quality.
In very hot environments, proper filament flow or shrinkage can be affected. A very cold environment can cause various problems such as warping, delamination, or cracking of the filament.
Humidity
High humidity levels can damage the electronic components of the machine itself, but impacts the filament to a greater extent. We recommend not to exceed 50% relative humidity as an environmental condition when running the Alta and using filament.
We recommend storing filament after use in a zip lock bag to prevent the negative impact of heightened humidity.
Ventilation
We recommend using the Alta and Alta+ in a room that is well ventilated.
Proper air circulation around the machine prevents gasses from being emitted by the filament and accumulating during the printing process. Never cover the machine during use.