LATEST MAKERBOT NEWS
Disturbing Reports Emerging From LulzBot Resellers
A series of disturbing reports have emerged this week from resellers of LulzBot’s 3D printers that could alienate the open source community.
MakerBot’s Secret Automated Annealing Feature
I recently learned the MakerBot METHOD series has a very unusual feature for a 3D printer: integrated annealing.
MakerBot Announces Powerful Carbon Fiber Option
MakerBot announced a new version of their METHOD series that is specifically designed to 3D print strong carbon fiber parts.
Proposal: MakerBot Should Change Their Name
I’m thinking MakerBot should consider changing their name, as there are now several very good reasons to do so.
More Engineering Materials From MakerBot
MakerBot announced the availability of two new materials for their METHOD X platform, including PC-ABS and a fire-resistant version.
MakerBot Declares METHOD “Open Materials”, But Not In The Way You Think
MakerBot’s new experimental extruder allows the use of open materials, and can achieve superior 3D print results.
The Challenge And Opportunity of 3D Printing Patent 684116B2
A key patent assigned to 3D Systems expires in 2022. What will this mean for 3D Systems and everyone else? We have some thoughts.
More On MakerBot Classroom, And The 3D Printer Controversy
Last week we posted a couple of stories on MakerBot’s new product, MakerBot Classroom, but there seems to be some controversy brewing.
Implications of MakerBot Classroom: Addressing The Educational 3D Printer Market
MakerBot’s new Classroom product is set to shake up the education market for 3D printing significantly due to its features, price and most importantly, how it was designed and implemented.
MakerBot Announces Classroom Product, Including New SKETCH 3D Printer
MakerBot announced a surprise new product for the education segment: MakerBot Classroom, which includes the new SKETCH desktop 3D printer.
What Is Consumer 3D Printing, And Does It Really Exist?
In response to recent controversy over the notion of “consumer 3D printing”, I propose some alternate ways to look at the situation.
MakerBot Fills In The Materials Gap
MakerBot has bridged their materials gap with a new program that partners with multiple 3D printing materials providers.
MORE ABOUT MAKERBOT
MakerBot’s latest 3D printer, Method and Method X, are manufacturing devices. They can 3D print production grade parts with ABS within an actively heated enclosure. The Method actually heats the air inside the chamber and does not have a heated bed. The Method X has a heated chamber and can heat up to 100C. The high temperature is important for ABS 3D prints as it is required to avoid warping. The Method X also has interesting air-sealed material bays. The bays form a seal to keep material free of humidity and increase print quality & reliability. A suite of built-in sensors and software ensure the material is stored in an optimal environment, a feature previously only available in industrial 3D printers.
MakerBot’s replicator series of 3D printers includes the replicator Z18, replicator + and the replicator + EDU. The replicator Z18 is touted to be the best price to performance ratio in the extra-large, professional 3D category. It includes the Smart Extruder+. It is a culmination of product design and 160,000+ hours of rigorous testing. The build volume is large, allowing for much larger and taller prototypes.
The Replicator+ is a smaller desktop printer engineered for fast and reliable 3D printing. You may want to pair the Replicator+ with MakerBot Print software and MakerBot Mobile. The Replicator+ is cloud-enabled so you can control it remotely with MakerBot Print or the MakerBot Mobile app. With MakerBot Print, you can import CAD parts and assemblies, auto-arrange them during print preparation, and then print them on one or more printers. To get started printing quickly and easily, MakerBot Mobile offers a guided wireless setup. A built-in camera allows you to remotely monitor your print progress from MakerBot print and MakerBot Mobile. The MakerBot platform allows you to view the entire process.
The Replicator+ Educators Edition is advancing STEM education in the educational sector. A school can get everything they need to start 3D printing in the classroom. It is a package that includes the MakerBot Replicator+ 3D printer, a MakerBot Educators Guidebook and a MakerBot Certification Program for Teachers.
MakerBot’s Innovation Centre for universities empowers students to collaborate across disciplines, build start-ups, and gain real world skills for the jobs of tomorrow. The MakerBot Innovation Center combines their products, resources, and services into a total solution for the university’s 3D printing needs. MakerBot has knowledgeable educational specialists that work with universities to assess their needs and determine which configuration of products would scale best for the university. They also assist in setting up the MakerBot Innovation Center and training staff, faculty, and student interns to operate and maintain it. Beyond this, MakerBot will also provide a range of courses designed to maximize the resources and take users to the next level of 3D design.
