With many people wondering whether MakerBot is moving towards a proprietary filament solution, we went to the top to get answers.
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Alas, No New MakerBot Machine To Be Announced
In a departure from their corporate pattern of the past few years, MakerBot is not announcing a new personal 3D printer in January.
MakerBot Expands to South Africa
MakerBot continues to spread its marketing umbrella across the globe, now entering Africa.
A Filament Monitor for MakerBots
Have you had a bad experience running out of filament during a print? There’s a solution for that.
MakerBot’s Extruder Woes?
MakerBot introduced an advanced extruder earlier this year, but it seems people are having trouble with it.
Ultimaker Takes Over MakerBot’s Position?
In 2009 the champion of DIY 3D printing was MakerBot. In 2014 there could be a different champion.
MakerBot’s Not-Exactly-Wood Filament
MakerBot announced the availability of “natural” colored filament. A minor announcement perhaps, but there’s more to the story.
Fraemes App Expands MakerBot’s Ecosystem
MakerBot announced a new app for their 3D content generation family: Fraemes.
MakerBot Shuts Down Its Google Group
MakerBot is converting its Google Group into an archive and focusing support efforts on their in-house programs instead.
MakerBot’s European Wing
MakerBot announced they’ve created “MakerBot Europe”, which they say is a “major expansion”.
MakerBot’s PrintShop
MakerBot has released “PrintShop”, a friendly iPad app with which you can generate your own 3D models.
MakerBot Re-Supports Older Models
MakerBot released a new version of their latest 3D printer management suite, MakerBot Desktop. There was a surprise in it.
MakerBot’s New Reseller: Home Depot
MakerBot has agreed with Home Depot to have specially designed “MakerBot kiosks” in a dozen Home Depot outlets in the US.
Backlash to MakerBot’s Patents Grows
The knowledge that MakerBot has apparently patented designs given to them by their community is spreading and some folks are upset.
Has MakerBot Crossed The Line? For Some, Yes
Controversy this week regarding MakerBot’s aggressive patent filings. Why the controversy? Because the concepts were originally donated by supporters in good faith to further the cause of 3D printing. And now MakerBot has patented them.
MakerBot’s Digital Store Opens
As promised in their January announcement, MakerBot made good on their promise to open a digital store for 3D models.
MakerBot’s Digital Reconstruction Patent
We’ve uncovered a very curious patent application from MakerBot that seems to indicate they’re developing an automated way to reconstruct broken objects.
MakerBot’s Color-Changing Extruder Patent
The buzz today comes from a new MakerBot patent that claims an ability to change filament on the fly – within a single extruder.
MakerBot’s New Extruder has been Torn Down
The folks at intentional3D have managed to acquire a new MakerBot fifth generation Replicator and performed a tear down on the fancy new “Smart” extruder.
The New MakerBot’s Are Out
While MakerBot announced them in January, the 2014 Replicators haven’t shipped until now. What are people finding when they open the box?
MakerBot’s Ever-So-Slight Proprietary Move
With the release of their fifth-generation Replicator personal 3D printer, we noticed a feature that may portend a future move to proprietary filament.
The End of MakerBot’s First
This week MakerBot announced the ending of support for their very first personal 3D printers.
MakerBot’s Hiring: What Does This Mean?
From time to time we see MakerBot advertising for new hires, and today there’s another such call. What’s going on behind the scenes?
MakerBot’s MakerWare Passes a Key Milestone
MakerBot’s latest release of their 3D printing management software, MakerWare, has passed what we believe to be a significant milestone.
MakerBot’s Colorful Plastics
MakerBot is making a big deal out of their plastic selection, and they should. It’s a far cry from their initial selection of plain old colors years ago. Today you’ll find it includes a really terrific set of colors that they’ve grouped into: true colors, translucents and specialties. They offer ABS, PLA, dissolvable and flexible… Continue reading MakerBot’s Colorful Plastics
MakerBot’s Digital Content
While Thingiverse has been a wonderful source for 3D models for the initial wave of 3D printing, it’s not exactly consumer-friendly. It has a large number of models (over 218,000, according to a recent statement by MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis), which is good and bad. It’s good because the model you want is somewhere in… Continue reading MakerBot’s Digital Content
Thoughts on MakerBot’s Curious Replicator Z18
Of all the 3D printers marketed by MakerBot since its founding, we find the Replicator Z18 to be the most curious. While previous models (and even the new Mini and Replicator) seemed to be logical extensions and modifications of prior units, the Z18 is quite different: It’s in a completely different price range: whereas… Continue reading Thoughts on MakerBot’s Curious Replicator Z18
MakerBot’s Stunning Announcements
A very excited MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis took the stage at a Las Vegas hotel yesterday and presented what must have been MakerBot’s most profound – and certainly biggest – set of product announcements in its history. Not one, not two, but three new 3D printers were announced, along with a series of related software,… Continue reading MakerBot’s Stunning Announcements
Something’s Going on at MakerBot
It finally hit us: something’s happening at MakerBot recently. We’ve noticed a couple of actual sales of their equipment, culminating with this rather striking Amazon deal. For the price of USD$2,799, you can obtain: A Replicator 2 A Digitizer Two spools of plastic filament Normally, this combination would sell separately for $3,695, but… Continue reading Something’s Going on at MakerBot
MakerBot Opens Two New Stores
It’s happened. We reported earlier that MakerBot intended to open not one, but two additional retail outlets to add to the initial store located in lower Manhattan. One of the new stores is located in Boston, a city of some technological innovation activity, particularly in 3D printing. The other store is located in… Continue reading MakerBot Opens Two New Stores
MakerBot’s Leap into Classrooms
At this year’s 3D Printshow, MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis expressed his unhappiness with the current US educational system, which has largely removed “making” courses from the curriculum. As a student, Pettis enjoyed “shop classes” where he no doubt picked up the making bug. But how can this happen today? MakerBot is attempting to change… Continue reading MakerBot’s Leap into Classrooms
MakerBot’s Retail Expansion
MakerBot opened the first dedicated retail 3D printer store on New York City’s Mulberry street some years ago. While MakerBot continued retail operations by partnering with others, the lone MakerBot store stood alone at the tip of Manhattan Island. Until now. MakerBot has announced they will open not one, but two additional MakerBot… Continue reading MakerBot’s Retail Expansion
MakerBot Releases Three Things
All the recent hires at MakerBot have obviously been put to good use: this week MakerBot released not one, not two, but three important new products. The first is the MakerBot digitizer, their first non-3D printing device. We’ve covered this item previously, and this release was expected. But now you can actually order one… Continue reading MakerBot Releases Three Things
How Did They Pay for MakerBot?
Earlier this year industry giant Stratasys struck a deal with MakerBot to acquire the rapidly growing startup. The deal was for an incredible USD$600M+. Did you ever wonder how Stratasys was able to come up with the cash for this maneuver? It’s a straightforward corporate move: they issued more shares for sale to… Continue reading How Did They Pay for MakerBot?
Four MakerBot Digitizer Implications
We’re certain most of you have heard of MakerBot’s latest device: The Digitizer. It’s a relatively inexpensive 3D scanner designed for prosumer use. As the first 3D scanner that could hit a mass audience, we pondered what it might mean. What happens when large numbers of people own a 3D scanner. Here’s our predictions: … Continue reading Four MakerBot Digitizer Implications
The MakerBot Digitizer: Now Available
As expected, MakerBot released their newest product today: the MakerBot Digitizer. It’s an inexpensive turntable-based 3D scanner directed at consumers and professionals. MakerBot has taken steps to simplify the process of using the scanner itself. You simply drop an object on the turntable and start the process. The turntable rotates slowly, exposing the object… Continue reading The MakerBot Digitizer: Now Available
MakerBot and Stratasys Close
No, no – they haven’t ceased business! We mean the deal between them has “closed”. This means that as of August 15th, 2013, MakerBot is officially part of Stratasys. The other implication is that while the leaders of the organizations have been obviously talking and planning for the past while, today all levels of… Continue reading MakerBot and Stratasys Close
MakerBot’s Digitizer Nearing Release
Evidently MakerBot blasted out emails to their mailing list indicating that their new Digitizer personal 3D scanner will be on sale next week. This is a bit of a milestone for MakerBot, who now will branch out into a second type of complex product, beyond their 3D printers. Yes, they’ve sold parts, filament and… Continue reading MakerBot’s Digitizer Nearing Release
MakerBot Appears at Microsoft Stores
This is an interesting arrangement: MakerBot has partnered with Microsoft to display MakerBot 3D printing gear in select Microsoft retail stores across the USA. MakerBot will be allocated a space within these stores to set up a “store within a store” concept, similar to what Apple did with certain big box stores before they… Continue reading MakerBot Appears at Microsoft Stores
How Will Stratasys and MakerBot Change?
After their acquisition of MakerBot, we’re expecting changes in StrataBot, or is it MakerSys? We’re just kidding; neither Stratasys nor MakerBot will change their name as a result of this week’s acquisition; there’s too much value associated with each brand. But what else will change? The two companies have some similarities in technology –… Continue reading How Will Stratasys and MakerBot Change?
MakerBot’s First Post-Stratasys 3D Printer?
What will be the next personal 3D printer from MakerBot, post acquisition by Stratasys? We believe MakerBot’s next 3D printer could be significantly different from previous Replicators. Why? Because there will be huge synergies between the two companies technologies, as both use plastic extrusion processes. Extruded plastic 3D printing was invented by Stratasys… Continue reading MakerBot’s First Post-Stratasys 3D Printer?
BREAKING: Stratasys Acquires MakerBot
Call us wrong on this one. The other week we suggested it didn’t make much sense for Stratasys to purchase MakerBot, in spite of rumors. Regardless of our analysis, simultaneous press releases from both companies this afternoon say a deal has in fact been made. The deal, set to close in Q3, is a… Continue reading BREAKING: Stratasys Acquires MakerBot
Stratasys To Acquire MakerBot?
A report on TechCrunch proposes that MakerBot is in talks with Stratasys “regarding a possible acquisition”. The report says “persistent rumors of a sale or new funding have followed the company this year”. The report also says MakerBot has been seeking investors with a goal to raise USD$25M by valuing the company at USD$300M. … Continue reading Stratasys To Acquire MakerBot?
MakerBot’s New Factory
As the rumors indicated, MakerBot has indeed opened up a brand new factory in a Brooklyn, New York neighborhood, close to MakerBot’s head office and original workshops. The new factory’s massive 55,000 square feet will be used to build the company’s current products, the Replicator 2 and Replicator 2X, and we suspect future products… Continue reading MakerBot’s New Factory
MakerBot – Autodesk Discount Available
If you happen to be interested in purchasing a MakerBot Replicator 2 personal 3D printer and a premium membership in Autodesk’s highly useful 123D apps, you’re in luck: there’s a discount available. If you upgrade from the free version of 123D to premium level, you’ll receive a USD$40 discount on purchase of a MakerBot… Continue reading MakerBot – Autodesk Discount Available
MakerBot Doesn’t Forget
MakerBot sold thousands of CupCakes and Thing-O-Matics long before they moved to the Replicator and Replicator 2 models. The new machines were (and are) driven by some pretty slick software called MakerWare, which enables you to scale and position models before printing and control the print operation. Unfortunately for those with models earlier than… Continue reading MakerBot Doesn’t Forget
MakerBot’s Growth
You may have seen their periodic and increasingly frequent solicitations for new employees. These have indeed added up and we now find that MakerBot’s staff exceeds 200 persons. This is vastly larger than almost all of the other personal 3D printer companies with the exception of the big commercial companies. Along with their staff… Continue reading MakerBot’s Growth
iMakr Scores Solidoodle – But What About MakerBot?
As the April 30th opening date of the iMakr 3D print store nears, they’ve announced the store will carry the Solidoodle 3 personal 3D printer. Solidoodle joins 3D System’s Cube line on iMakr’s shelves. Curiously absent from the official announcement is MakerBot, whose Replicator 2 is perhaps the most well-known personal 3D printer… Continue reading iMakr Scores Solidoodle – But What About MakerBot?
MakerBot’s Quality Program
Producing high-quality prints is a complicated business, it turns out. There must be synchronization between the slicing software, the printer hardware and the plastic filament used. 3D printer manufacturers who supply these things must do extensive testing to ensure their product works correctly – and homebuilt 3D printers must undergo similar calibration. MakerBot does… Continue reading MakerBot’s Quality Program
The Adafruit-Flavored MakerBot
Do you build electronics projects? Do you 3D print objects? Do you print 3D cases for your electronics projects? If you answered yes to any of those questions, especially the last one, you’ll be interested in a fascinating collaborative offer from electronics kits distributor Adafruit and personal 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot. The two companies… Continue reading The Adafruit-Flavored MakerBot
The MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner
MakerBot announced, but did not release, a personal 3D scanner at SXSW yesterday that could dramatically change how personal 3D printers are used and accepted by the general public. Perhaps the biggest problem facing home 3D printer owners today is finding the right 3D models to print. Unless one is a designer equipped with… Continue reading The MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner
MakerBot’s Replicator 2X Ships
MakerBot’s latest and greatest personal 3D printer is now in the mail – if you ordered one, that is. The Replicator 2X, announced at CES in January has emerged from manufacturing. Coincidentally, MakerBot has also released version 2.0 of MakerWare, the software used to drive the MakerBot. The 2X differs from its sibling, the… Continue reading MakerBot’s Replicator 2X Ships
Ultra-Lab Sells MakerBots
We’ve just discovered that MakerBot has yet another reseller, this time in Spain. Ultra-Lab sells the full line of MakerBot devices, including the Replicator Dual Extruder, Replicator 2 and the latest model, the Replicator 2X. In addition to MakerBot products, we understand that Ultra-Lab also sells plastic filament for the printers, electronics kits, e-textiles,… Continue reading Ultra-Lab Sells MakerBots
Someone NEEDS to Buy MakerBot?
We’re reading this article on Inside Monkey entitled, “Someone Needs to Buy MakerBot Already, Stratasys, Ltd. (SSYS)?” Ok. Really? The premise of the piece is that one of 3D Systems, Stratasys or Amazon (!) should acquire MakerBot. Wait, let’s correct that, one of these mega-corps should have ALREADY acquired little MakerBot. The author is… Continue reading Someone NEEDS to Buy MakerBot?
MakerBot’s Plastic Farm
If you can’t get what you want, just do it yourself. That’s the approach MakerBot has taken on plastic. Previously they’d have to do extensive searching for vendors able to provide appropriate plastic for their line of 3D printers. They’d have to ensure quality of color, sizing consistency and deliver availability. Lots of work! … Continue reading MakerBot’s Plastic Farm
MakerBot’s New Replicator 2X
MakerBot has announced it’s latest personal 3D printer at CES. The new device has been hinted at for some time now, but it was revealed publicly for the first time by Bre Pettis himself at CES. The new device is optimized for printing ABS plastic, whereas its partner, the Replicator 2 (no “X”) was,… Continue reading MakerBot’s New Replicator 2X
Ford Equips Engineers With MakerBots
It’s no surprise that engineers at Ford make use of high-power commercial 3D printers; the technology has been in use at major industrial design operations for, well, decades. What is surprising is the revelation that Ford intends to “put the smaller Makerbot replicators at every engineer’s desk in the coming months”, according to a report… Continue reading Ford Equips Engineers With MakerBots
MakerBot’s Photo Booth
It doesn’t exactly print photos, however. It prints sculptures! Of you! It can be found at MakerBot’s retail store in Brooklyn, NY. Team MakerBot has combined their Replicator 3D printing technology with ShapeShot 3D capture software into a booth setup to provide a true 3D printing “photo booth”. The ShapeShot involves several fixed cameras… Continue reading MakerBot’s Photo Booth
MakerBot Expands Retail Presence in Europe
Shortly after opening its own dedicated retail shop in New York, MakerBot announced it’s pursuing retail arrangements in France. They’ve partnered with le FabShop to resell all current MakerBot products, including their most recent device, the Replicator 2. Le FabShop, a French makerspace based in Brittany, does not have a physical retail store, but… Continue reading MakerBot Expands Retail Presence in Europe
MakerBot’s Bumpy Transition
Perhaps the biggest controversy in the history of 3D printing erupted this past week when an excited MakerBot community took a deeper look at the company’s new personal 3D printer, the Replicator 2. What did they find so upsetting? It seems that they’ve noticed en masse that MakerBot is changing much about how it… Continue reading MakerBot’s Bumpy Transition
Analysis: MakerBot’s Monster Announcements
Yesterday a series of startling announcements erupted from MakerBot’s Brooklyn NY headquarters, changing the flavor of MakerBot forever. MakerBot announced two new personal 3D printers, the Replicator 2 and Replicator 2X, as well as new software, a service program and a retail operation. The announcements appeared to us to take a huge step in… Continue reading Analysis: MakerBot’s Monster Announcements
New Software From MakerBot: MakerWare
Along with yesterday’s blockbuster announcement of MakerBot’s Replicator 2, MakerBot also announced, MakerWare, new software to supersede the long-used ReplicatorG, at least on the Replicator line. MakerWare performs the usual 3D printer management tasks: loading and orienting a model onto the print bed; resizing models; slicing the model into GCODE; sending GCODE to the… Continue reading New Software From MakerBot: MakerWare
MakerBot’s 4th Gen 3D Printer: The Replicator 2
We waited nine months and guess what happens? It’s another new 3D printer from MakerBot, their most awesome device yet: the Replicator 2. Visually, the Rep2 appears structurally similar to its predecessor, the un-numbered Replicator. But there’s a major difference: The Rep2 is made from “Industrial strength powder coated steel” painted a sleek black.… Continue reading MakerBot’s 4th Gen 3D Printer: The Replicator 2
Is That A MakerBot? Or a TangiBot?
You have to look closely to tell the difference, because the TangiBot is very similar to a MakerBot Replicator. Extremely similar. In fact, it’s literally a clone. Wait, what? How could the fine Replicator be cloned? It’s a project by Mechanical Engineer Matt Strong of Utah that’s currently on Kickstarter. Strong seeks USD$500,000 to… Continue reading Is That A MakerBot? Or a TangiBot?
MakerBot’s New Colors
3D printer manufacturer MakerBot has announced the availability of no less than nine new colors of plastic filament, suitable for use in not only their 3D printers, but any others that use the same diameter of plastic filament. The new colors are pretty awesome: Slate Gray Stone Helsinki Sky (a very light blue)… Continue reading MakerBot’s New Colors
Entrepreneuring With A MakerBot
There’s a terrific story on Solidsmack of how an entrepreneur turned a MakerBot personal 3D printer into a viable business. The folks at I Heart Engineering wondered whether they could treat a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic as a kind of miniature factory for a startup business. They designed a specific adaptor for hooking Microsoft Kinect sensors… Continue reading Entrepreneuring With A MakerBot
MakerBot Relocates, Expands
MakerBot has evidently outgrown its current BotFarm location on Dean St. in Brooklyn, NY and has acquired new office space to expand its rapidly growing operations. Now with a staff of 125, the company has grown significantly since 2009 when its three founders were the only employees. Originated in the tiny “BotCave”, they expanded… Continue reading MakerBot Relocates, Expands
MakerBot Discontinues the Thing-O-Matic
Personal 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot has announced their popular Thing-O-Matic 3D printer will no longer be offered for sale. They have, of course, replaced it in their product line with the much more capable (and fully assembled) Replicator device. Today you’ll find only spare parts for the Thing-O-Matic. The Thing-O-Matic was a breakthrough device… Continue reading MakerBot Discontinues the Thing-O-Matic
MakerBot Replicator User Guide Available
MakerBot has published a “User Guide” for their new Replicator personal 3D printer. It seems like an obvious thing to do for almost any product, but we think this is important. Why? 3D printing is still very new to almost everyone, particularly the market targeted by MakerBot’s latest device. Many people still need… Continue reading MakerBot Replicator User Guide Available
MakerBot Software Update
MakerBot has released a new version of the ReplicatorG software that drives their personal 3D printers. ReplicatorG version 0034 now includes a few new features, including an optimization to speed up heating of both the heated build platform (image above) and the twin extruders (if using their new two-headed Replicator). Another interesting feature included… Continue reading MakerBot Software Update
CNET Names MakerBot’s Replicator Best of CES
CES has now closed and the media now reports on their observations. CNET produced a list of their “best 10 of CES”. On the list was the MakerBot Replicator personal 3D printer, winner of the “Best emerging tech product” category. Why the MakerBot instead of its competitor the 3D Systems Cube? According to CNET: … Continue reading CNET Names MakerBot’s Replicator Best of CES
MakerBot Announces The Replicator
We anticipated some announcement action this week coinciding with the annual Consumer Electronics show and we were definitely not disappointed. Today we find 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot has announced a brand-new personal 3D printer: The Replicator! The replicator appears to be much more capable but also strongly based upon its predecessor the venerable Thing-O-Matic.… Continue reading MakerBot Announces The Replicator
MakerBot Reaches Retail
New York City-based retailer AC Gears now sells MakerBot’s Thing-O-Matic personal 3D printer, in another step by growing Brooklyn-based manufacturer MakerBot’s strategy to get more MakerBots in the hands of more people. AC Gears is “New York’s Gadget Emporium”, selling a quite amazing selection of cool stuff such as a Breath Tester, LED lantern… Continue reading MakerBot Reaches Retail
Dozens of MakerBot Jobs!
Popular 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot is hiring. And boy, are they ever! A recent check of their jobs list revealed a startling number of required positions in wildly different roles. It’s almost as if MakerBot suddenly gained a ton of money and started recruiting for every job they felt they needed. But then, that’s exactly… Continue reading Dozens of MakerBot Jobs!
MakerBot’s Christmas Strategy
Retailers must plan around the holiday season. In fact, for some retailers that season is the “make or break” portion of the year’s revenue. Like any good retailer, MakerBot is doing the same by offering their 3D printers at a number of New York City shops, including AC Gears, Wired, GizModo Gallery and the New… Continue reading MakerBot’s Christmas Strategy
Sugru Available At MakerBot
You may not have heard of Sugru, but it’s an amazingly useful material now for sale at the MakerBot online store. It’s not something you use in your 3D printer, but it definitely adds a lot to 3D printing. But first, what exactly is it? It’s a secretly formulated air-curing rubber compound sold in… Continue reading Sugru Available At MakerBot
MakerBot Announces MK7 Extruder
Hobbyist 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot announced a brand new extruder this morning: the Stepstruder MK7. MakerBot has a habit of gradually enhancing their product line, and as the extruder is a key part of any 3D printer, this is a big deal. And just in time for the NYC MakerFaire, too. The Stepstruder MK7… Continue reading MakerBot Announces MK7 Extruder
MakerBot Is Hiring (Again)
MakerBot, that Brooklyn, NY-based 3D printing startup that always seems to be in the news is hiring again. We noticed a post recently in which they are trying to recruit yet another worker bee, this time a Customer Support Tech: You’ll be responsible for eloquently representing a growing DIY 3D printer and technology company… Continue reading MakerBot Is Hiring (Again)
MakerBot’s $10M Challenge
MakerBot chief Bre Pettis made a very big announcement yesterday: They’re taking in the staggering amount of USD$10M in a special investment round! The sixteen listed investors, led by Foundry Group, obviously have huge confidence in MakerBot’s future. MakerBot has come a very long way from their modest start in early 2009, growing to… Continue reading MakerBot’s $10M Challenge
End Of The Beginning for MakerBot?
MakerBot sold their very last CupCake 3D printer kit and now offer only parts for that classic 3D printer. We think the CupCake was a very special device as it was really the first popular consumer 3D printer. In spite of the limitations and peculiarities of the original CupCake, including smallish build size, the… Continue reading End Of The Beginning for MakerBot?
Big News From MakerBot
In a huge departure from their standard approach, MakerBot is now offering a completely assembled Thing-O-Matic 3D printer option! Previously, MakerBot offered only kits and focused heavily on those who enjoy assembling them. But now there’s an option for people who feel printer assembly is beyond their abilities or time. The assembled Thing-O-Matic contains… Continue reading Big News From MakerBot
BetaSolution Hints At MakerBot’s Next Move?
MakerBot recently wrote on the availability of iFeelbeta’s “BetaSolution”, a chemical solution capable of dissolving PLA plastic. Why would you want to do this? You’d be able to freely use PLA as a support material in your 3D prints and very easily remove that support from your final object with this fluid. This would enable… Continue reading BetaSolution Hints At MakerBot’s Next Move?
MakerBot Takes A Bath?
Most 3D printing companies and services experiment by introducing new products from time to time, and MakerBot is definitely one of the most experimental of companies. This time they’ve introduced something quite radical that may revolutionize personal 3D printing in the future: Dissolvable print material. How does it work? Their new polyvinyl alcohol plastic… Continue reading MakerBot Takes A Bath?
MakerBot’s StepStruder Released
As long suspected and desired, MakerBot released a new extruder: The Stepstruder MK6. This has been sought after for some time by MakerBot fans as it should increase the quality of prints substantially. How does it work? In simple terms, it permits extremely precise control over the extrusion flow. The MK6 uses a stepper… Continue reading MakerBot’s StepStruder Released
10,000 MakerBots?
Joris Peels of i.Materialise guest-posted 11 provocative predictions for 3D printing on TechCrunch this week, and one of them caused us to ponder whether it could really happen. No, it’s not the “Bre Pettis will appear on the cover of Bloomberg Businessweek magazine in 2011” – that’s entirely unpredictable. We’re more interested in the “Makerbot… Continue reading 10,000 MakerBots?
MakerBot FanDom
We heard about Botacon, a convention taking place in Boston on December 11th of this year. Great, we thought, people getting together celebrating robots. Robots, great! But what we’re hearing is that a great many MakerBots will be showing up… But wait a moment – a “Con”? A Con, for those of you… Continue reading MakerBot FanDom
MakerBot’s New Thing
In a rather sudden but welcome announcement, MakerBot industries has revealed a brand new 3D printer model: The Thing-O-Matic. This device replaces their original model, the Cupcake. But what makes it so different from the Cupcake? Sudden though the announcement was, the new device is evolutionary, and indeed elements of it were already appearing… Continue reading MakerBot’s New Thing
MakerBot’s Factory Option
There’s been many add-ons and upgrades available for MakerBot 3D printers, but the latest addition, the MakerBot Automated Build Platform is special. It’s an amazing addition to an already amazing device that replaces the troublesome default orange acrylic build platform and provides two key capabilities: a heated platform and an automated object removal mechanism. … Continue reading MakerBot’s Factory Option
MakerBot’s Global Brain
Some companies still operate in 20th-century mode, but not MakerBot Industries. First they crowdsourced their manufacturing ops back to their own customers (which we still get a giggle about) and now they’re crowdsourcing their strategy by using true 21st century innovation management technology. What the heck does that mean? They’ve opened up a website… Continue reading MakerBot’s Global Brain
MakerBot Extrudes The Mk5
At long last MakerBot has finally released their new extruder design: the MK5. This design incorporates a number of learnings gathered from MakerBot operators’ experiments. Key features: Greatly simplified filament drive that completely eliminates the troublesome idler wheel and replaces it with an easily adjustable chunk of Delrin, as well as a custom… Continue reading MakerBot Extrudes The Mk5
MakerBot Calibration Hoedown
Members of Kansas City’s Cowtown Computer Congress had an unusual event: 3D Printer Calibration Night. That’s right, members brought in their MakerBot 3D printers in an effort to properly calibrate their heater barrels, which are notoriously tricky to set right. Half a dozen MakerBots and a couple of RepRaps appear to be present in… Continue reading MakerBot Calibration Hoedown
MakerBot on CBS Evening News!
They’ve hit the big time, hopefully. Last night’s CBS Evening News featured MakerBot’s Cupcake CNC printer and a very brief segment with ‘Bot mandarin Bre Prettis (left), who explained: A MakerBot is this magical device that turns ideas into objects… It’s a new way of thinking about how we get objects. The report… Continue reading MakerBot on CBS Evening News!
MicroManufacturing with a MakerBot?
MakerBot operator Pete Hinzy asks an interesting question: who else out there is using their MakerBot or other type of low cost manufacturing equipment as a part of their business? What is your business model? Pricing structures, etc.? For certain, the MakerBot and similar low-cost 3D printers don’t offer typical commercial capabilities, such… Continue reading MicroManufacturing with a MakerBot?
MakerBot’s Hiring
“We are looking for a highly talented electrical engineer to head up our new electronics engineering department” is the opening line of a job description from an employment listing by MakerBot, producers of one of the most popular hobbyist 3D printers. They’re looking to expand their Brooklyn NY based operations by having someone focus on… Continue reading MakerBot’s Hiring
The Infinite MakerBot
On your 2D paper printer, the print job is usually complete by the time you get your butt out of the chair and stroll over to the printer. Not so with a 3D printer, where you often must wait for many minutes, or even hours for a job to complete. When it’s done, you’ve probably… Continue reading The Infinite MakerBot