This is pretty cool, and of course their store has crashed as far as I can tell.
There has been an error processing your request
SQLSTATE[HY000] [2003] Can't connect to MySQL server on 'ip-10-100-197-179.ec2.internal' (4)
Trace:
#0 /home/makerb0t/web/store.makerbot.com/lib/Zend/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php(96): Zend_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Abstract->_connect()
#1 /home/makerb0t/web/store.makerbot.com/lib/Varien/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php(251): Zend_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Mysql->_connect()
#2 /home/makerb0t/web/store.makerbot.com/lib/Zend/Db/Adapter/Abstract.php(448): Varien_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Mysql->_connect()
...
But the new larger build area, and the dual colors, and better integration of the electronics so they are 'out of the way' instead of bolted to the side. Its only a matter of time before HP comes out with one for only $399 but feedstock will be $199 per 50' roll :-)
I prefer Reprap. Save the money and spend it developing new expansions. My original Mendel has a 210x210x136mm build area and that is pretty much stock. Nophead's Mendel90 is soon to be released and appears to be a very stable and scalable design.
They were already selling two-colour Makerbots. (Thing-o-Matics with dual MK7 extruders.) The significant bit today is the large build area in the new Replicator.
I've set a sort of personal flag for when I want to jump into hobbyist 3D printing and that's that's the ability to build a TV remote or something like an old Nokia feature phone.
So basically that's a few different kinds of plastics (like the soft keys and the hard case); simple circuit boards which could be finished by populating by hand and soldered in a toaster oven; and other similar sorts of things.
So this represents a step closer and I'm all for it.
However, I really prefer to support openness and sharing. So I prefer the reprap. And besides, their goal of a self printing more closely matches my interests of electronic devices.
I'm new to the 3D printing scene and I was about to order a Makerbot last week but heard they would be making a CES announcement this week. Any advice from more experienced hackers regarding whether it is worth holding out for this new model with the dual extruder?
I recommend building it yourself. It will be much easier to fix stuff when it breaks if you go that way. You can buy a kit from the above companies, or if you want to source parts from different companies, check out Ebay and Emakershop.com.
Intropy - I've been blogging about MakerBot and other bits and atoms businesses for 4+ years (http://replicatorinc.com). Just after Thanksgiving I bought a discounted MakerBot Thing-O-Matic.
If you have an extra $900 I'd recommend the Replicator. The extra size, dual extruders, and preassembly are a huge upgrade. Being able to print support materials will give you huge flexibility and the Automated Build Platform on the ToM is no equal for a bigger build table.
I'm happy with the ToM and might try the dual extruder at some point.
My only concern about the Replicator would be the fact that it is pre-built. The MakerBot assembly instructions are horribly out of date and can be misleading. The software UI is kind of flaky. The support documentation is not very helpful and is filled with errors. I'd be very concerned about buying something preassembled by that crew. They seem nice, but more focused on being hip than "Six Sigma".
That said, I'm happy with my machine so far. It's fun to be on the bleeding edge of this tech, but if you buy, be prepared to get your hands dirty fixing and tweaking the machine.
Feel free to contact me offline with any questions! jflaherty@replicatorinc.com
the MakerBot assembly instructions are horribly out of date and can be misleading. The software UI is kind of flaky. The support documentation is not very helpful and is filled with errors. I'd be very concerned about buying something preassembled by that crew.
Yikes. I'd be concerned about buying anything at all from that crew.
Do you have a specific target you want to make? If so you should ask on one of the 3d printing forums "would an original makerbot be suitable for _x_".
If not, then an original makerbot would be a good first unit. From what I can tell, great community support which will help you figure out what you need.
As a person who has built their own CNC from a kit, I can tell you that these things are not like "printers for things" as much as they are a really complex tool that you will need to learn how to calibrate and use just like any other hobby.
I've had my CNC for 6+ months and only now am I getting to the point of getting usable (detailed) results from it. Mind you I'm milling PCB's which have a relatively low margin of error, but still.
Machining is it's own hobby (or trade, or profession) and takes time to learn.
Thanks for the advice, any recommendations for the most active community online? The Google Group linked at the Makerbot site seems pretty sparse, as does the Makerbot section at CNCZone.
Also look up if there's any hackerspaces in your area and join their mailing list/forum. I met a number of makerbot, reprap, and CNC owners this way in my city.
Yeah I'm from Toronto, I've visited a local hacker space here (hacklab.to) several times. I saw several different 3d printers there over the course of a few visits. They inspired me to go ahead and take the plunge for myself.
From my research: it currently has not been possible to print overhangs greater than 45 degrees on models using the plastic extrusion process. I think the dual extruder allows the opportunity to incorporate a water soluble plastic material into the printing process in order to support overhangs.
On my really old cupcake i can get about .3mm resolution. You can do support material, you just cut off the extra material at the end. small gaps and mild overhangs don't require support material (like that rabbit).
parts are made out of a thin tube of plastic. it's liquid and bonds to the layer below, then cools and hardens. they're claimed to be about 1/3 the strength of straight ABS (lego plastic). you can print solid, which seems really really strong, but most things are hollow, or just a thin webbing inside.
modern machines can get < .1 mm resolution. apparently the cutting edge reprap setups are exceeding commercial machines' resolution.
i've had nothing but positive experiences with makerbot support. I got mine very early, the design was still quite rough. i'll probably build another 3d printers soon, but likely a mendelmax. I'm just a lot more competent now.
That said, any makerbot would be an excellent first 3d printer. relatively cheap, good community and commercial support, everything is open.
Reprap-derived FDM printers like the Makerbot use support material that can be removed after the print. This can be emitted by the various slicing software out there.
This is pretty exciting for Makerbot. The Thing-O-Matic (previous model, mostly sold as a kit) was described by them as:
a hot rod style device on the cutting edge of 3D printing technology and like a hotrod, you'll have to oil it and do occasional maintenance. There is no service warranty.
... on the other hand this feels a big step closer to a consumer product - they're advertising it as ready to print out of the box, marketing it at CES.
I guess it makes sense they want to cross over from making a "niche" hobbyist-focused built-it-yourself product to the emerging broader market.
Some other significant improvements over Thing-o-Matic:
-Thankfully they have abandoned the Automated Build Platform.
-The extruder is now moving within the build plane, which is superior to moving the printed object. Perhaps one will be able to print thin tall objects.
There has been an error processing your request
But the new larger build area, and the dual colors, and better integration of the electronics so they are 'out of the way' instead of bolted to the side. Its only a matter of time before HP comes out with one for only $399 but feedstock will be $199 per 50' roll :-)