MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer

Product Description

There's a new standard in desktop 3D printing. Our fourth generation machine isn't just our best, it's the best desktop 3D printer on the market. With a resolution capability of 100 microns and a massive 410 cubic inch build volume, the MakerBot ReplicatorTM 2 Desktop 3D Printer is the easiest, fastest, and most affordable tool for making professional quality models. We set a new standard with our work, so that you can set a new standard with yours. Includes a 1 lb spool of Natural PLA filament.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #740 in BISS
• Brand: MakerBot
• Model: R0012XXX
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 14.50" h x 19.50" w x 13.00" l, 25.40 pounds

Features

• High resolution 3D printing with 0.1 mm (100 micron) layer height resolution.
• Huge 410 cubic inch build volume.
• Optimized for the renewable bio-plastic PLA, with an active cooling fan for excellent overhangs and bridges.
• FREE MakerWare software, including regular downloadble updates. Prep your 3D files for printing in seconds.
• Sturdy powder-coated steel frame for high-speed printing in any environment.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

323 of 331 people found the following review helpful.
Bleeding Edge Technology (Review Updated 8/2/2013!)
By P. McWhorter
First, if you buy this thing, understand that you are not buying a fancy coffee maker or tablet PC. In order to be happy with it, you need to have correct expectations. This is cutting edge technology, and it will both delight and disappoint you. Life with a 3D printer is filled with highs and lows. The highs are very high, and the lows are very low.

When I unboxed my new Replicator 2, the first thing I did was level the build platform, load the spool of filament, and then clicked print from the button on the front panel. I printed out the bolt and nut demo. It printed perfectly. I was overjoyed . . . a perfect plastic nut and bolt printed from a 3D printer. Then I printed the chain and the little bust statue of the woman. Life was good, and I was excited about the new possibilities that this printer would add to my electronics projects and other hobby projects.

My euphoria was short lived. First thing I noticed was that when I did my first design, it printed one out properly, but on the second one failed in the middle of the print. Then I started having difficulty with parts not sticking to the build plate, and peeling off during fabrication. Then I noticed that it could not print ANY designs in certain colors of filament (orange was the worst for me). Then at about the one and a half month point, it simply would not print anything.

Luckily, there is a very active user community for this printer, and if you get on the google user group for this printer, you can find the known issues, and solutions to keep the printer running. The print head is improperly designed, and it is not uncommon for it to fail in the first few months (as mine has). You can order aftermarket print heads that solve the problems. Another major issue is that the build plate is acrylic, and is not flat enough. The solution is to order an aftermarket glass build plate. Other people have had issues with flexing in the cables connecting to the drive motors leading to failure, and other issues as well.

The bottom line is that if you are a tinkerer/builder/maker type person, you will probably love this printer. You need to view this device as a Project, not a Product. It takes work and research and tweaking and tinkering to keep it working, and to get it to do what you want. When it is working, life is good. When it is spitting out air prints, you rue the day you ever bought it.

For me, it works well enough, enough of the time for me to give it a thumbs up. Just make sure to keep your expectations in check if you order it.

UPDATE 7/13/2013

I have performed several upgrades to my printer. Makerbot has redesigned the print head, and provided me with an upgraded version, which I have installed. I also have installed the aftermarket ultra-flat build plate which I purchased from ebay. The combination of the redesigned printhead and the flat build plate have the printer up and running again. I am able to build designs which I was not able to before the upgrades.

Another development that has resulted in improvements in this product is makerbot's release of Version 2.2.1 of makerware, the software that runs the printer. This new version of makerware is a major upgrade, with several tangible benefits to the user. First, it preps the files for high resolution printing MUCH faster. Second, it has improved the performance of its high resolution print capability. I have been blown away by the smoothness of parts printed with this new software set on high resolution mode.

So, I am pleased that the printer is back up and running, with improved build plate and redesigned print head, but I am still experiencing fairly routine failed prints. Potentially my print head is clogged. I will need to disassemble and diagnose the problem. As I stated in the original review . . . this device is a project, not a product. I enjoy it as a hobby, but I would hate for it to be in my critical path on a real project.

I will say that if you are contemplating a 3D printer, this is definitely the unit to buy. Stay tuned, and feel free to ask questions in the comments section.

UPDATE 8/2/2013
I am sorry if this review is turning out to be a running saga of my ownership of this printer, but here is the latest info. I started getting failed prints again, due to sudden horizontal shifts in the printing. I was able to diagnose the problem as a failure in the ribbon cable going from the motherboard to the X-axis stepper motor. This cable is constantly flexed as you print, and the cable is not one designed to be constantly flexed. Makerbot support was helpful and has sent me a new cable. The printer is working again, although the other issue I had was a clogged print head, which I was able to get cleaned out.

Let me pause and summarize for you here what I have learned so far, and hopefully this will help you if you order this printer (which I do still recommend)

1) Make sure you have the upgraded extruder arm on your Replicator Two print head. I got mine from Makerbot, and I am hopeful that they are shipping the Replicator 2's with the redesigned head now, but if you do not have the new extruder arm, this is a MUST.
2) Order the aftermarket glass build plate. I got mine off ebay. To get models to stick to the build plate, spray the build plate with aquanet hair spray, let it dry. Now, your builds will stick to the plate, and you can get big builds without error.
3) If you have prints fail in the middle of the print because all of the sudden material does not want to extrude, and if you have upgraded the extruder arm, your problem is probably a clogged print head. This happens periodically. You can clear it by heating the head using the load/unload filament menu, and digging from the topside with a toothpick, and running a small pin, wire, or tiny drill bit up from the bottom side while the head is hot. This clears things up for me no trouble.
4) If you start experiencing failures because or horizontal offsets in the printing midprint, you are probably getting a failure in the x-axis ribbon cable. This has happened to many folks and happened to me. Makerbot support was great and sent me a new one. When I installed the new one (simple five minute job), I did not neatly tuck the cable away, but let it "dangle" from the stepper motor. This virtually eliminates the flexing in the cable, and I hope will make this cable last a lot longer.

These are all tips I learned from other people, but thought it would be helpful to summarize them in one spot.

77 of 80 people found the following review helpful.
Makerbot Replicator 2...a creative persons dream machine....
By Jay E. Raxter
I actually purchased the 2X for work (2 head, 2 color) 3D printer for work. It was such an incredible tool I bought a Replicator 2 for my house. What can I say? This thing can make almost anything. Well, there is a learning curve to do that. First, this is a revision 1 machine and that means it comes with all the problems a first release will have. Some issues can be as simple as not leveling (tramming) the build plate correctly to machines that are DOA. This is a complicated device with both electronics and mechanical devices that can be knocked out of alignment because of rough shipping. They (Makerbot) were also having teething issues with both machines. Loose screws, random items installed incorrectly, an extruder with a problematic tension system. Here's the thing that I found out when I got mine. Some people have a problem with "X" and yet other people never have a problem with "X"....the only thing that was repeatable was the Delrin Extruder needed to be upgraded..it was so apparent that Makerbot now sells the upgrade (but aren't putting in the machines yet probably because they need to get rid of parts inventory). There is also a learning curve on the software. You need to be able to use basic CAD. That's the reason you want a 3D printer right? Various CAD out there..some free (Google SketchUp OpenScad) but I like Cubify Invent. $50 is cheap for a full CAD and Invent is great because it was built from the ground up for 3D printing...not designing houses or modify Ford engines. Then you have to have a mechanical bend to you....you can't just sacrifice a chicken and cool parts fall out of the printer.

Now, after all that you're probably thinking "Wait..he gave it 5 stars?"

Sure did...I own a machine shop with large CNC equipment...but the Replicator is an entirely new way of producing goods. Not only that but I work with CAD all day...so, for me, it's easy to sit down and design art...or print out scanned works of art...or make small parts for around the house...you are (almost) only limited in your imagination. There is also soft rubbery filament you can get, wooden plastic filament, and nylon (STRONG!) filament you can buy. Even though this tech has been around since the 80's and there are professional machines out there that can do incredible things, only within the last few months has their been a product/price point like this. Yes, the kits have been around for a while (2?3? years?) but I wanted something I could take out of the box and learn on. My 2X was making parts from the minute I turned it on. I have sold 2 jobs at work on it and produced in house test jigs for several products we make.

Again, this is not a magic box that you wave a wand at and loving goodness falls out. This is a tool every bit as useful and complicated as a minature CNC machine. You need a certain skill set or the willingness to learn. If you're an artist you'll need to learn some mechanical skills but I know of 3 people on Google Groups who are already selling original artwork from theirs.

"Tea, Earl Gray, Hot" (if you get the reference you need to go order one right now....)

39 of 48 people found the following review helpful.
Warning: Poor printing. Poor service. No returns.
By NSR
This was my second makerbot. I had a cupcake CNC so I wasn't new to 3D printing. This item printed horribly from day one with a major Y-axis problems. After over 1 week of me servicing the item and 15 hours later, the printer still didn't work. Makerbot in 99% of cases does not accept returns. They will refurbish a new $2000+ item and mail it back to you at your expense both ways. This is the extent of their support.

They did finally agree to a return with me again paying shipping both ways and charging a 4% stocking fee. Look at their terms at makerbot.com. Do not support a company with these policies or you may be out a significant chunk of change for a broken, unsupported item.

See all 25 customer reviews...