Makerbot hosted its traditional effusive press conference ahead of the opening day of International CES at 4pm yesterday afternoon, unveiling its new product line. It had been rumoured something big was coming from the NY based 3D printing company, and so it came to pass. As usual, Makerbot surpassed expectations (generally along the lines of “here comes the Replicator 3 with noticeable improvements following the acquisition by Stratasys”) and launched three new 3D printers together with a host of desktop and mobile apps.
Making the point that this is MakerBot’s 5th consecutive year at CES, Bre Pettis, the gregarious host of the press conference, also noted that the company’s first exhibit at CES, back in 2010, featured the only 3D printer at the show. This year however, they are part of a dedicated 3D printing zone with a vastly improved product offering in four short(!) years.
Unveiled one by one, Bre first introduced the world to the MakerBot Replicator Mini billed as a ‘compact 3D Printer that is easy-to-use and just right for smaller spaces such as college dorm rooms, classrooms, multi-workspaces and the home.’ Offering fast and easy One-Touch 3D printing with a maximum build volume of 10.0 x 10 x 12.5 cm (3.9 x 3.9 x 4.9 in), the Makerbot Mini is optimized for speed and MakerBot’s proprietary PLA Filament according to the company, it has a build plate that requires no levelling and produces a default 200-micron layer resolution in prints. Also, believe it or not, Makerbot has trademarked the ‘One-Touch’ phrase — quite why is rather baffling and points to further unfortunate undertones to all the good things Makerbot/Stratasys do and are capable of. But that’s just my humble opinion. Anyway, the MakerBot Replicator Mini’s expected retail price will be $1,375 (compared with the Cube 3’s “under $1000”) with planned availability later this year, around spring time.
The second reveal was the third iteration of the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer. Essentially the Rep 3, but that’s not what they are calling it, however they were highlighting the “unmatched speed, reliability, quality and connectivity for all prosumer 3D printing needs.” This new Replicator has an increased build volume (11% larger than the Rep 2) taking it to 25.2 x 19.9 x 15.0 cm (9.9 x 7.8 x 5.9 in) and prints faster, at 100-micron layer resolution. The MakerBot Replicator is app and cloud enabled, offers USB, ethernet and available Wi-Fi connectivity to ensure a seamless production workflow — this is targeting the designers and people that work with 3D printing as opposed to playing/making/learning with it. Other features include a 3.5-inch full-colour LCD display and intuitive dial; an on-board camera for monitoring and sharing; assisted build-plate levelling; and a new Smart Extruder designed to allow for easy replacement/swaps and detecting filament absence when it will then automatically pause a print without ruining it. Like the mini, this medium sized machine is optimized for MakerBot’s own PLA Filament. The reiteration of “optimized” suggests it does not wholly preclude other materials, but how it affects your warranty should you go down that route needs further investigation. The latest Replicator 3D Printer is available immediately at a retail price of $2,899.
You may have noticed I called the new Desktop Replicator a medium sized machine. That is because the third and final 3D printer in the new MakerBot hardware line-up goes bigger again. In his final reveal Bre uncovered the MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer. As its name suggests it builds up to 18 inches (45.7 cm) in the Z axis, with a square 12 x 12 inch (30.5 x 30.5 cm) build plate. This, Makerbot believes, means that the Z18 offers the best price/performance in its category for printing large industrial prototypes, models and products and/or printing multiple models at once within an enclosed and heated build chamber — courtesy of Stratasys’ R&D and patents. This is kind of what people were expecting for the non-existent “Rep 3” but despite the price/performance marketing line, they obviously can’t justify the economics for including these premium features at the typical Replicator prices yet. The Z18 is coming in at $6,499 and you’ll have to wait until spring to pre-order. No more Mojo I suspect.
After the hardware, MakerBot also announced some new apps, including MakerBot Desktop and MakerBot Mobile, which provide a complete 3D printing solution to discover, manage and share 3D prints – from your desktop computer or a mobile device. This availability to your 3D printing files, accessed via a personal MakerBot Cloud Library, allows users to explore Thingiverse, prepare files for printing, and most importantly, remotely monitor and control a MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer. MakerBot Desktop is expected to be available 3 February 2014, while MakerBot Mobile is expected to be available on IOS in the spring and then on Android later in the year.
Then came the introduction of the MakerBot PrintShop billed as a new model and collection-based offering to provide an easy entry into 3D printing models that can be used for personal use, collecting and giving. MakerBot PrintShop is a tablet-based fun, easy and free way to create and 3D print unique signs, jewellery and much more. No 3D design skills are needed to use MakerBot PrintShop. Users can create and 3D print without a learning curve that often comes with developing 3D design skills, the premise being to make 3D design and 3D printing even easier for everyone. PrintShop works with all MakerBot fifth generation printers and is free to all MakerBot users. This possibly suggests that for anyone with a Rep 2 (or earlier model) it may not work and for anyone with any other type of 3D printer, it may not work and you may need to pay to use it.
Similarly the MakerBot Digital Store has been developed to provide a place that offers original, fun and collectible digital content directly to the end user. The MakerBot Digital Store is only available for the MakerBot fifth generation desktop 3D printers and the MakerBot Replicator 2 (4th generation), with all content being “Makerbot Verified”. It is a place where customers can purchase “high-quality, delightful, printable and paintable digital 3D models and collections” that effectively turns any new or 4th Gen MakerBot Replicator “into an in-home entertainment device and completely redefines the distribution channel: there is no packaging, no shelving requirements, no distributor/retailer mark-up, and the customer can print as many copies from the digital file as they want.” Model pricing is based on individual digital 3D files (.x3g and .makerbot) or by the collection, each can be printed as many times as you want; prices start at $0.99 per file or $9.99 for a collection and are exclusive to the MakerBot Digital Store. Current collections include: Around TownTM, Chunky TrucksTM, The Cosmic CadetsTM, Dragons of GlastonburyTM, Famous FlyersTM and PetPalsTM.
So there we have it — MakeBot’s 2014 revelations for 3D printing. The hardware covers all the bases, but also kind of feels like a step backwards too in some respects targeting different markets with different platforms. However in terms of the “Ecosystem” the company is developing it works; whether it quite “fulfils the vision of a 3D printer for everyone,” as noted by Bre, quite yet, is questionable — both in terms of price, materials and capabilities, but they are certainly still moving in the right direction. And in terms of laying strong foundations with consumers, the Digital Store is inspired, it won’t take off quite yet, it’ll be a slow burn and Thingiverse is likely to dominate the content landscape for a while longer, but I have a suspicion that the DigitalStore, in a couple of years time, will be very significant.
Interesting developments but I do get the impression Makerbot totally underestimated 3D Systems on this one. The actual information is sketchy at the moment but it appears they have redone all the mechanicals on these three printers with new extruders, controls and a more standardised case. Regardless of this though, I’m not seeing the value the Mini brings to the package, certainly when compared to the Cube 3.
Optimised for speed, simply means, 0.2mm layers vs the Cube 3 0.1mm. On paper the Cube 3 is way ahead on every measure – resolution, build volume, price, materials, design (subjective perhaps but 3D Systems are leaving Stratasys in the dust with new product design). Oh, and don’t forget the Cube 3 has 2 colours (though the actual mechanics of what that means is a bit vague). Why buy the Mini then?
On the Mid sized one, essentially the R3, slightly bigger build, updated mechanicals/case etc, but also a chunky hike in price as well – now even more costly than the R2X.
Then there is the big one. This is (obviously) the one that interests me the most, but it is a fair chunk of cash. They are also promoting the heated chamber, but then restricting it to PLA and single nozzles? This thing is not a hobby tool, it is aimed squarely at people like me, those already using 3D Printing professionally, and yet it is not quite there.
If there was ever a printer that defined corporate structure the big one is it. Treading on the toes of Mojo and U Print, and significantly better in many ways than both, yet no ABS, no support material. Lets face it, if it had ABS support out the box and two nozzles why would you even contemplate U Print or Mojo? No, what this means is the end of the line for U Print. Next year we’ll see a $8500 Z18 that does ABS and support material and comes with a water bath for $500. In the meantime Mojo and U Print must be on the way out.
So all in all I’m a little underwhelmed. At the consumer end 3D Systems now have the upper hand with Cube 3 (the Cube Pro, again on paper sounds good but it seems to be just a rehoused Cube +/BfB as again 3D Systems play the corporate game and keep all the good tech for the professional range products).
At the professional end though, the two giants are playing the “lets pad out the high margin products for as long as we possibly can” game. Both companies have products in the £10-£15k range. Possibly Stratasys products are under more direct threat but then how well do they actually sell anyway now?
Already 2014 is turning out to be a very interesting year. The one great feature I like on the new Makerbots is the camera. This was always my worry in running a “low end” machine in the office and leaving it to print after hours – what happens if things go wrong. This way I can keep an eye on it and if it starts to generate spaghetti presumably remotely turn it off? Actually I’m not sure if it can do that but if not then they should add that feature immediately.
I’ve gotta agree to being underwhelmed. The mini and replicator 3 don’t have a build resolution better than the 2012 model? Are you kidding me? People need to know just how bad 100 micron prints are…
So essentially the $600 Robo3D will print a bigger volume at the same resolution as the medium sized $2,800 Makerbot. And it’s available TODAY. The Boots Industry Delta style printer has a 12x12x9 volume and prints at twice as good a resolution, WITH an autoleveling platform and upgradeable to multiple colors/materials FOR $800.
They are being very corporate about it and riding on market share. I think they forget that they’re dealing with a price-conscious maker community that has the kickstarter kind of mindset.
$3,000 3D printers need to be something special. Formlabs and Full Spectrum have resolutions that will put this to shame. The BotObjets FDM printer prints in 5 colors simultaneously. The Fabtotum is 1/3 the price and is also a CNC mill and 3D scanner.
Furthermore, 3D systems patent on SLS printers expires this year. Expect a torrent of low cost, high resolution SLS printers to start popping up on kickstarter.
Makerbot’s strategy was to make 3D printers more accessible to the public… ease of use, “one touch”, etc. MEH. The hobbyists that are the target demograph are hobby engineers and tinkerers. People that obsess over technical specifications. I’m not calling 100 microns abysmal, but you can definitely tell its a 3D print.
SLS and SLA models look as good as injection molding. THAT’s what FDM 3D Printers should strive for. Not gimmicks like being wireless, having a camera and a touchscreen. Sheesh.
Just to be clear, I don’t rate anything on KickStarter until it actually appears in full scale production as a product I can buy, and get a warranty on. Prototypes are relatively simple to do. Production is a totally different matter, and maintaining sales even more so. Anyone can create a prototype mockup as a lab experiment, then get a designer to create some flash renderings and generate PR. But PR does not equate to quality product.
You mentioned botObjects? Where are they at CES? They are not there. They have consistently failed to deliver anything apart from a few questionable videos of poor quality parts. With the new 3D Systems announcemnets today botObjects are dead in the water…not that they even got to the water in the first place.
Layer resolution is irrelevant to part “quality”. I defy you to try and break a U Print ABS part easily. When we trialled printers a year or so back we ran tests on FDM machines. The actual build integrity of most consumer devices is poor – delamination, dimensionally inaccurate parts, high failure rates. In contrast U Print produced accurate consistent parts that were as tough as old boots. The irony is U Prints only print in 0.25mm layers, yet many of the parts we get made defy that “resolution”. The fact is, if you are printing twirly vases or Yodas all the time, most consumer grade printers will work fine – no issues with support or requirments for dimensionally accurate parts. But if you are creating complex product prototypes that have to fit other parts (or each other), have to be functionally tested, and are needed in a hurry, you need a platform that delivers this time after time.
Makerbot could do that, but the lack of support material effectively rules it out as a “one stop shop” for a lot of design businesses. I know Makerbots can do the accuracy if they are dialled in properly, and as the Stratasys technology filters down (and the heated chamber helps here) this will only get better (and the heated chamber patent has many years to go before it expires).
You still see stepping on SLA and SLS – I’m looking at some parts right now that came straight off the machines before grit blasting. You will never get an ultra high resolution SLS simply due to the nature of the process and powder/swiping/laser beam diameters. But you will get a rock solid functional part. The same can be said for FDM to some extent.
I’m not convinced we will see a plethora of cheap SLS and SLA printers any time soon. There are genuine safety issues with powdered materials and lasers that require industrial strength dust extraction/shielding to get around. Then you have to get the parts out the powder cake – not something you want to be doing in your front room or office.
As I said, I do actually think the camera is a good addition, as is wireless connectivity. My issue is primarily with the increased costs vs specification. Having said that, 305x305x457 is a big build volume by any standards, and provided the build quality offers reliable builds it will be a very popular device. I’m definately adding it to my list of things to look at in the flesh. Like I said, 2014 is proving to be interesting already!
The cam part is nice but OctoPrint got you covered there with almost every available RepRap based Printer for the price of a HD cam and a PI.
Makerbot should’ve stayed independent. Being bought by a giant corporate such as Stratasys is by no means an “everyone” consumer friendly step. Amongst many issues, It’s hard to have sales and marketing teams who work on $10K++ machines to sell cheaper ones. the Z18 is good proof. MB is makin’it big!
Yes, 2014 CES is Makerbot’s watershed event. This is where they definitively turn their backs on the reprap/maker/hacker culture. Note the enclosed reel holder that essentially requires you to buy Makerbot filament so that the spools fit properly. Behold the quick-swap smart extruder with no user-serviceable parts inside. Sure, we can monkey around with their mounting and pin-contact system, but come on guys, why bother? If you need a new extruder, just buy another one of ours……(I’ll bet you won’t be able to buy replacement extruders without providing proof of ownership of one of the new machines – that’s the Stratsys model)
Any guesses what the new and improved mobo looks like? A compact, monolithic block of proprietary FPGA’s?
They sure better have gotten everything exactly right for the hands-off home and small office customer. Because what you buy is what you’re stuck with.
I purchased a makerbot z18,10 days ago. I was unable to get a good print off it. I reset firmare 4 times, updated desktop software and more. yesterday i returned my makerbot z18 for full refund. It was around the 10k mark. today I purchased an ultimaker2, have already printed two parts for manufacture and installed on my clients equipment. I cannot believe that so mething 1/3 the price can produce twice if not more the qualtiy, in a number of materials.
I am lucky ready the issue some others are facing hoping to get large build platform on a budget.