MakerBot Industries CES rumor time: New machine Tuesday. What do you guys think? What new fancy features will pop up? Wifi? Downloads from Thingiverse to Makerware/Replicator? Any tech from Dimension printers coming? Heated chamber, toggle head? Does anybody care? And go…
While I would love some upgrade options for the rep 2 (dual head etc.) I can’t think of anything new they would be bringing to the table. They didn’t wait to reveal their new filaments or multiscan for the digitizer. At this point I’m at a loss. Too early for a replicator 3 and there are still lots of kinks to work out with the digitizer. Idk
I still have some ethical dilemmas with ever purchasing from Makerbot but innovation is good for all. The rising tide etc…
The press event is tomorrow at 730 pm est
I’d like to hear something really revolutionary like a plastic as strong as polycarbonate or even Kevlar with no dimension changes upon heating or cooling, Like Invar for metals. Or an array of 10 micron nozzles that spans the width of the bed and can print an entire layer in a few seconds.
Anything ”new” that MBI announces will either be from Stratasys’ patent pool or something that the open source community has been doing for a while, which MBI will then claim to have invented.
Conservative Guess: Some form of closed loop control for each axis. Better design for manufacture. More “click-and-print” through WiFi and ECE/CS magic.
Wild Guess: Color mixing.
That they are not building closed system printers and registering false patents and they are now doing the right thing…oh thats April 1
If it were me? New, cheaper printer. Wifi/ internet connected and automatic print from thingiverse. Maybe a “high end” resin printer to round things out. I’d go all metal on their bots too. If they introduce a new bot, expect thingiverse revs that add functionality to current bots too.
I keep waiting for a company to announce free hardware subsidized with expensive proprietary filament/cartridge subscription. That would be a crushing blow. Even if 10% hack it, it would be feasible if the bot was cheap enough. If the bot had to phone home and verify before printing there wouldn’t be much risk.
Here’s hoping its bigger and more expensive to leave room for the rest of us. A $299 bot would sure hurt us!
A powder printer? Doubt it. Metal printer? I’d buy one!
Time will tell
Brook
More patents! #sarcasm
OctoPrint on a Pi but rebranded to MakerPrintPi
3D printer and scanner in one? …doubtful
OMG Makerbot! Just take my money now.
http://makerbot.com ok so why Z18? I have to say the toolchain and workflow is interesting. Not impossible on another platform. I also see lots of renderings of the mini and z18.
The mini has the same build volume as my old cupcake, and looks to be about the same size despite having the opposite axis layout. The Bukito has twice that build volume in a smaller machine. Just sayin’.
I know they are “evil” but i do like the Darth Vader design
They do seem to be taking the whole “Dark side” thing to heart…
Beautiful machines. My hat is off to the design team. Thankfully, priced out of many household budgets. I can see it’s appeal to many though. I love the competition and both Makerbot and 3dsystems have raised the bar. Credit to whom credit is due.
-brook
Indeed. The UX is very good too, something most other software teams should do is being inspired by awesome UX work like @foosel did with OctoPrint
Can’t stop laughing: “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.” - sure, because Makerbot Prints are all flawless.
via http://3dprintingindustry.com/2014/01/07/triple-whammy-makerbot-rep-3-3-new-3d-printers/