Inkjet & Digital Printing

CES Sets the Stage for MakerBot Launch of Expanded MakerBot 3D Printing Platform and Ecosystem with a Whole New Generation of 3D Printers and 3D Content

Wednesday 08. January 2014 - Three New MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers, MakerBot Desktop and Mobile, MakerBot PrintShop and Digital Store, Plus Strategic Partnerships Announced at CES Expand the MakerBot 3D Ecosystem

MakerBot, the global leader in desktop 3D printing, is launching a comprehensive new 3D Printing Platform and 3D Ecosystem that is designed to enable improved reliability, ease of use, and seamless connectivity for MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printers and the MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner. Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), MakerBot debuted new software, app and digital store products, new strategic partnerships, and its fifth generation of 3D printers: the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer, the MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer, and the MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer. MakerBot believes these new MakerBot 3D Printers are exciting additions that will accelerate MakerBot’s mission to put a MakerBot on the desktop of every engineer, architect, industrial designer, entrepreneur, and educator, as well as in every home. It is MakerBot’s goal that these new products expand its presence in the market by providing a family of 3D printing solutions for both professionals and consumers.
A major part of the MakerBot 3D Printing Platform includes the new MakerBot Desktop and MakerBot Mobile applications; MakerBot PrintShop, a fun, easy and free way to create and 3D print unique items; a MakerBot Digital Store where 3D printing enthusiasts will purchase, download and print incredible MakerBot Verified 3D collections and models; and an exclusive alliance with the innovative 3D vision company SoftKinetic.
“We believe that the MakerBot 3D Ecosystem we are presenting to the world fulfills the vision of a 3D printer for everyone,” noted Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot. “Years and years of hard work and dreams are packed into these 3D printers, 3D scanner, apps, and the new MakerBot Digital Store. We have laid the groundwork for everyone to be able to be a creative explorer. We can’t contain our excitement to unleash the MakerBot 3D Ecosystem to the world.”
MakerBot was founded in 2009 and was one of the first companies to bring 3D printing to an affordable and accessible level. This is the fifth year the company has participated in CES. The first year in 2010, MakerBot was the only 3D printing company at CES; today, there is a whole section of CES dedicated to 3D printing. In 2012, MakerBot’s fourth generation 3D printer made a major leap into the prosumer 3D printing market, offering a professional-quality 3D printer at an affordable price. Now, in 2014, the MakerBot 3D Printing Platform and Ecosystem and its fifth generation 3D printers expand that reach even further.
MakerBot’s new 3D Printer Platform includes:
MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer: A professional quality desktop 3D printer that MakerBot believes will have unmatched speed, reliability, quality, and connectivity for all 3D printing needs. The new MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer has an 11 percent larger build volume than the previous MakerBot generation with a build volume of 25.2 L x 19.9 W x 15.0 H cm (9.9 L x 7.8 W x 5.9 H in) and faster print times that accelerate rapid prototyping and model making. Offering 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; features a 3.5-inch full-color LCD display and intuitive dial to create a rich user experience; has an on-board camera for monitoring and sharing, assisted build-plate leveling; and features a new MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruder that is easy to swap or replace and detects filament absence and automatically pauses a print, as well as being optimized for MakerBot PLA Filament. The new MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer will retail for $2,899 and is available for order today at makerbot.com/replicator. For additional details and specs, see makerbot.com/replicator.
MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer: The MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer is an easy-to-use compact 3D printer for everyone. The MakerBot Replicator Mini is just right for smaller spaces such as college dorm rooms, classrooms, multi-workspaces, and the home. The MakerBot Replicator Mini offers fast and easy One-Touch(TM) 3D printing. It has a maximum build volume of 10.0 L x 10. W x 12.5 H cm (3.9 L x 3.9 W x 4.9 H in) and offers plug-and-play features. It is optimized for speed, has a build plate that requires no leveling, and produces a default 200-micron layer resolution in prints. The MakerBot Replicator Mini offers fifth generation technology that MakerBot believes defines the new standard for ease-of-use, quality and reliability. It is optimized for MakerBot PLA Filament and offers downloads of free MakerBot Verified and ready-to-print 3D models from Thingiverse.com, MakerBot’s 3D design community. The MakerBot Replicator Mini’s expected retail price will be $1,375 with planned availability spring 2014. Those interested in the MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer can sign up for updates at makerbot.com/mini.
MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer: The MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer offers massive build volume and MakerBot believes the best price/performance in its category. The MakerBot Replicator Z18, named after its 18-inch height capability, will 3D print extra-large industrial prototypes, models, and products and will print multiple models at once. It has a massive 30.5 L x 30.5 W x 45.7 H cm (12.0 L x 12.0 W x 18.0 H in) build volume, yet is cost effective as it uses low-cost consumables, such as MakerBot PLA Filament. The MakerBot Replicator Z18 is app and cloud enabled and USB, ethernet and available Wi-Fi connectivity creates a seamless production workflow. The enclosed and heated build chamber and super flat build plate enable printing of large models. The expected price of the MakerBot Replicator Z18 will be $6,499 and orders are expected to be taken beginning in spring 2014. To sign up for updates on the MakerBot Replicator Z18, visit makerbot.com/z18.
All three of the new MakerBot 3D Printers in the MakerBot 3D Printer Platform are available with MakerBot MakerCare, a service plan for service and parts.
MakerBot Desktop and MakerBot Mobile Apps
MakerBot is also announcing the new apps, 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 February 2014, while MakerBot Mobile is expected to be available on IOS spring 2014, and then on Android in 2014.
MakerBot PrintShop App and MakerBot Digital Store
MakerBot is very excited to announce the introduction of the MakerBot PrintShop and the MakerBot Digital Store. These two new model and collection-based offerings 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, jewelry 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. MakerBot is making 3D design and 3D printing even easier for everyone. MakerBot PrintShop users can also explore and print MakerBot Verified Files — ready-to-print files from MakerBot Thingiverse. MakerBot PrintShop works with all MakerBot fifth generation printers and is a powerful and intuitive tool to create and make cool things. The Type Maker tool lets you easily make signs, letters, nameplates and more; the Bracelet Maker tool lets you design and print your own custom created bracelets and there are more tools on the way. MakerBot PrintShop is free to all MakerBot users and is expected to be available spring 2014. Available on IOS at launch and then on Android in 2014.
The MakerBot Digital Store is MakerBot’s very exciting venture that will 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 Desktop 3D Printer (fourth generation). In the MakerBot Digital Store, visitors can purchase high-quality, delightful, printable and paintable digital 3D models and collections. The models are MakerBot Verified to successfully print on MakerBot Replicator 2 and fifth generation MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printers. The MakerBot Digital Store effectively turns a MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer 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. MakerBot has created the models so they do not require supports or glue. Pricing is based on individual digital 3D file (.x3g and .makerbot) or by the collection. Models can be printed as many times as you want. Prices start at $0.99 per file or $9.99 for a collection and are only available through the MakerBot Digital Store.
MakerBot Digital Store Series One Collections include: Around Town(TM), Chunky Trucks(TM), The Cosmic Cadets(TM), Dragons of Glastonbury(TM), Famous Flyers(TM) and PetPals(TM).
Strategic Partnerships
MakerBot is also thrilled to announce a strategic alliance with innovative 3D vision company SoftKinetic. This partnership will help MakerBot, a global leader in desktop 3D printing, expand its 3D Ecosystem and 3D Printing Platform and enhance the ease of use, and connectivity of MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printers and Scanners. MakerBot is also excited to announce that it will be attending the Tokyo Wonder Festival on February 9(th) in partnership with Good Smile Company.
MakerBot Booth at CES
Visitors to CES that stop by the MakerBot exhibit booth, which is located in the specially designated 3D printing area, will be treated to the whole MakerBot 3D Ecosystem and a MakerBot Experience.