MakerBot has announced an all-new 3D printer today. The MakerBot Method is their best 3D printer yet – an industrial-grade 3D printer that fits on a desktop. It “bridges the gap” between desktop and industrial 3D printing with a suite of features that are normally only found on industrial 3D printers.
These include a circulating heated chamber which regulates the temperature and quality of every layer. Dual-performance extruders which are powered by a high-performance dual-drive gear. Dry-sealed material bays which keep filament pristine, and a spring steel build plate which allows for parts to “pop” off the build plate for easy removal. These features are unique to the Method, so aren’t available in other desktop FFF printers.
The Method is designed to deliver industrial reliability and professional performance at an entry-level price. It gives engineers and designers ultimate control over prints, with nearly every aspect of the print process configurable via a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen or through MakerBot print software, which integrates with 25 of the most popular CAD programs, one of which is Tinkercard which offers seamless cloud-based 3D printing.
The dual-extrusion system combined with water-soluble PVA is said to provide a superior surface finish so parts look incredible fresh from the print bed, and MakerBot have eliminated flex with an ultra-rigid frame. This means a more consistent 3D printing experience. There’s also a new feature called smart spool, which feeds RFID information directly to the printer, so you don’t have to input data like filament colour and type yourself.
“In an age of disruption, businesses are under pressure to innovate and bring products to market faster. Current desktop 3D printers derive their DNA from hobbyist 3D printers and are insufficient for many applications in the professional segment,” said Nadav Goshen, MakerBot CEO. “We believe that Method is the next step in helping organizations adopt 3D printing at a larger scale. Method provides a breakthrough in 3D printing that enables industrial designers and mechanical engineers to innovate faster and become more agile. It is built for professionals who need immediate access to a 3D printer that can deliver industrial performance to accelerate their design cycles. Method is developed to bring industrial technologies into an accessible platform, breaking the price-performance barrier and redefining rapid prototyping in the process.”
MakerBot Method tech specs:
– Technology: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
– Dimensional accuracy: ± 0.2 mm or 0.002 mm per mm of travel
– Layer resolution: 20 – 400 microns
– Max material flow rate: ~50 mm3 per sec
– Print Head Travel Speed: Up to 500 mm per sec
– Build volume (single extrusion): 19 L x 19 W x 19.6 H cm / 7.5 x 7.5 x 7.75 in
– Build volume (dual extrusion): 15.2 L x 19 W x 19.6 H cm / 6.0 x 7.5 x 7.75 in
To find out more about the MakerBot Method, we invite you to check out the official product page.