MAKERBOT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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1 1. Who is MakerBot? MAKERBOT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Founded in 2009, Brooklyn-based MakerBot ( has grown to be a global leader in desktop 3D printing. MakerBot had 16% market share of all 3D printers (industrial and personal) made from 2009 to the end of In 2011, MakerBot had 21.6% market share. There are over 13,000 MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers in use by engineers, designers, researchers, and people who just like to make things. The new MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer, the company s fourth-generation machine, sets new standards for resolution, build volume, speed, ease of use, and affordability. MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printers are available for sale through its worldwide network of distributors, as well as through the company s brand new flagship retail location. MakerBot was named one of the top 20 startups in New York City and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Wired, The Colbert Report, Fast Company, Engadget, Make: Magazine, Rolling Stone, Time.com, IEEE Spectrum, CNN, Financial Times, NPR, and many others. 2. What is Desktop 3D Printing? 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, means making things layer by layer according to a 3D design file. This differs from traditional manufacturing, such as machining, which often involves subtracting a material in order to achieve a certain shape. 3D printers have a history of being very large and expensive; however, MakerBot sells top-of-the-line 3D printers that are made, priced, and sized for the desktop. The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer measures 38 x 49 x 32 cm (14.7 x 19.1 x 12.8 in), making it ideal for a workspace or tabletop at home or in the office. 3. What s new about the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer? 1 Source: Wohlers Report rd Avenue Brooklyn, NY makerbot.com

2 The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer is the easiest, fastest, and most affordable tool for making professional quality models. The MakerBot Replicator 2 sets a new standard in resolution and accuracy (true-to-life models) and build volume (size of model). Constructed with an industrial strength pressed steel frame, which has advantages for both form and function: the machine looks perfect in an office, lab, workbench, and even the living room and is durable enough to withstand high 3D printing speeds. Top features include: 100-micron layer resolution. Very large build volume: 410 in 3 (11.2 L x 6.0 W x 6.1 H in) / cm 3 (28.4 x 15.5 x 15.2 cm). No-curl, no-shrink MakerBot PLA Filament, a sturdy, renewable bioplastic. Professionally engineered and expertly built for speed. Pop-out build platform for convenient print retrieval. New MakerBot MakerWare software that speeds the 3D printing process. Brand new look and feel. Responsive, expert customer support. 4. How good is the quality of the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer? The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer sets an entirely new standard in resolution and accuracy. The MakerBot Replicator 2 has an industry-leading default layer resolution of 100 microns (0.1 mm). That s over 2.5 times finer than the default layer resolution of the first generation MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer, meaning users can make objects so smooth they don t need sanding or any other post-production. Experienced users will have the freedom to work in even higher layer resolutions, up to 20 microns. 5. How big is the build space on the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer? The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer has a very large build volume of 410 cubic inches (11.2 L x 6.0 W x 6.1 H). The MakerBot Replicator 2 gives users 37% more space to build in than the first generation MakerBot Replicator Desktop3D Printer, meaning users can think and make bigger than ever. The new build volume is ideal for large architectural or mechanical models, or for projects with many different parts, such as a model car. With all that build space, MakerBot operators can also make several different things at once, meaning they save time for the next projects on their lists. 6. What can a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer make? The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer is an ideal machine for making true-to-life replicas, high-resolution models, functioning prototypes, visual aids, real world products, and more. Designed and optimized for the renewable bio-plastic PLA, The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer makes things quickly and efficiently that not only look great, but also feel amazing to the touch. 2

3 7. Who should purchase a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer? The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer is the ideal tool for the professional or amateur designer. The combination of high-resolution, massive build volume, increased build speed, and user friendly hardware and software make it the perfect machine for modeling, quick prototyping, tooling, short-run production applications, and just having fun making threedimensional things. The MakerBot Replicator 2 works quietly and fits perfectly on a desk, workbench, countertop, or table without marring any surfaces. 8. What software and operating system do you need to run a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer? The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. In order for your computer to communicate with the MakerBot Replicator 2, you need to download our new MakerBot MakerWare Desktop 3D Printer software. MakerWare is free software that includes everything you need to prepare models for your MakerBot, including a lightning fast toolpath engine and a brand new user-friendly interface. 9. What is the layer resolution of the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer? The 100 micron layer resolution setting on the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer enables users will be able to create smooth, professional-quality objects right off the build platform, with no sanding or post-production needed. With MakerBot s new user-friendly MakerWare software, experienced users have the freedom to explore even finer resolutions, down to 20 microns. 10. How are MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printers made? Every single MakerBot Desktop 3D Printer is assembled and tested by skilled labor in our Brooklyn, New York factory. 11. What is the difference between the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer and the MakerBot Replicator 2X Desktop 3D Printer? The MakerBot Replicator 2 PLA Single Extruder Desktop 3D Printer is engineered and optimized for the renewable bioplastic PLA. It features a single toolhead and a pop-out acrylic build plate, which is ideal for MakerBot PLA Filament. The MakerBot Replicator 2 is also dramatically easier to use than previous MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers that were based on ABS filament. 12. What s great about MakerBot PLA Filament? MakerBot PLA Filament is the perfect source material for making detailed, beautiful, professional-quality models and final products. Our materials research department has put countless hours into developing reliable filament that sticks to the platform without peeling, cracking, or curling. Even better, MakerBot PLA Filament is highly reliable, even without a 3

4 heated platform, saving you 32% in energy costs. MakerBot PLA Filament comes in a variety of colors and effects, including translucent, fluorescent, glittery and metallic. 13. Where can the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer be purchased? The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer is available for purchase immediately at shipping throughout the US and internationally. The MakerBot Replicator 2 is also available through a number of distributors around the world. Beginning September 20, 2012 MakerBot s flagship retail store will offer the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer and other MakerBot products for sale. The store is located at 298 Mulberry Street, New York, NY. 14. Why did MakerBot open a retail store? When people see desktop 3D printing in action, they immediately get it and are fascinated by it. Seeing is believing! Located at 298 Mulberry Street in the NoHo district of Manhattan, the MakerBot Store offers people the chance to learn about desktop 3D printing, get demonstrations, and buy all kinds of cool consumer products made on MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printers. 15. What is Thingiverse? At MakerBot s website Thingiverse ( MakerBot owners can access and contribute to a universe of things. Over 28,000 projects, models, and things are available that can be downloaded and printed on a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer! 4

5 MAKERBOT REPLICATOR DESKTOP 3D PRINTER COMPARISON CHART Model Original MakerBot Replicator MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental Desktop 3D Printer Price $1,749/$1,999 $2,199 $2,799 Availability Limited availability Available now Available early 2013 Ideal Use Hobbyist-level 3D printing Professional-quality prototypes and models. Engineered for excellence and reliability. Experimental 3D printing. Designed for advanced users with ample hardware experience. Optimal Resolution micron layer height 100-micron layer height TBA Build Material Optimized for petroleum-based thermoplastic, ABS filament Optimized for renewable bioplastic, PLA filament Optimized for petroleumbased thermoplastic, ABS filament Build Volume 299 cubic inches 410 cubic inches TBA External Panel Material Unfinished Plywood Black PVC Black PVC Chassis None Powder-coated steel Powder-coated steel Build Plate Heated Build Plate Acrylic Heated Build Plate Machine Dimensions Machine Weight Build Dimensions 18.4 x 12.6 x 15 in 19.1 x 12.8 x 14.7 in TBA 14.4 lbs 25.4 lbs TBA 8.9 x 5.7 x 5.9 in 11.2 x 6 x 6.1 in TBA Active Cooling No Yes No Ideal for multipart projects No Yes No Dual Extrusion Yes No Yes 2 Layer Resolution is one indicator of quality in 3D printing technology. Lower numbers indicate smaller layers, and therefore higher resolution 5

6 PLA VS ABS FILAMENT The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer is optimized for PLA filament, while the MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer is designed primarily for ABS printing. To understand the difference between these two filaments, check out the table below. PLA ABS Tolerant of outside temperature and air flow Sticks to build plate very reliably, without curling or sliding Can print without a heated build plate Exhibits very little shrinkage Available in translucent, sparkly, and other fun finishes Renewable and environmentally-friendly Requires less heat and energy Dimensionally stable Great for mechanical models and moving parts Corn starch-based Petroleum-based Has a tendency to crack Flexible deformation Quick and rigid deformation 6