Apr 01, 2014
Checking out the MakerBot Replicator (5th Generation)
Recently we got a chance to look over the new MakerBot Replicator, and it’s a pretty slick machine.
The printer as a whole looks rather similar to the Replicator 2 and 2X. Sleek, matte black frame, with the MakerBot logo on the back of the Z Stage. Once you get a closer look, however, the newest generation is vastly different.
The menu and interface have both had a complete overhaul — The overly sensitive arrow keys have been replaced with a rotary click wheel that’s got a really nice feel to it. The LCD display is much prettier and responsive, and looks pretty good even in bright light.
The spool of filament is now held internally. The holder slides vertically out of the printer, your spool is loaded, the holder is clicked into place, and off you go. A minor upgrade to the form factor.
As for the bot’s linear motion, there’s a definite upgrade there. The bot’s X and Y now rides on linear rails with recirculating ball bearings. In addition, the motor configuration has been changed to that of an H-Bot. This means that all motors are completely stationary, greatly reducing your moving mass. We were told that we’d see speed increases of 300% compared to current printers, but that’s something that we’ll have to test for ourselves later on…
Finally, the really big upgrade: The smart extruder. We didn’t get a chance to see it being “smart”, but it certainly seemed to work! For people with multiple bots, this is a godsend in terms of maintenance. The extruder’s held on to the X-Carriage with magnets, and replacing it involves pulling it off, and popping a new one on. Anyone who has replaced the Bar Mount Assembly on the Replicator 2 or 2X knows how laborious it is, so this thing is awesome!
The hot end has gotten a redesign, as we can see a big heatsink near the bottom there. Better cooling of the hot end and more control of the thermal gradient could be MakerBot’s key to getting that “300% increase”, but only time will tell for sure.
Last on our list of features (That we saw) is the new bed leveling. The Smart Extruder has a Hall-Effect Sensor in it, allowing it to “know” where it is in relation to the bed. The printer actually tells you when it’s level!
We’re still waiting for our bots to arrive, but once they do, you can be sure we’ll be tearing them down to see what makes them tick. The electronics have been completely re-designed, and this printer is way smarter than the old models.
These printers haven’t changed much in terms of the way they work: In the end, we’re still just laying down layers of plastic goop. The Replicator (5th Gen) simply streamlines the process, and makes it easier than ever for average consumer to use.
