MAKERBOT 5 TH GENERATOR REPLICATOR Important Things You Should Know
SETUP A 3D printer uses filament which looks like wire. The MakerBot 5 th generation Replicator uses PLA filament which is a resin derived from sugars found in food like wheat so it’s very safe. Other filament could be a bit toxic especially if not well-ventilated. Did you know that people in the medical field are trying to 3D print replacement organs from biological material? PLA Filament for 3D Printers Flickr. By Adafruit Adafruit Industries. Web. 21 June
SETUP CONTINUED A spool of filament is loaded into the filament drawer on the filament spindle, and the end is put into the filament guide tool and loaded into the extruder assembly. Below is a picture of the extruder assembly aka extruder. "MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer User Manual." Makerbot. MakerBot Industries, LLC, Web. 21 June 2016.
THE MAKERBOT 5 TH GENERATION REPLICATOR "MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer User Manual." Makerbot. MakerBot Industries, LLC, Web. 21 June 2016.
THE CONTROL PANEL The MakerBot’s settings can be adjusted on the Control Panel. (See below.) "MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer User Manual." Makerbot. MakerBot Industries, LLC, Web. 21 June 2016.
HOW IT WORKS The extruder assembly melts and extrudes (deposits) the melted filament onto the build plate below as the extruder goes back and forth on the gantry above. Periodically, the build plate has to be “leveled” so it will continue to print correctly. The extruder makes passes along the x and y axis and after it puts down one layer or “slice”, it moves up a tiny bit along the z axis to put down the next layer. Click on the links below to see a couple of very short videos (less than two minutes total) demonstrating the MakerBot 3D printer in action.
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T REACH INSIDE The MakerBot uses high temperatures to melt the extruder, so you could get burned. It has moving parts (the extruder) that could injure you. It could shock you. "MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer User Manual." Makerbot. MakerBot Industries, LLC, Web. 21 June 2016.