Want
MakerBot just announced their brand spanking new 3D printer – the Thing-O-Matic! As far as I can tell, the highlights are as follows:
- Automated Build Platform – version 2.0??? Guys, I just built my version 1.0 a few DAYS ago! Did you design a time machine to let you import new developments from the future?
- MK5 Plastruder – I’ve got a MK5 and I’m very very happy with it.
- Internal electronics like Charles Pax’ Muffin CNC. The wires sticking out all over on my ‘bot make it look extra DIY. Having all the electronics and wires inside certainly make the Thing-O-Matic appear more like a real honest-to-goodness appliance.
- Generation 4 electronics. I don’t know what in all this means – except that I can plug a standard USB cable into it rather than the funky cable I currently have and it will allow for some kind of automated printing. The Cupcake requires a fair amount of attention when you’re setting it to build something – getting the print head to the exact right height is something you just get used to. For all I know, there are other improvements with the Gen 4 boards – but I’m waiting to hear just like you guys. :)
- Higher resolution. I can’t wait for more details!!! From the announcement post, it appears that Z axis will move much faster – fast enough that the blobs that can occur between layers could be a thing of the past. These have never been a huge problem and I’ve gotten used to a little post-production finishing on my parts – but it would be great to not have to do nearly as much.
I’m wondering how the Thing-o-matic homes in on the correct start position? Does it do this with opto-endstops?
What do you want to know about the Thing-o-matic?
Mechanical endstops. http://wiki.makerbot.com/roadmap#toc7
I saw it at Maker Faire, and apparently, it homes itself. Oh, and the Z-stepper has an integrated ACME rod.
I think the new bearings in X & Y are a big part of the resolution improvement. Just upgrading my bot to use mendel-style y-stage seems to have made things a lot smoother..
I tried to grill Zach about them at the show but I think I caught him after he’d answered the same 27 questions about a bazillion times and sorta lapsed into parrot mode. I don’t blame him – it was a bit of a zoo there!
@Dave: I really like the Mendel-inspired Y-stage – it sounds like everyone who is using it has better resolution and quieter operation. I really need to get my mitts on the bearings necessary to build it.
I’ve also been eyeing the bits at (for example) http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/CTGY/6mmLinearMotionSystems, wondering if they can be mounted in the existing X frame instead of having to design a whole new printable deal..