Tag Archives: cnc kit

How much for that doppleganger in the window?

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Suppose you had a one MakerBot and just had to have a second.  How much would the rest of that MakerBot cost assuming you were willing to design and print every possible printable part? 1  Perhaps it would be in line with the $575 laserless MakerBot Cupcake CNC kit.  Then again, perhaps it would be the cost of the $750 MakerBot Cupcake CNC Basic kit less the $50.00 lasercut plastruder parts and $200.00 lasercut body parts, which would clock in at $500.00. 2

Are you really just $500.00 away from a second MakerBot?  That’s about half the cost of a Deluxe kit!  This brings to mind an even MORE interesting question.

What would you have done if MakerBot offered this deal:  Buy one Cupcake CNC Deluxe kit and get a Cupcake CNC Basic kit half off?

Well, if you already own a MakerBot, it’s like they gave you this deal anyhow!

  1. Including a printable Y stage. [↩]
  2. Admittedly, this assumes zero value to the lasercut external parts.  So, let’s pretend you have a box of the appropriate dimensions. [↩]

Looking forward

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This website for documenting my attempt to build a MakerBot Industries CupCake CNC 3D printer.  I’ve got just about no experience working with electronics and no experience building robots.  So, its going to be a wild ride.

It is named “Bender.”

Here’s what I’d like to see happen:

  • Documenting everything inside the CupCake Deluxe CNC kit
    • Right now I’ve only documented the unboxing
    • I’d like to document all the bits inside the various boxes/kits as well
  • Documenting each step (and misstep!) of taking a box of parts to a fully functional 3D printer
    • As I’m a total and complete novice, this should be educational for everyone involved
    • Since the guys at MakerBot suggest two people could assemble a CupCake CNC in leisurely weekend, I suspect it would probably take me about a week or two
  • Printing crazy plastic things for myself and others

Why did I name the website MakerBlock?  Well, if when I get this robot operational, I’d really like to design and print custom blocks that are compatible with various toy construction sets.

Frivolous?  Undoubtedly.  But, a man’s got to dream.