The Second 3D Printer Arrived !
arrived to our Kitware Clifton Park offices on Thursday.
As opposed to our first Printerbot Kit, the Makerbot Replicator 2X requires just a few assembly steps, once it is outside the box. In particular, attention is to be paid to the Kapton tape that is covering the printing platform (see second image below), and this must be followed up with leveling the printing platform itself. Great instructions are provided in the Makerbot site.
Kitwareans of all backgrounds took a peak at the new device. Some were disappointed when the verbal order of “Tea, Earl Gray, Hot” was not promptly executed by the printer, and then they returned to their standing desks while mumbling unearthly words in Klingon.
The Makerbot Replicator 2X is the Experimental version of the Makerbot Replicator 2, and it is a highly ranked 3D printer.
Here is the graphical gallery of the early hours of 3D printing experimentation
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The summary video, kindly edited by a Nexus 4, is here:
and here is one of our most recently printed models
More details on this model to come soon…
So did we expect to get a honeycomb encrusted motorcycle, or did something go horribly wrong?
Where is it, and when can we conduct our own tests?
The honeycomb around the motorcycle is a scaffolding support generated by the printer. It helps to hold in place pieces that otherwise will be “floating” temporarily during the printing process.
This support is to be removed once the printing is completed.
We have not removed the support yet in this picture. Our follow up post will share more details on the printing process of this particular model and its connection with ParaView.
Nice! Are these printers available for use to all Kitwareans, or only certain projects?
The devices are available to all Kitwareans.
We will run a training session in a technical lunch in mid January.
Qapla’!