Interestingly, MakerBot also adopts a new renewable bioplastic PLA filament that promises to stick to the platform reliably with practically no peeling, curling, sliding or shrinking. On top of that, it also uses 32 percent less energy than building with ABS plastic.
Perhaps the key ingredient of this retail story is the Replicator 2 printer itself. We've been hearing quite a lot about the crudeness of 3D printed objects but with Replicator 2 - those comments should be matter of the past. MakerBot claims that Replicator 2 comes with a precision no less than 100 microns. Previous generation part offered precision of 270 microns, which was still too many imperfections to offer smooth surfaces. According to manufacturer claims, you can now play with a ball and it won't stick to your hands, it will be pretty smooth.The images below provide a glimpse of what's now possible with 3D printing.
This precision enables not just movable objects such as wrenches but rather highly complex movable objects, such as working mechanisms.
And the Replicator 2 3D printer is imaged below, it costs $2,199.
There’s a new standard in desktop 3D printing. Our fourth generation machine isn’t just our best, it’s the best desktop 3D printer on the market. With a resolution capability of 100 microns and a massive 410 cubic inch build volume, the MakerBot Replicator™ 2 Desktop 3D Printer is the easiest, fastest, and most affordable tool for making professional quality models. We set a new standard with our work, so that you can set a new standard with yours. Includes a 1 lb spool of Natural PLA filament.