MakerBot 3D Ecosystem Expands in 2015: New Materials, Partnerships and Services for 3D Printing in Your Home

This is an update to the previous blog, Cameras Used in MakerBot® Desktop 3D Replicator and Digitizer: 3D Printing in Your Home.

This video presents Makerbot Talks Makerbot 3D Replicators at CES 2015 #CES2015.

Cali and Jill talked with Makerbot about things that can be done with 3D printing these days and particularly the new infused PLA materials that are available.

For 2015, we are focused on enhancing the overall MakerBot 3D Ecosystem by listening to our users, fine-tuning our 3D printers, iterating our software and apps to unlock their full potential, and launching new MakerBot PLA Composite Filaments as well as services that will make 3D printing even more interesting and accessible.

Jenny Lawton, CEO of MakerBot
http://makerbot-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Rls_MakerBot_CES_2015_Fx.pdf

Here’s what is new for MakerBot in 2015.

According to Makerbot.com, MakerBot PLA Composite Filaments are made with composites of real Metal (including Bronze, Iron), Stone (including Limestone) and Wood (including Maple) that “provide beautiful, realistic and highly stabilized material“ for fifth – generation MakerBot Replicator^® 3D Printers.

Coming in late 2015, these new filaments have the look and feel of the actual metal, stone or woood, yet retain the nontoxic and ease-of‐use properties that make PLA such a popular 3D printing material.
- These new MakerBot PLA Composite Filaments bring aesthetically pleasing material to 3D printing and brings Real-Time Prototyping closer to the actual appearance of a finished product.
- 3D print decorative bowls, furniture prototypes, model handles, and more. Sand, stain, oil, or polish to replicate the look and feel of your favorite wood.
- The Bronze and Iron MakerBot PLA Composite Filaments have the weight and look of and also retain the properties of those metals. The Bronze will naturally develop a patina over time and the Iron can be used for numerous functional purposes, including magnetization. Bronze Filament is ideal for jewelry, sculpture, archeological models, or your next favorite personal accessory. Using Iron Filament, make prototypes of metal parts, crafts, tools, or mechanical models that you can magnetize and polish to a smooth finish.
- Make elegant busts, realistic skeletons, paleontological or dental models with filament that looks and feels like real limestone. The Limestone can be stained or painted with just a pen and is what MakerBot believes to be a great material for architectural and archeological 3D prints.
- To learn more about MakerBot PLA Composite Filaments, visit http://store.makerbot.com/filament/composite.
Paired with special MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruders, MakerBot PLA Composite Filaments are planned to be available for printing on the MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer, the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer and the MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer.
The MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruder was created to be modular and easily swappable. New Smart Extruders are developed to match the new materials.
- With extra MakerBot Smart Extruders on hand, you can easily swap out the extruder to match the material you are using and minimize downtime caused by clogs or mechanical issues.

MakerBot 3D Professional Services is a new division that brings MakerBot’s years of experience in the 3D printing industry directly to customers via expert consulting, education, design services, 3D printed products and software applications for companies, organizations and schools interested in incorporating 3D printing.

The launch of MakerBot 3D Professional Services includes:
- Consulting from MakerBot,
- MakerBot Learning,
- 3D Design Services by MakerBot,
- MakerBot 3D Printed Products, and
- MakerBot Innovation Center Management Platform.

MakerBot Mobile True Remote Printing and Monitoring is designed to allow full control and monitoring of 3D printing on a fifth-generation MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer from anywhere, anytime, via a Wi-Fi or cell network and will be available in early 2015.

MakerBot Kit for MODO 801 is an application designed in partnership with the global software company The Foundry for MODO 801, that takes advantage of MakerBot’s open API and full integration with Thingiverse.com, one of the largest 3D design communities in the world for viewing, sharing, downloading and 3D printing 3D designs.

This integration allows MODO and Thingiverse users the ability to store, share and 3D print designs made with MODO 801.

MakerBot Thingiverse and GE FirstBuild Icebox Challenge Winners unveiled!

Have you ever dreamed of being able to accessorize your home appliances with items made just for your lifestyle? Now you can with innovative 3D printed refrigerator accessories inspired by MakerBot Thingiverse and GE FirstBuild’s Icebox Challenge winning 3D printed accessories. Need a pizza box holder? A way to monitor your milk from the grocery store? What about unique storage solutions? FirstBuild is incorporating some of the 3D printed accessories crowdsourced from the Thingiverse and FirstBuild communities into its new ChillHub smart refrigerator….The Icebox Challenge is just the first of several design and innovation challenges that the MakerBot Thingiverse and GE FirstBuild communities are undertaking in 2015 to showcase the power of Real-Time Prototyping™ on a MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer.

Martha Stewart for MakerBot Digital Store is planning to expand in 2015 with new collections.