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Stay away from Makerbot and the Replicator 2X - Unfortunately, So much promise...
I purchased a Replicator 2X, Makercare, and a few hundred dollars worth of ABS filament in Nov of 2013.
I received it, unpackaged, leveled the build plate and printed the nut and bolt that come pre loaded. It was a fascinating experience to have a additive process rather than the cutting I am used to with my Shopbot PRT Alpha and my OKK MCV-300 (but CNC milling).
When I went to put them together you could not screw them together because they were out of round. I called tech support and was given some instructions for going through the machine and tightening belts. A couple hours.
I went on to print a few toys I made with a 3D program I own and a couple from Thingy Verse. I had some extrusion problems that support attributed to an out of level build plate. (I have tons of experience with leveling, particularly with the Shopbot) This machine can be very tricky due to the issue that there are two heads and Makerbot's slide a piece of paper process. You can never get both heads to have the same "Friction". I think this is due to operator creeping the build plate out of level during the adjustment if you pay attention to both heads, the heads not being aligned, and the build plate being out of flat. We are talking microns. It also changed dimension-ally when heated versus not. It is ABS...
After some playing around and a little tech I moved on to printing a job I had taken that would have (200) parts and take 3-400 hours to complete. I printed a few prototypes for the client in various colors. I had a few extrusion failures and talked to support. They sent a wave of canned instructions similar to what is on their webpage. The client settled on a Black piece with white highlights. I started production. And the serious problems start.
Immediately I start have extrusion problems. I redesign and redesign the back of the piece until I can keep the other nozzle from dragging for long periods of time through the other colors print. I spent at least 100 hours reprototyping. With time slipping away I began having to sit for the entire 1H 36M print and watch the extrusion process. Stop the print, pull out the filament, cut it, and unpause the print while helping the extruder get started again. Typically it would stop once or twice during the print. Nearing the end of the 1st (40) pieces I started to have to give that gentle help to the extruder for the entire print to keep it going as it fell to stopping about ever 10-15 seconds without the gentle push. (NOTE this is very difficult to do while the machine is whizzing around the part)
All the while I am trying to work with Makerbot, begging for solutions and getting the repeated canned responses. Most of the support tickets went unresponded and when they did respond it was like they skimmed the detailed description of the issues and would just answer one question.
Eventually I discovered a little axle on the x-gantry was not installed properly and was digging its was through the plastic housing on one side causing the belt to be tight on one side and loose the other, no way to tighten it further. This was the cause of the shifting and dragging through previously printed sections and the root of out of round issue. After a week of zero response from Makerbot email or phone calls I disassembled it and fixed it with a piece of paper, Vaseline, and some thin wire.
After some more trouble and support emails I got through to one Mike Rosado. He seemed more engaged and I was hopeful. He even sent me replacement parts and a new nozzle assembly and some videos. I spent a few hours doing those repairs, tried a print and same problem.
I tried printing in some other colors (remembering I had limited success in the beginning) I had a successful print in a dark blue Maker Sold. I got approval from the client to switch to that color. Then called Makerbot to buy. They have discontinued it and refuse to tell me who supplied, or what ratio of color is in it so I can try to find it elsewhere, it so I am stuck with black and no print.
Eventually I get them to agree to return the black I have and I buy more black from a different lot. I am promised I will receive my order by the end of the week. The following Tuesday I get a spool of white, but no Black. I call, promise to be called back, none. I send a support ticket nothing. I call again and am told I will get a call in a couple days. When I finally get a response they say they will have some filament out tomorrow or maybe next week. I canceled the order.
The machine is still down and even though I keep sending emails to anyone at Makerbot I get no response.
I lost the contract for the print job, plus any future from this client - it was substantial. Now I am out the purchase price for a machine that does not work. I lost the profit from the print job, and I have spent many hundreds with vendors that have potential solutions to the problems Makerbot will not acknowledge. i.e. the out of flat heated build plate and the faulty design of the plunger.
This a detailed review, although detailed I am leaving out a lot. Just want relay my experience with this company.
February 2014 · Industrial and Scientific