MakerBot launches the Replicator 2, and a retail storefront -- a MakerBot Operator Manifesto

MakerBot has just released two important announcements: first that they have shipped a 100 micron-resolution version of their Replicator printer; second, that they have opened a central Manhattan storefront to bring the gospel of 3D printing to the masses. MakerBot co-founder Bre Pettis has penned Boing Boing a MakerBot Operator Manifesto to mark the occasion:

Where we're going, there are no limitations: create your working flux capacitor by glueing MakerBotted components together for installation in your DeLorean.

Go big. With the MakerBot Replicator 2's 410 cubic inch build volume, you can finally create the trumpet you've been dreaming of.

Compete with the industrial machines. With the MakerBot Replicator 2's 100 micron layer resolution you can create models that will look like they were made on a refrigerator sized machine that costs 100 times the MakerBot Replicator 2.

Make the unreal real. Use your MakerBot to manifest unicorns, dragons, or a functional sonic screwdriver.

Resist buying things that you can make on your MakerBot Replicator 2. There is no deeper nerd cred than MakerBotting frames for your glasses.

Optimize the world. That contraption to hold your microscopes glass slides together in the dishwasher is just waiting for you to design and MakerBot it.

Repurpose everything. The springs in pens and motors pulled from old technology can be used to create the replica of that V8 supercharged hemi you've been lusting after.

Repurpose the models in Cornell's wonderful mechanical library to power your perpetual motion machine.

Prototype your inventions. We're still waiting for you to align the lasers with your MakerBotted oscillation overthruster.

Use what you've got. If you are a programmer, use the openSCAD tool to create parametric gears If you are a photographer, learn to use 123D Catch to scan the greatest works of art at your local museum.

Ignore the naysayers. Your jackalope powered hovercraft is achievable and don't forget to MakerBot a helmet for the jackalope.

Replicator 2

• [FrozenFire]

  And once again, MakerBot claims to have (re)invented 3D printing by slapping a steel frame onto the same printer while hiding their RepRap heritage. Bravo. Excellent business model.
  (they used to acknowledge it, they now claim to have single-handedly invented 3D printing along with PLA)

  • [Robert Baruch]

    Why is MakerBot required to acknowledge that it is derived from RepRap?

• [GoatLordMessiah]

   The store better be made out of 3D printed Bricks or I’ll be disappointed.

  • [Dan Hibiki]

     and then assembled with a brick laying printer

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pjV-XF0DVfM

• [Robert Holmén]

  $2200… these 3D printers for the masses seem to be getting more expensive, not less.

• [Mike Warot]

  100 microns per layer means this printer does 254 dpi,  about the same as a 1st generation laser printer.

• [SoItBegins]

  “Ignore the naysayers. Your jackalope powered hovercraft is achievable and don’t forget to MakerBot a helmet for the jackalope.”

  FOR SCIENCE! Also, because jackalopes are cute/cool.

• [Steve Coffman]

  It looks like Makerbot is going closed source with this release. Founder Bre wants to grow the company (currently 150 employees) substantially, and sees this as a necessary step since there’s not a lot of successful big open hardware companies, despite getting a lot of free help from the community to get where things are now. Maybe 3D printing for the masses is more of a core value than open source and slow community driven growth. Currently it’s $2500, so maybe he thinks he needs big money to get to the economy of scale where it can be back to being affordable. I’m conflicted.

• [Matt Bell]

  Does it irk anyone else when companies try to make up new verbs? Like MakerBotting?