New MakerBot experimental extruder

What are the key benefits of the new experimental extruder? 

Creative Flexibility with a Range of Materials
Push the boundaries of MakerBot 3D Printing with interchangeable nozzles, custom material print modes, and unlocked advanced print settings.

Freedom to Switch from Production to Sandbox
Quickly switch from the reliability of the Smart Extruder+ to the Experimental Extruder to test the limits of your ideas.

Drafting for Speed
Print existing PLA materials with the included large diameter draft nozzles and dramatically reduce total print time by up to 75%.

Designed to be hacked
With a modified thermal core and a more secure thermal barrier tube, the Experimental Extruder was redesigned to make changing nozzles easy.

MakerBot Labs Thingiverse Community + Resources
A community of creators and experimenters. Post a question to the Thingiverse community, find tips & tricks, and discover custom print modes as you push the limits of your Experimental Extruder. Visit at thingiverse.com/groups/makerbot-labs.

Who is the new experimental extruder designed for?

Professionals
Advanced users who have significant experience using 3D printers and want the option to experiment in a less controlled, sandbox-like environment (specifically with Draft printing or a 3rd party filament). 

Educators (High School and Higher Ed)
Specifically teachers who are advanced in 3D printing, have been using 3D printers for multiple years, and want to occasionally try new things within their lab. They don’t mind taking risks and committing time to the experience. 

Other Advanced 3D Printing Users
(Creators, Experimenters, Hardware Hackers, Artists, etc.)

MakerBot experimental Extruder is part of MakerBot Labs: www.makerbot.com/labs

MakerBot Labs is an experimental platform for advanced 3D printing users. It was born out of feedback from customers looking to tap their innovative spirit and expand their 3D printing experience. MakerBot Labs is at it’s heart a community of creators and experimenters empowered by experimental hardware from MakerBot and a platform for sharing custom settings and mods, collaborating, and gaining knowledge.

What are the components of MakerBot Labs? 

Modifiable Hardware (Experimental Extruder) 
Designed for the advanced user looking to push the limits of what's possible with MakerBot 3D printers. Customize your 3D printing experience with a modifiable hardware design including interchangeable nozzles. 

Custom Material Print Modes 
Unlock advanced print settings with the Experimental Extruder and other MakerBot Labs hardware. Once you’ve found the settings that work best for your chosen material, save a custom Material Print Mode and share it with the MakerBot Labs Community on Thingiverse. 

MakerBot Labs APIs 
Get under the hood of MakerBot hardware and software. Developers can access documentation about APIs and collaborate with other developers to interface with and expand the capabilities of MakerBot 3D Printers. 

MakerBot Labs Community 
Browse, collaborate, discuss, and download. MakerBot Labs on Thingiverse is the community for discussing Material Print Modes, software APIs, and hardware mods. Visit at thingiverse.com/groups/makerbot-labs. 

 

 

Comparison of MakerBot Swappable Extruders

	Smart Extruder+	Touch PLA Extruder	Experimental Extruder
Material use	MakerBot PLA for everyday use	MakerBot Tough PLA for durable prototypes and end-use parts	Experiment with new materials
Key selling point	High reliability	High reliability	Made for experimentation and draft printing
Tool life warranty	6-month warranty	6-month warranty	No warranty
Buying options	Ships with all printers and covered with optional MakerCare	Sold separately with Tough PLA bundle	Sold separately
Miscellaneous			Includes 4 interchangeable nozzles and 2 wrenches

**Always be upfront with your customer about the risks:

• This product is community supported and not covered under MakerCare, MakerBot Support, or warranty. 
• Expect a more hands-on experience that may include a significant time investment (trial and error). 
• Different materials print at different levels of difficulty. Consult the MakerBot Labs community for tips from the community to achieve best results.

Source: MakerBot