Alpha, thanks for the critique. Not very flattering to the manufacturer, but honest.

A toy for the rich kids---.

I'm with you KAP. Untill the prices come way down I'm my makerbot

Thanks for the first hand report. Sorry it disappointed.

Had a thunk (springer thread was on my updates page just above this) could you use the makerbot to create an entire hull (ribs, stringers, hull exterior, may even motor mounts) in one piece and just install the running gear in it? I don't think makerbot is big enough for it but an interesting idea.... I found this one from a little while back of an airplane that was printed, but I wonder if anyone has done a boat. I would think a springer (with it minimal structure and flat profiles would be ideal) here is the link to the airplane

3d Printing - World's First 3d Printed Plane (2 min 26 sec)

Foo

Actually,the water pump blew on my car on Tuesday, 2hrs later pump in hand waiting for a friend to pick me up to get the new on..I looked this thing over..Its so simple,,wouldn't it have been nice to just print another one.
Then as i inspected this pump ,that would not be possible as a complete working unit..It would have to be 6 pieces..and I would still have to find rubber O-rings and permanent bearings..and then assemble it..
In the end ..I still would have to hit the Napa..for antifreeze..so just as well get a complete unit..
The printer has its place..just not to replace my water pump...the pulley ..yes...pump...no

Nasa is looking at them to..
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/right...210400482.html

sorry ...fixed the link

Makes a guy woner how fast these machines will evolve if NASA or the European Space Agency sinks their teeth into these ,grabs the ball and runs with it..
i mean the printers have gottent this far,apparently just from making prototypes and business models..now somebody wants to put them to work in space..propably be printing solar panel's by the end of the decade..

http://www.innovationnewsdaily.com/7...n-factory.html

here:

National Geographic Known Universe S03E06 Print Tools (4 min 54 sec)

I have continued printing things, and I have made some progress. Now almost each time I have a good print. The most important progress came from changing the plate temperature from 100°C (default value) to 110°C. No more parts separating from the plate during printing. Also, I understand better the various parameters (speed etc) and their impact on build quality. I have printed relatively big parts and they are nice.

So, definitively, fooman, you can build the parts you mention. Maybe not in one piece because overhanging areas are a problem. Some parts have to be cut in two and assembled later. Precision is very good, so this is not a big issue.

Concerning overhanging, I have printed a sphere with a flat base, and it was a success. Limited overhanging like with that sphere is OK.

By the way, with Shapeways overhanging does not seem to be an issue. But Shapeways is expensive if you print many parts.

After more trials, I confirm my earlier conclusion : nice to play with the Replicator, it works OK after hacking, but for that money I would have expected a lot less issues.

Couldn't you use the second printing head to lay down a dissolvable support material?

I know that the high end machines lay down a brown material along with the part.
When the part is placed in a lye bath, the brown material dissolves and you
are left with the "working" parts.

The tinkerers have been working on this for a couple of years. They found that they could lay down a substructure using PLA. Ultimately, they came up with the following procedure to dissolve away internal support material, using rubbing alcohol and some serious chemicals, [pronounce serious: hazardous].

http://www.makerbot.com/blog/2010/10...port-material/

Lots of fun. For west coasters, there should be a representative of Makerbot at the Maker Faire in May and other Faires as well.

I've printed big parts (relative to the machine plate) (150x110x10 mm) and they all came out noticably bended after cooling. Another disappointment. Maybe this can be solved by tweaking the percentage of filling of hollow areas (a parameter in the replicatorg program).

For the moment, the only perfect parts I have been able to build are either compact (cube, cone, sphere around 5 cm) or slightly bigger but thin (a few mm).

Makerbot has a nice support, though, and promise to ship some replacement parts ... to be followed.

Alpha

Are you running a heated bed. You will find a lot of information here http://forum.seemecnc.com/index.php

Dave

i for one sure dont like the idea, what a great way for us to totally depend on machines to do everything, how soon will be the day that smart machines will figure out humans out dated,

Skynet will become self aware in about 6 yrs.

A guy I know has a reasonable CNC framework kit he sells online...this is the skeleton. You would still have to purchase the electronics: Steppers, leadscrews, router etc...but this is a pretty good value compared to other kits available.

http://www.castcnc.com/index.html

Just thought Id toss that out there for those who 3d printing may not accomplish the goals they have