MakerBot has announced the availability of the MakerBot LABS Experimental Extruder for METHOD. With the new extruder, users will be able to leverage Method 3D printer as an open materials platform and explore a wide range of third-party materials.
The announcement complies with what Johan Boer told 3D ADEPT Media at Formnext 2019 about their materials development program and MakerBot Labs.
Between the launch at Formnext and today, the program has attracted several acknowledged materials producers of the industry including BASF 3D Printing Solutions and LEHVOSS Group which have recently joined a list that already includes Jabil, Polymaker, Kimya, and Mitsubishi Chemical.
As a reminder, what makes METHOD 3D Printers outstanding, is this 100°C heated chamber which allows for the production of accurate parts; parts that are more accurate than those produced on a desktop 3D printer with a heated build plate, the latter also taking into account the type of materials leveraged.
Furthermore, the use of Soluble SR-30 supports from Stratasysand water soluble PVA lead to a more successful result when the part integrates complex geometries.
With a modified hot end, the new MakerBot LABS extruder includes interchangeable nozzle assemblies and expanded print settings in MakerBot’s print preparation software, MakerBot Print. The LABS extruder can reach up to 300°C, and includes sensors that track temperature, materials, and extruder jams.
“By transforming METHOD into an open materials platform, we provide our users with an incredibly powerful tool to realize their ideas. Engineers can now print a growing number of advanced third-party materials on an industrial 3D printing platform, which was designed to produce stronger and more accurate parts than competing desktop 3D printers,” said Johan-Till Broer, VP of Product Development, MakerBot. “We have partnered with some of the best material companies in the industry to rapidly expand and diversify the materials portfolio for METHOD. With our partners and customers, we will explore the boundaries of what’s possible with METHOD to unlock new applications.”
Last but not least, the subsidiary of Stratasys lays emphasis on the fact that the MakerBot LABS Experimental Extruder for METHOD is an experimental product and is not covered under limited warranty or MakerCare.
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