Makerbot replicator z18 3d printer price

Optimized for MakerBot PLA Filament

Safe for the office or classroom, this filament is non-toxic and easy-to-print with minimal warping or curling. It’s also optimized to give you the best results and highest quality for the MakerBot Replicator Z18 Printer.

Use MakerBot Tough PLA to print durable, high-impact strength prototypes and fixtures. This filament has been tested and optimized to deliver repeatable results with the Tough PLA Smart Extruder+

Full-Featured Software

Store, organize and access all your 3D designs in the cloud-enabled library in MakerBot Print.

For on-board control of your printer, the Z18 features a 3.5″ full-color LCD display and intuitive dial. Access your object library, see previews of your 3D model files, and employ utilities to set up and maintain your 3D printer.

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True Colour PLA Filament

Print amazing, large pieces in many vibrant colours.

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Tough PLA

For large prints that require tensile strength for testing.

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Print Technology	Print Technology Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Build Volume	Build Volume 30.0 x 30.5 x 45.7 cm (11.8 x 12.0 x 18.0 in)
Layer Resolution	Layer Resolution 100 microns [0.0039 in]
Build Surface	Build Surface Injection Molded PC-ABS
Filament Diameter	Filament Diameter 0.069 in [1.75 mm]
Extruder Compatibility	Extruder Compatibility Smart Extruder+, Tough PLA Smart Extruder +
Filament Compatibility	Filament Compatibility MakerBot PLA Filament Large Spool 0.9 kg [2.0 lb], MakerBot Tough PLA Filament Large Spool 0.9 kg [2.0 lb]
Camera Resolution	Camera Resolution 320 x 240
Software Bundle	Software Bundle MakerBot Print Software
Supported OS for MakerBot Print	Supported OS for MakerBot Print Windows 7 & 10, Mac OS X (10. 9+), No Linux Support
Connectivity	Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB
Product Dimensions	Product Dimensions 19.4 x 22.2 x 33.9 in [49.3 x 56.5 x 86.1 cm]
Product Weight	Product Weight 90 lbs [41 kg]

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MakerBot Replicator Z18 Review 2022

4.2

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Printing Area	300 mm x 305 mm x 457
Layer Resolution	100 microns
Supported Filament	PLA
Filament Diameter	1.75mm
Extruders	1
Extruders Diameter	0. 4 mm

With the Replicator Z18, MakerBot strives for professional grade quality and build volume while keeping a desktop form factor, and on the surface, this 3D printer does just that doing away with the cumbrous size of standalone pro models that cost remarkably more. Think large scale industrial prototypes not produced by the industrial-like mega printers that inhabit the dark recesses of workshops across the world.

Does it stand up to these grandiose aspirations and what exactly does the MakerBot Replicator Z18 sport under the hood? Here’s our take on the Replicator Z18.

Table of ContentsShow

Design and Features

From the onset, the Replicator Z18 emits an air of refined construction with stunning sheer right angles that define it’s all black powder-coated casing and towering cabinet allure. Acrylic panels provide front and side windows onto the build area, while the back panel is filled in.

The front window swivels open with a simple press of the locking mechanism to access the build plate, and once shut provides a fully enclosed heated chamber that controls the ambient temperature to ward off warping caused by thermal fluctuations.

As for the construction, the frame and mechanical parts are made of powder-coated steel with PC-ABS and aluminum composite material weighing in at a total of 90lbs. In keeping with the Cartesian FDM design, the Replicator utilizes the common Z18 1.8° step angle with 1/16 micro-stepping motor configuration printing at a set layer resolution of 100 microns with a standard 0.4 mm nozzle. Nothing fancy here, but well within the realm of acceptability.

The build area measures in at a massive 300 mm x 305 mm x 457 mm with an emphasis on verticality, but truth be told all three axes are covered with over 2500 cubic inches of build space and enough room to print even the most ambitiously sized prototypes and parts. The build plate itself is formed of injection molded PC-ABS and sits atop the plate support bracket via a set of clips for easy removal once a print is finished.

The Replicator Z18 on sale today is a little different to the original model launched back in 2014 alongside the much-maligned fifth generation of Replicator 3D printers. The most significant upgrade is swapping out the notoriously error-prone extruder for the significantly improved MakerBot Smart Extruder +. The modular design means you can swap it out for a replacement with ease and an inbuilt feature detects filament levels and ferries progress information across to the software for monitoring.

As far as filament support, the Replicator Z18 is limited to 1.75 mm diameter PLA. Although MakerBot recommends its own proprietary PLA in large 2 lbs spools and says the Z18 is optimized for it, the printer can accommodate third-party filament without any problems.

MakerBot flogs its filament as durable, resistant to impacts and subject to over 160,000 hours of testing or so goes the marketing spiel, but we found it to be overpriced for little improvement on standard fare PLA and it performed worse than lower-priced alternatives.

In other features, the Replicator Z18 includes a 320 X 240 resolution onboard camera that takes reference pictures every few seconds for monitoring through the MakerBot app and to share on Makerbot Thingiverse and social media if you are that way inclined. It also has a bellow that guides with the extruder to prevent heat from escaping, a nozzle brush, and filament collection waste bin.

The Replicator has a 3.5 inch full-color LCD with a turn dial to navigate the menus allowing you to peruse your library of models, calibrate the printer, lower the build plate, load filament, monitor chamber/print head temperature, preheat the printer, swap out the extruder, update the firmware and so on. We found it has a degree of depth without being overly complex and remaining intuitive to use. It works as a great hands-on addition to software.

Speaking of software, you can connect to the Replicator Z18 via WiFi, USB-to-PC, and Ethernet using MakerBot’s slicing desktop software and mobile app, MakerBot Print and MakerBot Mobile respectively. The software supports STL, OBJ, THING, MakerBot file types. Both applications are compatible with Windows 7/10, Linux, and Mac OS X and benefit from regular updates to improve functionality and performance. It links up with Thingiverse offering an amazing archive of models to print.

Cloud-based MakerBot Print does the majority of the work behind the scenes with tinkering options for the user to mess around with from print mode, to scaling, adding supports, rafts, and creating print profiles. It won’t wow enthusiasts, but is more than able to process and send files for printing without issues. The mobile app is a skeleton version of the desktop software and allows you to monitor prints, receive notifications, pause and cancel prints on the go.

Assembly

The MakerBot Replicator Z18 ships in a package mounted on a wooden crate befitting its large size. The protective packaging matches the price tag, and MakerBot has gone to length to protect the printer. The small touches like a piece of foam preventing the door from smashing open and closed are a welcome touch. The biggest issue was getting it off the crate and onto a table, which turned out to be a three-person job due to the large profile and weight of the Replicator Z18.

The package includes the printer itself, a quick start unpacking guide, PLA filament spool, Smart Extruder +, build plate tape, power cord, USB cable, and 5 mm hex wrench.

There’s a 16 step installation process before you can start using the printer, which should take no more than 15 minutes. It involves removing the protective tape, clips, and film first, then adjusting the rubberized feet to the surface. Next comes fitting the extruder (very straightforward – just push it into the carriage and magnets secure it), loading the filament spool into the holding bay that sits on the bottom of the printer below the LCD, feeding filament into the tubing, applying tape to the build plate, plugging in the power cord, and following the onscreen instructions.

Once powered up, we had to feed the filament from the tubing into the extruder which involved heating the extruder, feeding the end until it latched onto the gears, then fitting the feeder tube over the top of the extruder. It couldn’t be simpler, and the LCD provides detailed information throughout the process.

The Z18 comes pre-leveled although the assisted build plate feature is easy to use and guides the user through each step of the process instructing the user to tighten screws based on blinking LEDs. Plugging in the USB cable and firing up MakerBot Print also triggered a firmware update, which is a good sign of constant support.

Printing

At first, the print quality of the Replicator Z18 was nothing short of disappointing with successive botched prints. Eager to get the most out of the printer, we contacted MakerBot support who walked us through leveling the bed assisted by the LCD instructions. A few twists of screws later and we were back in business. It had dislodged in transit.

From here onward, the print quality was nothing short of astonishing. Regardless of the size of the print, the Z18 produced blemish-free, smooth prints with details worthy of its marketing as a professional grade printer. The Smart Extruder + makes all the difference and gone are the days of joyless troubleshooting that defined earlier models of the Z18.

The quality of the prints mean they can compete with the highly accurate demands of an engineering context where parts, models, and prototypes are used to run stress tests before full-blown manufacturing commences.

Where the Z18 loses points is when we consider its speed: it’s a slow printer, and although faster than previous iterations, it is still way behind similarly priced printers. Equally, it takes a while to warm up and get printing. We understand that upcoming firmware updates will attempt to increase the speed, so MakerBot is aware of the issue and is working towards a solution.

Support

From our experience, the support from MakerBot is of the highest caliber and the people we spoke to were not only friendly and knowledgeable but eager to help us get the most out of the Replicator Z18.

MakerBot offers an extensive library of troubleshooting guides, educational articles, phone/live chat/email contacts, part replacement service, and up to three years of warranty coverage if you opt for the MakerCare Platinum package (plus priority response, wear and tear coverage, etc. ). The standard warranty is a respectable one-year.

Verdict

MakerBot lives up to its ambitions of providing a desktop-friendly professional grade printer with a massive build volume and overall ease of use. It’s miles away from the first versions of the Z18 plagued with numerous issues and the fruit of MakerBot listening to builders to finally ship the printer it was supposed to be when it first launched.

The print quality is of the highest level and should suit most professional environments down to a tee; however, we see the Z18 as the perfect prosumer 3D printer for hobbyists that have the budget and drive to create sizeable, complicated prints on a reliable, stylish, and well-designed printer.

The slow speed, cumbersome profile and software limitations don’t weigh in enough to sway us away from recommending the MakerBot Replicator Z18.

MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer

from MakerBot Industries, LLC The MakerBot Replicator Z18 is MakerBot's large-scale 3D printer.

The name speaks for itself. "Z18" stands for "18" vertical, which gives a good idea of ​​the true dimensions of the new printer's chamber. In the horizontal plane, the dimensions are somewhat more modest, but still impressive: 12 inches along the X and Y axes. In metric terms, it comes out 305x305x457mm, which is an order of magnitude higher than 252x199x150mm for the flagship.

About the MakerBot Replicator Z18

One of the biggest complaints about MakerBot Replicator 3D printers has always been a relatively small build area. The company itself has always parried such attacks, pointing out the possibility of printing large parts in parts, followed by gluing. And yet, this approach is more pragmatic when printing with ABS plastic, which can be easily glued (in fact, fused) with acetone. "Replicators" are traditionally created to work with polylactide (aka PLA plastic). But as it turns out, the creation of a professional and even industrial-level printer with a large working area has long been part of the company's plans. And so, it happened. The fifth generation of MakerBot Replicator printers includes three models at once: the basic, flagship Replicator, the compact and affordable Replicator Mini, and the professional printer for large-scale printing, called the Replicator Z18.

Design

The Replicator Z18 is MakerBot's first large-scale target 3D printer

due to a high-tech gadget. It seems that the company is trying to erase the last traces of its humble beginnings in the ranks of RepRap enthusiasts.

As with the Mini, the openings in the Z18 are covered with transparent panels. In general, this is not the best option for PLA printers, as polylactide takes a long time to vitrify. As a rule, in such cases, open cases are used to speed up the cooling process. Until now, the MakerBot team has adhered to this unspoken rule, and still adheres to it - the flagship has an open case. The developers explained the closed case of the Replicator Mini with the need to increase user safety, because this printer is intended for use in everyday life and educational institutions, and curious kids can easily get burned on a hot extruder. But the choice of a closed case for the professional Z18 is not entirely clear. One can only hope that the problem of ventilation and cooling has been properly addressed by the designers - judging by the quality of the models shown, it is.

New extruder for MakerBot fifth generation printers

Like the rest of its peers, the Z18 is equipped with a new "smart" extruder. This printhead is equipped with a special sensor that can alert the user when a supply has stopped feeding. Printing automatically pauses while waiting for the spool to be replaced. The importance of this feature cannot be overestimated, especially given the size of the parts produced by the Z18 - it would be a shame to lose a model just because the plastic ran out in the middle of the printing process, and neither the printer nor the user noticed the impending disaster. In addition, the extruder is equipped with Hall sensors that allow precise platform calibration.

True, there is a fly in the ointment in a barrel of honey. The extruder used is universal and can be used on both the Z18 and the Mini and the flagship. And if there are no reports on the reliability of the large and small versions of the “replicator” yet (so far only pre-orders are being processed), then the flagship has already been tested with not entirely comforting results. Some users complain about the weak pulling mechanism of the extruder and clogging thereof. This problem can be exacerbated when using third-party supplies, which often fall short of the high standards of MakerBot supplies. An oval cross-section of the thread or dusting can easily lead to the failure of the extruder, and repairing it at home will not be an easy task. There is, however, an unusual plus: the extruder is mounted only on strong magnets. If desired, the entire assembly can be “teared off” and a new one inserted in its place, and the failed one can be sent to a service center.

The Replicator Z18 comes with a built-in camera to monitor the print process

There's also a built-in camera that allows you to monitor the print process remotely. Moreover, MakerBot is actively developing cloud support - as the head of the company, Bree Pettis, says, now you can start printing and go to a cafe for a cup of tea, but at the same time watch the process using your smartphone.

The Z18 work table is made from a mixture of polycarbonate and ABS plastic. For a better setting of the first layer, it is recommended to use a regular wax impregnated masking tape. This method is well known and popular among DIY enthusiasts. You can buy the tape yourself, or you can purchase ready-to-size coatings from MakerBot. Of course, the use of a plastic table means that the platform is not heated. In principle, it is not needed, since PLA plastic has a very low degree of shrinkage, and the probability of twisting the first layers is minimal. In addition, the same closed case can contribute to uniform cooling and prevent deformation.

Mobile stand for Replicator Z18

The considerable size (493x565x854mm) and weight (41kg) of the printer prompted the developers to create a special cabinet on casters. Whether such a stand is worth the declared $1,250 is a big question. It may be easier to find a permanent installation site.

Print

Replicators have always been renowned for their high resolution and print accuracy. The designers of this company never promise anything fantastic, but keep their word. The Z18 is designed to print with a minimum layer thickness of 100 microns, which is excellent, and often overkill. The positioning accuracy of the print head is also on top, reaching 11 microns along the X and Y axes, and 2.5 microns along the Z axis. And do not forget about the volume of the working area, which allows you to create such masterpieces in their entirety:

MakerBot CEO Bree Pettis before and after "plastic surgery"

Special consumable reels are an interesting innovation. If standard reels reach 1kg in material weight, then special spools for Z18 weigh all 4.5kg. It is understandable - large models require a large consumption of materials. In addition, it is possible to use branded coils of less weight. The latter are loaded into a sliding compartment built into the bottom of the device. The giant 4.5 kg spools come in their own case for external installation.

Special 4.5kg consumable spools

Fortunately, the creators have left the possibility of using third-party consumables. There are no tricks to prevent their use, unlike rival 3D Systems printers. The only obstacle will be the non-standard size of branded coils for the fifth generation, for which the internal compartments of printers are designed. However, non-branded coils can be installed outside.

Software

Like the rest of the fifth generation replicators, the Z18 uses the MakerBot Desktop software suite, which includes MakerWare's digital model processing and slicing software, plus integration with Thingiverse's proprietary website and cloud support.

MakerBot Desktop software combines editor, slicer and browser functions

Create your own models using common CAD software. Those who wish can also use the MakerBot Digitizer proprietary 3D scanner to clone existing physical models.

For data exchange, the Z18 is equipped with an Ethernet interface and a USB connection. Developers abandoned SD cards in favor of supporting USB drives - offline printing is still possible. The Z18 has a control module, similar to the module on the flagship. There is a large LCD screen and a convenient rotary knob, “like on expensive stereo systems”. Designers have decided not to mess with touch displays yet.

Summary

The Replicator Z18 is the lifelong dream of company founder Bree Pettis. Bree does not hide the fact that this device is intended not just for professional, but for industrial use. According to him, the Z18 will be actively used for prototyping and small-scale production by MakerBot itself. With all this, the Z18 is no more difficult to handle than the flagship Replicator, being quite within the power of the average user - an optimized design and software guarantee this.

Some dampness of the new extruder and minor issues with the printer firmware will no doubt be resolved in time. MakerBot has always taken the quality of its devices and user support seriously. There is only one serious drawback - a very high cost. With a listing price of $6,499, this formidable 3D printer will only be affordable for well-to-do professionals.

Advantages

• Large build area
• High print quality
• Easy to use

Shortcomings

• Shortcomings in the design of the extruder and firmware
• High price

New 3D printers and software from MakerBot « 3D « Knowledge base MnoChernil.ru

MakerBot has announced 3 new 3D printers and a series of software products that will be presented at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) exhibition that started today in Las Vegas.

All new fifth generation 3D printers have a 3.5-inch color screen, can be connected via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and can be operated via a mobile application. Also, new items come with an updated extruder (essentially a print head), which warns of the end of the plastic filament and can continue to complete the job after loading the consumable. Another plus is that the extruder is now mounted on magnets, and not on complex latches, and is compatible with PLA plastic filament.

New MakerBot Magnetic Mount Extruder

The next general improvement is an improved platform-to-printhead calibration-matching process. For example, on the initial model - Mini - it is fully automated.

MakerBot Replicator Mini

Compact yet fast enough, the MakerBot Mini 3D printer addresses consumer demand for printing 3D models with a maximum size of 10 x 10 12.5 cm.

MakerBot Replicator Mini

Designed for beginners, it has 200 µm resolution per layer and a rather high price of $1375 (available for order now).

MakerBot Replicator

The classic and world-famous MakerBot Replicator 3D printer has been upgraded again. The print area is 25.2 x 19.9 x 15 cm. The fifth generation model has increased print speed, resolution up to 100 microns per layer and a slightly reduced price, now it is offered for $ 2899 (already available for order).

MakerBot Replicator Z18

MakerBot claims the new Replicator Z18 is the fastest “3D” printer in the world, capable of printing large models up to 30.5 x 30.5 x 45.7 cm. It has a camera that can real-time display of the printing process and is designed specifically for professionals, its price is 6499 US dollars (will be available for order in the spring of 2014).

MakerBot 3D Ecosystem

Proprietary software environment (“ecosystem”) for 3D printing includes:

• Updated mobile and desktop apps;
• MakerBot PrintShop for easy creation of unique 3D models: bracelets, plaques, signs and other typical items.
• MakerBot Digital Store - A digital store for buying and selling models and model collections, starting at $1 per file.

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