MakerBot 3D printers have never been more reliable than with the new Smart Extruder+

There are so many great features which the range of MakerBot 3D printers can offer schools and the MakerBot Smart Extruder is certainly one of them…

The extruder on a 3D printer is the part which actually does the printing and it works by pushing filament through to the hot end, where the filament is then melted and deposited as part of a 3D print. The extruder is a crucial part for any 3D printer; after all, if the extruder stops working – you are left unable to print! MakerBot appreciate how incredibly frustrating any down time can be for both teachers and students and that in a classroom, teachers don’t have the luxury of time to troubleshoot an extruder or to take it apart in the hope of fixing the fault. And so, that’s why they have designed the easily swappable MakerBot Smart Extruder. The MakerBot Smart Extruder is simply held in place by powerful magnets and can therefore be easily swapped for a new Smart Extruder in a matter of minutes – seconds even! There are no tools required, meaning it’s safe and easy to change and by always having a spare Smart Extruder in the cupboard, you can relax knowing that if any problems arise, you can get back to printing as quickly as possible.

The MakerBot Smart Extruder isn’t called smart for nothing! The Smart Extruder’s sensors send feedback to the 3D printer motherboard, as well as both the MakerBot Desktop and Mobile apps. If it detects the absence of filament, it will instantly pause your print and make you aware, so you can reload filament and start from where you left off.

Although the MakerBot Smart Extruder was already different from any other, MakerBot are dedicated to constantly improving the ease of use of their 3D printers and as such have now released the new, improved, MakerBot Smart Extruder+. MakerBot wanted to provide a more reliable extruder which offered greater print success over longer periods of time and an extruder that would last longer. And with the MakerBot Smart Extruder+ they have done just that. In order to achieve this, the Smart Extruder+ went through rigorous testing – in fact, more testing that MakerBot has ever performed before! Two independent MakerBot teams in two locations tested 119 of the MakerBot Smart Extruder+ in total and found that the Smart Extruder performed consistently and reliably for more than 160,000 hours, which is 18 years of testing! But as a result, MakerBot have managed to reduced filament jams, reduce clogging and underextrusion, as well as ensure better connectivity by using stronger magnets and longer pogo pins.

The MakerBot Smart Extruder+ is now available to purchase for the MakerBot range of 3D printers. To get a MakerBot Smart Extruder+ for your 3D printer or to enquire about renting a MakerBot 3D printer for your school, give us a call on 01628 667373 – we’re always happy to help.