MakerBot has introduced the Method, which it deems the first "performance"-grade desktop 3D printer.
Leveraging industrial 3D printing technologies developed by Makerbot's parent company, Stratasys, the Method aims to provide the precision, reliability, and dimensional accuracy of an industrial 3D printer at a fraction of the cost.
This printer, priced at $6,499, is aimed at engineers, product designers, and other professsionals.
Industrial technologies on the Method include a circulating heated chamber, dual high-performance extruders, precision PVA water-soluble supports, dry-sealed material bays, and an ultra-rigid metal frame.
The Method also includes built-in sensors and automation features that are designed to provide users with a seamless experience.
Meet a New 3D Printing Architecture
The Method represents a departure from the RepRap open-source tradition out of which nearly all fused filament fabrication (FFF) printers on the market—including previous generations of MakerBot printers—have sprung.
To meet the exacting standards that a performance 3D printer would require, the company built the Method on a whole new architecture.
Nadav Goshen, MakerBot's CEO, points out that most desktop 3D printers today are based on hobby-grade technology that aren't up to the mark for professional use.
The Method, he says, is all about providing a 3D printing platform for larger-scale output in those environments.
"Method provides a breakthrough in 3D printing that enables industrial designers and mechanical engineers to innovate faster and become more agile," Goshen says.
"It is built for professionals who need immediate access to a 3D printer that can deliver industrial performance to accelerate their design cycles.
"Method is developed to bring industrial technologies into an accessible platform, breaking the price-performance barrier and redefining rapid prototyping in the process."
The Filament Choices
MakerBot offers two overall classes of materials for use with the Method: Precision and Specialty.
Precision filaments are tested extensively by MakerBot for the highest reliability and measurably accurate parts.
Filaments in this class include MakerBot Tough, MakerBot PLA, and MakerBot PVA.
Specialty filaments, in contrast, are for users looking for materials with advanced properties to push the limits of what's possible with desktop 3D printing.
These materials provide basic print performance and can require additional workflow steps to print successfully.
The first material on the platform will be PETG, one of the most widely used polymers, which has excellent engineering properties.
More will follow.
MakerBot's filament materials for the Method are manufactured to exacting diameter and quality specifications.
The spools are shipped in vacuum-sealed metalized polyester bags, with the intent that quality be preserved right up until opening.
Also, the Smart Spool that MakerBot uses with its filaments here provides valuable information to the printer, including the type, the color, and the amount of material remaining.
It does this via an RFID chip in the spool, with the info passed directly to MakerBot Print.
In addition, desiccant in the spool maintains a low moisture level inside the loading drawer/bay.
From CAD to Parts: The Method Behind the Method
The MakerBot Method allows users to turn their CAD files into parts faster by providing a seamless, reliable workflow without tinkering.
MakerBot claims print speeds up to twice as fast as those of desktop 3D printers.
MakerBot's Print Software integrates with 25 of the most popular CAD programs to allow designers and engineers to work with what they know best.
For easy collaboration, teams can also save 3D files as projects and share them via the native Cloud Management platform.
The Method offers out-of-the-box deployment and a hassle-free guided setup, making it easy to install and use.
The Method also includes automated maintenance procedures and support to ensure a smooth and seamless user experience.
According to MakerBot, the Method delivers industrial-level performance at one-third of the first-year cost of ownership of an entry-level industrial 3D printer.
Teams can reduce design risks by testing and validating prototypes with accuracy early and often, minimizing potential cost overruns later in production.
It is also designed to introduce an elevated level of speed and control into product design cycles while reducing production costs, helping businesses bring products to market faster.
Some Key Features
Precision is really the core aspect of the Method, though, that separates it from a typical desktop 3D printer.
It is designed to deliver industrial reliability and precision by carefully controlling every aspect of the 3D print environment.
MakerBot claims that the result is the output of repeatable, consistent parts with a dimensional accuracy of plus or minus 0.2mm, as well as vertical layer uniformity and cylindricity.
In addition, the dual extrusion system used by the Method, if used in concert with water-soluble PVA filament, can enable some complex, unrestricted geometries, such as elaborate overhangs without scarring.
The Method's dual extruders are built for high-speed printing without compromising the accuracy of parts.
A dual-drive gear system grips the material securely, while a powerful 19:1 gear ratio provides up to three times the push force of a typical desktop 3D printer.
This allows the Method to provide a consistent feed of material into the hot end to produce consistent geometry.
The thermal core has been lengthened, too, and is up to 50 percent longer than a standard desktop hot end to enable faster extrusion rates.
This longer core also allows for smooth extrusion throughout its high-speed movements and accelerations.
As for the printing area, the circulating heated chamber controls the temperature and quality of every layer as the print is laid down.
In providing full active heat immersion during the entire duration of the print, the Method allows the printed object to cool at a controlled rate, providing higher dimensional accuracy while improving layer adhesion and the strength of the part.
As I noted earlier, the ability to incorporate precise, dissolvable supports with a second filament material is key.
This will enable the fast, easy removal of supports without compromising the part's design or its dimensional accuracy.
Using water-soluble PVA for supports also eliminates the need for the harsh solvents used by industrial 3D printers for this purpose, or the manual labor of removing breakaway supports.
I mentioned the dessicant in the spools earlier.
Related to that, dry-sealed material bays form a seal to keep filament material pristine and to reduce moisture absorption.
A suite of built-in sensors monitors humidity and alerts users of any changes to the environment—a feature previously available only on industrial 3D printers.
This might seem extreme, but the feature is crucial for water-soluble PVA, which, by its nature, quickly absorbs moisture when left in the open.
That can have ruinous consequences for print quality.
As for the chassis of the Method, the ultra-rigid metal frame runs the full length to offset flexing.
Less flexing means more consistent prints with better output accuracy and fewer failures.
The Method: The Competition
As I noted up top, MakerBot touts the Method as the first "performance" 3D printer, bringing industrial-quality 3D printing to professionals at a fraction of the former cost.
That said, I've reviewed other 3D printers geared to professionals, such as the Ultimaker 3 ( at Amazon) and the Formlabs Form 2 ( at Amazon) .
On paper, the Method brings more to the table, but it is also considerably more costly than these models.
Is it worth the extra investment? Stay tuned for our deep-dive review of the MakerBot Method; it is expected to start shipping in the first quarter of 2019.
