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I was quite surprised the Makerbot is that expensive these days, until Is saw it was the price for the heavily upgraded ready-to-print machine. Together with s

by mxfh 14y ago

I was quite surprised the Makerbot is that expensive these days, until Is saw it was the price for the heavily upgraded ready-to-print machine. Together with some friends I built a 1st generation CupCake Makerbot about 3 years ago, the cost was less than $1000[1], only $750 for the most basic kit [2]. It took a while to assemble, but it was worth actually building it with your own hands and seeing for the first time to finally print something. Yet there were setbacks in the process, but the makerbot staff was always helpful in finishing the project. I assume the just can't provide that level of support for kits at the scale they are now. If makerbot would offer an unassembled kit again they could beat that symbolic price again any time and show what the extra work is actually worth. [1] http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2010-06/making-makerbot http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2010-06/making-makerbot [2] http://web.archive.org/web/20100110133658/http://store.makerbot.com/cupcake-cnc.html http://web.archive.org/web/20100110133658/http://store.maker...

replicatorblog 14y ago
This is a really good point. In an effort to have a more durable, packaged product, MakerBot has effectively abandoned the low end of the market. They're basically "Innovator's Dilemma"ing themselves in the space of a few short years.
MBCook 14y ago
They stopped offering kits when they stopped making the Thing-o-Matic. Tons of people complained, but on the Google group they explained the real reason: price. At this point, they can build the machines much faster, and that makes them cheaper. Instead of having to measure out that each kit get 4 of these bearings, 2 belts, 78 screws, 107 nuts, etc, they can just keep them all around the shop and save all the time from that portioning. I learned quite a bit assembling my ToM. If you consider that the Replicator has a larger build envelope, a better extruder, improved ease-of-use, and the LCD interface... the $1750 price isn't too bad. The dual extruders is pretty good at $2000. That said, it's not cheap. If I was starting out again today, I'd probably try making some sort of RepRap Mendel. I still love Makerbot, but the ability to save around $750-$1000 would be too compelling for me. They've moved up in the market some. They seem to be targeting professionals that could use a basic 3D printer more than they used to, and DIY hobbyists less.
- drone 14y ago
  Don't forget the cost of supporting people when they make a mistake putting it together, or having to send out another package to someone half way across the world because you left one bolt out, etc.

by mxfh 14y ago

replicatorblog 14y ago

This is a really good point. In an effort to have a more durable, packaged product, MakerBot has effectively abandoned the low end of the market. They're basically "Innovator's Dilemma"ing themselves in the space of a few short years.

MBCook 14y ago

They stopped offering kits when they stopped making the Thing-o-Matic. Tons of people complained, but on the Google group they explained the real reason: price. At this point, they can build the machines much faster, and that makes them cheaper. Instead of having to measure out that each kit get 4 of these bearings, 2 belts, 78 screws, 107 nuts, etc, they can just keep them all around the shop and save all the time from that portioning. I learned quite a bit assembling my ToM. If you consider that the Replicator has a larger build envelope, a better extruder, improved ease-of-use, and the LCD interface... the $1750 price isn't too bad. The dual extruders is pretty good at $2000. That said, it's not cheap. If I was starting out again today, I'd probably try making some sort of RepRap Mendel. I still love Makerbot, but the ability to save around $750-$1000 would be too compelling for me. They've moved up in the market some. They seem to be targeting professionals that could use a basic 3D printer more than they used to, and DIY hobbyists less.

drone 14y ago
Don't forget the cost of supporting people when they make a mistake putting it together, or having to send out another package to someone half way across the world because you left one bolt out, etc.