01-10-2012: MakerBot unveiled Replicator

It allowed for larger builds, two-color 3D printing (and started the consumer 3D printing hype)

On January 10, 2012, MakerBot Industries unveiled the MakerBot Replicator. The 3D printer, showcased at CES fair in Las Vegas, was the company’s first fully assembled device aimed at broader accessibility for creators and hobbyists alike. Although the Replicator still featured an amateur wooden casing, like all its earlier models, it was a major success for the company and served as the trigger for the explosion of consumer 3D printing hype that persisted in the AM industry for the next five years.

Capable of printing objects up to 8.9 x 5.7 x 5.9 inches (22.6 x 14.5 x 15.0 cm), the Replicator significantly improved on its predecessor, the Thing-O-Matic, which had a smaller build volume of 5 x 5 x 6 inches (12.7 x 12.7 x 15.2 cm). Its advanced Stepstruder MK8 extruder allowed for more precise and larger builds, offering compatibility with both ABS and PLA filaments.

Two configurations were available: a single-extruder model for $1,749 and a dual-extruder version for $1,999, enabling multi-color printing—a cutting-edge feature at the time. And even though paying such a high price for a wooden 3D printer seems absurd today, it's worth noting that just four months later, when Stratasys unveiled its first desktop-grade 3D printer, the Mojo, it was priced at $9,900.

These advancements were designed to cater to MakerBot’s growing base of enthusiasts, educators, and professionals, as well as to push 3D printing into the mainstream market. The launch was combined with a relaunch of Thingiverse, MakerBot’s online platform for sharing digital files. It featured enhanced search functions, improved user profiles, and streamlined sharing tools.

The MakerBot Replicator set a new benchmark for consumer-friendly 3D printing, solidifying MakerBot’s position as a leader in the emerging desktop 3D printing industry. Interestingly—something rare in today’s market—just eight months later, MakerBot released the next iteration of its 3D printer, the Replicator 2, which raised the bar even higher, becoming an absolute standard for countless successors for years to come.

Source: www.techcrunch.com