This 3D Printer Improves On Excellence

You could think of the MakerBot Replicator+ desktop 3D printer as a souped-up version of the already excellent original Replicator, with considerable improvements in speed, build volume, and design.

- Tony Hoffman

The Replicator+ also adds workflow features that are useful for the professional audience for which it’s primarily intended, and it’s quieter than the previous version. A very worthy successor, it’s our Editors’ Choice for high-end, general-purpose 3D printers.

DESIGN AND FEATURES 

The all-black Replicator+ is large, measuring 16.2 by 17.4 by 20.8 inches (HWD) and weighing in at 35 pounds, 6 ounces, so it’s best kept on a table or bench of its own. With a rigid yet open frame, the 3D printer is open at the front, on the sides, and on top, permitting easy access to the print bed and easy viewing of prints in progress. Its build volume is 6.5 by 11.6 by 7.6 inches, 25 percent larger than its predecessor’s. According to MakerBot, it’s also 30 percent faster. The Ultimaker 2+ has symmetrical dimensions of 8.1 by 8.8 by 8.8 inches.

FILAMENT & EXTRUDER 

The Replicator+ uses 1.75mm polylactic acid (PLA) filament, which MakerBot sells in 2-pound spools for $48 for standard colors and $65 for specialty colors, including neon and translucent. This is near the high end of the price scale for PLA, though similar in price to what you get from Ultimaker, which uses thicker (3mm) filament. The Replicator+ also supports MakerBot’s new Tough PLA filament, a PLA composite that’s sold in a bundle (three spools plus the required Tough PLA Smart Extruder+ for $379). Tough PLA is strong but flexible, a good choice for engineers and other professionals who need durability and consistency.