The most immediately obvious improvement in the new Replicator is its steel exterior, which is a lot more attractive its predecessor. “We made it to look good,” Pettis said.
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Resulting models are also a lot smoother, Pettis said.
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Like its predecessor, the Replicator 2 comes fully assembled, which MakerBot hopes attracts new customers.”I’m fully expecting engineers and architects to be salivating over his,” Pettis said.
Pettis also announced today the Replicator X, a dual-extruder printer intended for advanced users.
“We made this because so many people we work with like to be on the edge of what’s next,” he said, comparing potential owners of the device to those who built hot rods in their free time.
Prices for the two devices are, predictably, a bit high. The Replicator 2 runs for $2,199, while the Replicator 2X retails at $2,799. (In comparison, the original Replicator cost $1,749, while its more advanced counterpart sold for $1,999.)
Pettis said the higher prices come as a result of the new devices’ increased functionality. “We packed a lot of stuff in there,” he said.
He also announced MakerWare, a new software suite fir editing and arranging 3D models.
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Pettis’s final announcement was also a big one: The MakerBot Store, located in the Nolita district of Manhattan.
“This is a dream that I’ve had for a really long time,” Pettis said.
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