FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by 3175student17

We got the Replicator 2, and we were wondering how to get the corresponding software for it. If anyone could tell us, it would be much appreciated

http://www.makerbot.com/makerware/

[Anthony4004]

yes, the printers MAY go down in credit price. here is the quote from the KOP team...

"If demand << inventory, everyone who selected the printer will be sent a printer (applying preferences as much as possible), and any remaining printers will remain in FIRST Choice. If inventory continues to remain, we may consider decreasing the number of credits required at Kickoff. In this case, teams who had already selected printers will be reimbursed the credit difference. "

[Robo Hamsters]

Hey, just thought this would be a useful link for anyone who got an M2.

http://youtu.be/BxAxCGv9qYY

[Kevin Sevcik]

57 got the MakerGear M2, our first choice. Sounds like we won the preference lottery.

For those winning the cube, here's a possible workaround:
http://www.howmuchsnow.com/cube/
Though I've seen somewhere that it only works with a certain firmware version.

[mechanical_robot]

Our team won a Cube 3D printer. I was just wondering whats so bad about them compared to a Makerbot? Or is there anything.
Just based on these post I'm getting the idea cube printers are not as good or wanted. Why is that.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by antimatter_john

Our team won a Cube 3D printer. I was just wondering whats so bad about them compared to a Makerbot? Or is there anything.
Just based on these post I'm getting the idea cube printers are not as good or wanted. Why is that.

Two reasons:
1. Closed source. You have zero ability to modify or tweak the printer firmware or slicing software. This might not be a problem for most people, but it might make it impossible to print a tricky object.
2. Related to and enabled by 1, the printer requires you to use only filament provided by the manufacturer. At a severe markup over generic filament. With the M2, for instance, 57 can use its Inventables PDV to get additional ABS filament essentially for free.

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

2. Related to and enabled by 1, the printer requires you to use only filament provided by the manufacturer. At a severe markup over generic filament. With the M2, for instance, 57 can use its Inventables PDV to get additional ABS filament essentially for free.

Yes and no (but I bet this voids warranties):
http://www.makergeeks.com/cu3dprfiad.html

[Dival]

Originally Posted by 3175student17

We got the Replicator 2, and we were wondering how to get the corresponding software for it. If anyone could tell us, it would be much appreciated

Are you talking about this one?
http://www.makerbot.com/makerware/

You may also like to try this one, probably be harder to use, but is likely to contain more possibilities (I can't say that for sure, I have used Repetier, but never tried Makerbot or Makerware):
http://www.repetier.com/download/

[vanjan14]

Originally Posted by cbale2000

Same here, unfortunately. Now to find a way to bypass the overpriced filament cartridges. >_>

Here ya go! My team also got the cube. http://www.howmuchsnow.com/cube/

[mman1506]

Originally Posted by vanjan14

Here ya go! My team also got the cube. http://www.howmuchsnow.com/cube/

I heard that they patched that. It measure how much filament it goes through.

[DonRotolo]

Although I am not advocating any kind of 'cheating', Cube may regret that they let FRC teams get ahold of their systems. Everything designed can be bypassed.

[apples000]

The "hack" was fixed with new firmware, but if the first choice ones are 2nd gen, you can download the original 2nd gen firmware here and just use that.

The conversation here might be helpful too.

[Coach Norm]

Originally Posted by 3175student17

We got the Replicator 2, and we were wondering how to get the corresponding software for it. If anyone could tell us, it would be much appreciated

As several others have posted here, the Makeware software if free to download at Makerbot. Our team has a Replicator 2 that we received last February. The software is easy to use but is not a design software. You will need to design in CAD and then import an STL file. The Makerware software can also handle some other types (OBJ and THING) but I would advise to stick to STL at first. MakerBot has some great support information on their webpage.

We have used our extensively (500+ hours print time).

The Replicator2 is very easy to use and setup. You can print directly from a computer or from an SD card.

Use the Blue Painters tape

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by Coach Norm

As several others have posted here, the Makeware software is free to download at Makerbot. Our team has a Replicator 2 that we received last February. The software is easy to use but is not a design software. You will need to design in CAD and then import an STL file. The Makerware software can also handle some other types (OBJ and THING) but I would advise to stick to STL at first. MakerBot has some great support information on their webpage.

We have used our extensively (500+ hours print time).

The Replicator2 is very easy to use and setup. You can print directly from a computer or from an SD card.

Use the Blue Painters tape

I'll second all of this...except the 500+ hours, ours is relatively new...and add that we've had tremendous success exporting .stl files from Solidworks, tweaking the position slightly in Makerware, and printing. Over the break I downloaded the Cubify "Invent" program (free license key in Virtual KOP). This program is very "Solidworks-like" but much simpler and smaller, and will be very useful for designing parts to be printed.

[Oblarg]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

Although I am not advocating any kind of 'cheating', Cube may regret that they let FRC teams get ahold of their systems. Everything designed can be bypassed.

Honestly, given the composition of the market for 3d-printers (lotsa nerds ), I think hacks to get around price-gouging on the filament are an eventuality, FRC or no.

Besides, I can't imagine that modifying your own 3d printer is in any way illegal, or that any claims by the company that it is would hold up for a second in court.