Buying good 3D Printer?

[MrRiedemanJACC]

We have a Makerbot Replicator 2. The biggest problem I am seeing is that that "extruder" is too close to the nozzle and the material melts inside the "extruder". Then the print stops.

So here's a more detailed explanation. Basically you start with filament that is a solid, push it with an "extruder" and it goes through a heated nozzle that melts the material to "lay" it on the bed. The "extruder" is not a screw, it is a wheel that turns and pushes the filament to the nozzle. The extruder though is connected directly to the nozzle which has the heating element. Once the heat transfers to the extruder from the nozzle, the filament starts to melt in the extruder and then it is essentially pushing a liquid. Now I'm sure it can be fixed, but that's where we are with it and I'm letting my students adjust the temperature to find a good balance.

Most of the homemade solutions pull the extruder away from the heating element.....