10 Reasons to Choose MakerBot METHOD X
Enjoying industrial 3D printing performance at an affordable price point used to be just a myth as the performance didn’t hold up. But MakerBot METHOD X was exactly engineered to do just that, and put that myth to bed.
Here are 10 Unique Reasons why METHOD XÂ from MakerBot sets itself apart from the competition.
1. 110°C CIRCULATING HEATED CHAMBER
Typical desktop 3D printers have heated build plates that improves adhesion for the first layer…and that’s really about it.
METHOD X has a patented Circulating Heated Chamber that rapidly warms the chamber up to 110°C (depending on material) before printing, and ensures optimal printing conditions from the first to last layer.
The result – a degree of dimensional accuracy that typically can only be found with industrial 3D printers (±0.007 in), at the base layer, and everywhere else.
2. INFINITE POSSIBILITIES WITH DUAL EXTRUDERS
Leveraging on Stratasys’s industrial-grade patented designs, the dual extruders found in METHOD and METHOD X was engineered from the ground up with the professional in mind.
An all-new lengthened thermal core, dual drive gears with 19:1 gear ratio of torque, and MakerBot’s industry-leading intelligent sensor suite mean you can enjoy significantly improved print quality and speed.
With the standard two extruders configuration in both METHOD and METHOD X, you can design and print real-world production parts with the utmost complexity using dissolvable supports like PVA and SR-30.
3. ULTIMATE OPEN MATERIAL PLATFORM
ABS is one of several polymers and composites that can be tricky to print because of its sensitivity to temperatures during the print (it shrinks up to 2% when cooled). Unlike most 3D printers that use modified ABS resulting in lower part strength (up to 26% lower) and heat resistance (up to 27°F lower), METHOD is able to rely on its circulating heat chamber to control the print environment, and thus use production-grade ABS to print superior parts.
Currently, METHOD is able to print with PLA, TOUGH, PETG, PVA, ABS, ASA, NYLON, PC-ABS*, PC-ABS FR*, SR-30, and also supports pre-qualified materials through their MakerBot LABS open material platform.
* PC-ABS and PC-ABS FR (flame retardant) will begin shipping from June 2020.
4. TAKE OUT THE GUESSWORK WITH AUTO CALIBRATION
Most desktop machines leave users frustrated when it comes to the manual calibration of their dual extruders. METHOD automates this process so that users can focus more on product design and less on maintenance.
5. SAY GOODBYE TO DAMAGING HUMIDITY
Humidity, especially in a tropical country like Singapore, can negatively impact the print quality, reliability, and part dimensional accuracy of any FDM 3D printed part. METHOD combats this by using dual material bays that are sealed from the outside environment and protects the filament from exposure to damaging humidity.
Combined with desiccant found in each Smart Spool, a protective mylar storage bag that contains the Smart Spool, and the new Material Drying mode that can revive old spools, METHOD can work reliably and accurately in a lab or factory floor.
6. SMART MATERIAL AUTO LOADING
Material loading on the METHOD is designed to be an easy and fuss-free process, unlike typical 3D printers.
Drop the Smart Spool into the Dry Sealed Material Bays, feed the filament tip into the slot, close the drawer, and the filament is then loaded all the way up and into the extruders. It’s as simple as that.
7. LESS FLEX WITH ULTRA-RIGID METAL FRAME
Taking a page out of Stratasys’s playbook, METHOD is outfitted with a heavy-duty, all-metal architecture utilizing die-cast and extruded aluminum that extends from the bottom of the printer to the top.
This translates directly into part reliability and precision in every print.
8. INITIATE A PRINT ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME
With MakerBot Print (desktop app) and MakerBot Cloud (cloud-based app), get fully connected with your METHOD no matter where your printer is – in a lab or another timezone. MakerBot was one of the first few companies to create a connected experience with WIFI connectivity, on-board camera monitoring, and print-from-anywhere control.
METHOD brings additional benefits like real-time filament information, humidity monitoring, custom material profiles, and native CAD integration with industry leaders Solidworks, Autodesk, and OnShape.
9. PRECISION LEVELED STEEL BUILD PLATE
Typical FDM 3D printing requires an even surface during the 3D printing process to ensure prints do not end up being warped. This is true whether you are printing in ABS, Nylon, or just PLA.
METHOD creates a unique solution with two combined elements to solve this problem. First is by using an aluminum base plate that is machined and factory-calibrated for extreme flatness. Second is a spring steel build plate that magnetically conforms to the base plate via a dozen high-strength magnets.
This solution not only ensures flatness but also makes print removal a breeze. You can just flex the build plate after picking it up and pop the print off. In addition, the steel build plate also quickly heats to the temperature of the chamber to give it extra hold throughout the print.
10. SWAP AND LOCKED DUAL EXTRUDERS
METHOD’s extruders have a latch mechanism that securely locks them into place – keeping extruder wobble to a minimum and contributing to METHOD’s unique dimensional accuracy spec.
Apart from developing one of the world’s first interchangeable extruders for the desktop FDM 3D printer market with the Smart Extruder, METHOD takes it one step further with the ability to swap in extruders such as the Experimental Extruder that enables the use of pre-qualified materials from leading filament companies.
Click to learn more about METHOD X and MakerBot materials. You can use the contact form, email us at info@creatz3d.com, or call +65 6631 8555 to leave an inquiry or get a quote.
