3D Printing

MakerBot Launches 3D Printing Starter Labs

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 03/04/15

MakerBot has unveiled Starter Labs, kits designed to help schools get 3D printing systems set up quickly.

Designed to be scalable and easy to implement, each MakerBot Starter Lab comes with four Replicator Desktop 3D Printers, one Replicator Z18 3D Printer, one Replicator Mini 3D Printer, one Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner and 10 Replicator Smart Extruders. Other items, services and software in the kits include:

• Hardware installation;
• An on-site workshop with a question and answer session;
• Makerware protection plans for all hardware and a six-month warranty;
• Downloads of MakerBot Desktop, MakerBot Printshop and MakerBot Mobile;
• 80 spools of filament;
• Cart, spool holder, and grease packet for the MakerBot Replicator Z18; and
• Racking and build plate tape.

Schenectady, NY's Union College received a MakerBot Starter Lab as an alumni donation. Projects using it have so far "included modeling and printing geometric shapes to help visualize and better understand mathematical concepts, printing masks of historical figures to make historical facts more accessible and an ambitious effort to work with local artists in Vietnam to explore the intersection of high-fashion carved wooden shoes and 3D printing," according to a news release.

"The MakerBot Starter Lab has already helped the college quickly make 3D printing accessible to more students to foster creativity and collaboration," said John Rieffel, assistant professor of computer science at Union College, in a prepared statement.

More information is available at pages.makerbot.com.