Add as a preferred source on Google


Updated MakerBot Software Speeds Up 3D Printing

The latest software upgrade from MakerBot allows users to 3D print their projects 30 percent faster, according to the company.

MakerBot Desktop 3.8 introduces a diamond infill pattern designed to optimize print speed while maintaining strong structural support. The pattern "allows the extruder to move faster during turns," and the infill is "extruded more consistently than other infill patterns, making it structurally stronger," the company said in a press release. In addition, the software's variable layer height feature (introduced in MakerBot Desktop 3.7) allows the infill be 3D printed at a thicker layer height than the outer layers, contributing to a faster overall print speed.

Other 3.8 improvements include a better algorithm for print time estimation, as well as a one-click feature that streamlines the print flow. Users no longer have to wait for slicing to complete before being prompted to start a print job; the print now starts immediately after the model is sliced.

MakerBot Desktop 3.8 is available for the MakerBot Replicator, Replicator 2, MakerBot Replicator 2X or any Fifth Generation MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer, and can be downloaded for free at the MakerBot site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • laptop with digital productivity and calendar symbols

    September 2025 Tech Tactics in Education Conference Agenda Announced

    Registration is free for this fully virtual Sept. 25 event, focused on "Overcoming Roadblocks to Innovation" in K-12 and higher education.

  • hand holding globe and environmental icons in front of a green background

    CoSN, SETDA, UDT Release Guidelines for Environmentally Responsible Technology Purchasing

    CoSN and SETDA, in partnership with IT and telecommunications solution provider UDT, recently released a set of Sustainability Procurement Guidelines designed to help K-12 school and district leaders, procurement officers, and technology directors make purchasing decisions that are both environmentally responsible and operationally effective.

  • tutor and student working together at a laptop

    You've Paid for Tutoring. Here's How to Make Sure It Works.

    As districts and states nationwide invest in tutoring, it remains one of the best tools in our educational toolkit, yielding positive impacts on student learning at scale. But to maximize return on investment, both financially and academically, we must focus on improving implementation.