Stop what you’re doing! MakerBot MakerWare 1.1.2 is now available for download, and it involves a couple good fixes you may find interesting.

As always, head over to the MakerWare page for the latest downloads. Here’s what’s included in this release:

●  It is now possible to save directly to an SD card on Macs.
●  There is a gcode verifier that checks for errors in gcode when printing over USB or when printing to file.
●  There are now bot-specific messages during firmware uploading, so MakerBot Replicator 2 users will no longer be told about a reset button.
●  When connecting to a MakerBot with version 5.X firmware, there’s now a message recommending that users upgrade to a newer firmware version.
●  The newest firmware is now the default when uploading firmware.
●  Some Windows users running anti-spyware applications received an error message due to an incorrect localhost address. This has been fixed.

You can view troubleshooting information for MakerWare over on our Support pages. If you still need some technical support with your MakerBot or with using MakerWare, contact support@makerbot.com.

If you would like to share your ideas or feature requests with us, drop us a line at thoughts@makerbot.com.

Announcing MakerBot MakerWare 2.0, , our latest release of the software we create that drives your MakerBot. It’s an important release, go Download it now. This is the update you’ve been waiting for if you have ordered a MakerBot Replicator 2X or have an original MakerBot Replicator with dual extruders.

Click below to read about all the updates and the full release notes.

WHAT’S NEW IN MAKERBOT MAKERWARE 2.0

● Full MakerBot Replicator 2X support. Those of you with a MakerBot Replicator 2X in the shipping queue will be all set with MakerBot MakerWare when you get your delivery from us.

● Change model color. As a visual aid, you can now set objects on your platform to display in different colors. You can use these colors to mostly match the spools of filament on your MakerBot Desktop 3D Printer.

● Dual extrusion support. Now you can use MakerBot MakerWare to create integrated two-color prints on your MakerBot Replicator (Dual) or MakerBot Replicator 2X. The new tools enable you to designate which part of your model will come from which extruder.

● Slicing enhancements. New optimizations to our algorithm help you print better single-wall objects, and account for the subtle differences in PLA and ABS when preparing your model for printing.

Important! MakerBot MakerWare 2.0 includes some improvements to custom printing profiles. If you have already made some custom profiles, update them by setting the MaxSpurWidth setting to 0.4.

Custom profiles are currently unavailable for MakerBot Replicator 2X (for single and dual extrusion) and Replicator (for dual extrusion only). We’ll have an update on it soon!

WHAT’S NEW IN MAKERBOT FIRMWARE 7.2

If you don’t have the latest MakerBot Firmware, you’re not taking advantage of all of the improvements we’ve made to your overall printing experience. Take a minute to update your to MakerBot Firmware 7.2 now. Here’s what’s new.

● S3G files are no longer visible on the SD card – only X3G files are supported. This should be less confusing.

● The z-axis will now reach a home position before starting the level build plate script. Now you can more easily get your hands under the platform to start leveling.

FOR MAKERBOT THING-O-MATIC OWNERS

If you are a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic user, you might consider downloading Sailfish Firmware, developed by MakerBot Thingiverse rockstars and excellent community members Jetty and dnewman.

FULL RELEASE NOTES

MakerBot Firmware 7.2

• Support for the MakerBot Replicator 2X
• S3G files are no longer visible on the SD card – only X3G files are supported
• Some language changes and bug fixes
• Home the z-axis before starting the level build plate script
• Ability to reset the lifetime total field in Bot Statistics

MakerBot MakerWare 2.0

Help

• Set user’s type of MakerBot on first run of MakerBot MakerWare
• Show help message the first time the user encounters a dual extrusion Thing

Viewing

• Set type of MakerBot to control build volume and dual extrusion tools
• UI indicator for Type of MakerBot when not connected
• Set object display colors

Print Setup

• Choose extruder on a dual extrusion MakerBot

Printing

• Connect to the MakerBot Replicator 2X
• Print dual extrusion objects with the MakerBotReplicator Dual and the MakerBot Replicator 2X
• Remember advanced settings as well as basic from last print
• Offer to convert dual extrusion objects to single extrusion if a single extrusion bot type is selected
• Remember last selected file export type and location

Slicing

• PLA and ABS have separate default profiles

Installation & Upgrades

• Linux installer now includes python-mock
• There is a change to the repository URL for Linux users. Check the Linux install page for more information. This is a one-time change in order to upgrade to MakerBot MakerWare 2.0 and will not be required in the future.

Bug Fixes

• MakerBot Slicer fixes
  • Extra support material no longer added outside of objects
  • Improved quality in printing single-walled objects such as the Stretchy Bracelet
• Correct temperature now shown inside MakerBot MakerWare during preheat

UPDATE! There is a known issue in MakerWare 2.0.1 for Windows users with AMD graphics cards. We’re tackling it and will have a release as soon as possible. If you are experiencing trouble with MakerWare 2.0.1, please download MakerWare 2.0.0 here.

MakerWare 2.0.1 is now available with some important fixes to the recent release of MakerWare 2.0. Our goal is for everyone to understand these updates we make and how we make them, and what we’re working on next.

Here’s what’s new:

●  Several people had some problems with installation, particularly on Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard). Those problems have been fixed.

●  Some Windows XP users were also having issues getting MakerWare to detect their MakerBot. The Windows drivers have been adjusted in this release to fix that.

●  MakerWare 2.0 had some limitations in creating custom profiles, especially for MakerBot Replicator 2X users and Replicator users generating dual extrusion models. The 2.0.1 release addresses that, and custom profiles are now fully functional for everyone. Mac OS X users are now able to open the Skeinforge custom profile editor.

See the full release notes after the jump.

We recognize there are lots of unique situations out there, as people work with different computers and operating systems. We’re constantly trying to expand a great MakerWare experience to everyone, so keep your great feedback coming.

As we keep improving, a lot of MakerWare users have asked how we test for print quality. Look for a follow-up post soon with some good detail on this process. It’s pretty involved!

Remember that our Support Team is happy to help you with any technical support issues. Email support@makerbot.com to open a ticket. If you have general feedback, feature requests, or just want to say hi, shoot an email to thoughts@makerbot.com. We’ve really been enjoying what you guys have shared with us so far, and all your smart ideas get shared around with our various teams.

PLEASE NOTE: There is a known issue with MakerWare 2.0.1 that will cause a crash for Windows users with AMD graphics cards. We are aware of the issue and will be releasing a fix as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you have an AMD system or have seen this issue, you can download MakerWare 2.0.0 here.

UPDATE: We have released an update to MakerWare to address the specific issue noted above. MakerWare 2.0.2 is now available, and it is identical to version 2.0.1, except for a small change to the MakerWare user interface. We believe this change will fix the problem for all users; however, anyone experiencing issues with MakerWare should not hesitate to contact MakerBot Support by emailing support@makerbot.com.

Here are the full release notes for MakerWare 2.0.1.

Version 2.1.0 of MakerWare is now available for download. This latest version of our 3D printing preparation software includes support for the MakerBot Thing-O-Matic, our second generation 3D printer released in 2010. We’re glad to offer this integration for some of our long-time customers, who have contributed significantly to the MakerBot community.

What’s New in MakerWare 2.1.0

Besides support for the Thing-O-Matic, there are some changes and a bunch of bug fixes for MakerBot Replicator, Replicator 2, and Replicator 2X users. In our testing and in your feedback, we’ve seen that some prints need extra help to stick to the build plate, so we’ve included an update to the rafts feature.  Now when you choose to use a raft, the MakerBot Slicing Engine will code the first layer of the raft to print much slower than the rest of the layers. This really helps adhesion.

Another feature requested by our customers is the ability to heat the build plate on the MakerBot Replicator and Replicator 2X when using PLA. This is now possible in MakerWare 2.1.0. We’ve tested this in-house and had some success. If you’ve been experimenting with using a heated build plate with PLA, tell us about your experience in the comments.

In other news, the MakerWare interface got a nice design refresh that we think you’ll enjoy. Click below to see the full release notes and to learn more about using MakerWare for your Thing-O-Matic.

Full Release Notes

New features in MakerWare 2.1.0

• Thing-O-Matic now supported in MakerWare.

• The raft base prints at a slower speed when using MakerBot Slicing Engine (12 mm/second).

• Users can now heat the build platform when printing with PLA on a MakerBot Replicator or Replicator 2X.

• The design of the buttons within main MakerWare user interface has been refreshed.

Bug Fixes in MakerWare 2.1.0

• A Windows registry key fix for users unable to connect to a MakerBot over USB.

• Changed the Mac installer to address installation issues on some Snow Leopard machines.

• Users are warned if they attempt to save .x3g files with names too long for the firmware (>30 characters), and the filename is automatically truncated.

• MakerWare performs a more complete reset if user attempts to reset the motherboard.

• Fixed dual extrusion long retract to reset the filament distance in order to reduce blobbing.

• Fixed the example Chain_Linked file to print correctly at default settings.

• Fixed the ‘Uniform scaling’ checkbox bug in Windows XP.

• Fix for excessive memory usage during the verification stage.

• Adjusted the Skeinforge custom profile defaults to print better on MakerBots (removed rafts and support as default during dual extrusion).

• Exported gcode now has variables replaced with appropriate values.

Using MakerWare with a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic

Under the MakerBots menu in the MakerWare toolbar, set your Type of MakerBot to Thing-O-Matic. Then you will have the option to open a Control Panel. If your machine is connected to your computer via USB, it will show up as either “Arduino Mega” or “FTDI”. Highlight the entry and click “Connect”; this will change the name of the entry to “Thing-O-Matic” and allow you to operate your machine. Click “Direct Controls” to change filament and manage build plate settings. You can also run the calibration script from this dialog box.

Once these steps are complete, you are ready to use MakerWare normally. Open files into the virtual build space and use the Make It menu to start printing. For more on MakerWare, click here.

With the Thing-O-Matic setting in MakerWare, you can:

• Work within the Thing-O-Matic build volume.

• Place multiple separate files objects on the build plate at once.

• Print from your Thing-O-Matic over USB.

• Print from an SD card using a Gen4 LCD interface.

• Adjust onboard preferences.

• Load/Unload filament.

• Run the Thing-O-Matic calibration script.

• Export to s3g, x3g, and gcode files.

• Work with Thing-O-Matic running Sailfish 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 Firmware.

• Update Firmware to Sailfish 4.1.

Congrats! You read to the end. If you have more technical questions about using MakerWare with a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic, check out the documentation page here. Otherwise, head over to Thingiverse and find your favorite Collection of things to make with your new MakerWare download.

MakerWare 2.2.0 is now available for download. This powerful software is your go-to tool for translating 3D designs to printed objects, and an integral part of the MakerBot 3D Ecosystem. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the major improvements we’ve made to the MakerBot Slicer, our slicing engine, with this release.

We have improved support material for objects with overhangs. We have all new rafts that are easy to detach. We have better handling of narrow features, new infill patterns (cats included), and so much more. Let’s dive in:

IMPROVED SUPPORT
Meet Laurana, a 3D printed version of a bust by Italian Renaissance sculptor Francesco Laurana. In the pictures that follow, you’ll see support structures generated using the old version of the MakerWare 2.1.0 (left), and how this has been improved in the new release, MakerWare 2.2.0(right). Support structures are extruded materials that MakerWare can add to a 3D model in order to reinforce objects with overhangs. For example, Laurana’s Romanesque nose would droop under its own weight without support material. The new version of MakerWare is much smarter about generating supports only where they are needed. We’ve also changed the pattern of support material, so it’s much easier to break away. Objects use less plastic and print faster than ever.

IMPROVED RAFTS
We’ve also equipped MakerWare 2.2.0 with improved rafts. A raft is a thin foundation of extruded material that helps your object stick to the build plate during a print, keeping it level and secure. Our new rafts detach more easily, creating a smoother bottom surface. We printed a gear bearing to show how well our new rafts print on objects with detailed first layers.

IMPROVED  NARROW FEATURE HANDLING
Previous versions of MakerWare occasionally missed details on thin or narrow features. Not anymore: MakerWare 2.2.0 offers the best handling of narrow features. Below, you can see how the new version of MakerWare seamlessly printed a single-walled bracelet.

NEXT WEEK: NEW INFILL PATTERNS AND MORE
We’ll be highlighting additional new features from MakerWare 2.2.0 next week, including new infill patterns like the “catfill” pattern featured in the picture below. In order to turn on cat-shaped infill, just create a custom MakerBot Slicer profile and change the “sparseInfillPattern” setting from “hexagonal” to “catfill”.

We’ve also released Firmware 7.3.0 today. It contains a few improvements and bug fixes, including an automatic pause for changing filament colors during a print.

Stay tuned for updates, and be sure to download the full release today. We’d love to see how MakerWare 2.2.0 improves the way you print, so send us your before and after photos and any feedback to thoughts@makerbot.com.

Click below to see the full MakerWare and and firmware release notes.

FULL RELEASE NOTES

New features in MakerWare 2.2.0

• Improved default print settings
• The high-resolution default now uses MakerBot Slicer instead of Skeinforge
• A number of MakerBot Slicer improvements:
  • Easy-to-remove rafts
  • More minimal support
  • Easy-to-detach, wavy support pattern
  • Better handling of external spurs (as seen in the Stretchy Bracelet)
  • Removing diagonal lines from surface walls and first layers
  • New smoothing algorithm
  • Better Bridging
  • Multiple infill patterns (“hexagonal” is the default; other patterns can be selected in custom profiles)
  • A number of new experimental settings have been added that are turned off in the defaults, but can be turned on in custom profiles. See the custom profile support page for specifics.
    • Dynamic speed calculations
    • Internal spurs
    • Backlash compensation
• A new Skeinforge default profile has been added
• Users can choose from a subtle skybox option
• It is now easy to set extruder temperature when using custom MakerBot Slicer profiles
• Added a homing button for Thing-O-Matics
• MakerWare now supports Ubuntu 13.04

Firmware 7.3.0

• Added print time to the interface board during prints. The interface now toggles between print percentage and print time.
• Users can now swap filament at specific layers by using the Z Pause Height option during prints.
• Small text display bugs in the LCD interface have been fixed
• During mid-print filament changes the stepper motors now lock to prevent the extruder from becoming misaligned
• Changing filament during a print will now timeout after 15 minutes and turn into a cold pause
• Added better error handling for heater errors

Congrats! You read to the end. Head over to Thingiverse and find your favorite Collection of things to make with your new MakerWare download.

NEW INFILL PATTERNS
Cats aren’t the only new infill pattern in Makerware 2.2.0’s repertoire (although it may be the best). In addition to cat-filled prints, you can select any of the 4 infill patterns below in custom profiles. Is there an infill you’d like to see? Let us know in the comments!

NEW SMOOTHING ALGORITHM
We’ve developed a brand new smoothing algorithm in MakerWare 2.2.0. Objects with curved forms, like the gear bearing below, now print with a much sleeker surface finish.

Be sure to download MakerWare 2.2.0 if you haven’t already, and send any feedback to thoughts@makerbot.com.

MakerBot® MakerWare™ is the ideal software to drive your MakerBot® Replicator® 3D Printer. Today’s 2.3 release has great features for everyone, but is a giant leap forward for our MakerBot^® Replicator^® 2X Experimental 3D Printer owners. We’ve innovated, worked hard, and pushed the limits of dual extrusion. Now we’re ready for you to experience our new Advanced Dual Extrusion algorithm and see why printing with the MakerBotReplicator 2X will never be the same.

We’ve also doubled the amount of materials in our filament lineup and added a Print Preview feature for all our printers. The takeaway: This significant update contains really helpful features that will make desktop 3D printing even easier and more enjoyable.

Download MakerBot MakerWare 2.3

Advanced Dual Extrusion
We’ve completely reimagined the way that MakerWare handles dual extrusion printing. Want better control over your 3D printing workflow and major improvements to the quality of your prints? Then you don’t want to miss what comes next.

For the first time, the MakerBot Replicator 2X will be able to print with color-matched rafts and color-matched support material. That means rafts and supports will print in multiple colors, creating cleaner, more consistent surfaces on your multicolored prints.

Protect your dual extrusion prints with Extrusion Guards, ultrathin barriers that wrap around the perimeter of your prints. These guards clean excess filament off of your extruder, reducing nozzle clogging and improving performance.

Share your Advanced Dual Extrusion success stories by emailing ADX@MakerBot.com

Multimaterial Options
New options in MakerWare 2.3 enable multimaterial usage on both of our MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers. You can stretch the limits of 3D printing with MakerBot® Flexible Filament for the MakerBot® Replicator® 2 and print detailed internal structures with MakerBot® Dissolvable Filament for the MakerBot Replicator 2X. There are custom profiles for both new members of our filament family in MakerWare 2.3. Read about how to create and edit Custom Profiles here.

Print Preview
Print Preview lets you see into the future. Now you don’t have to wait for an object to print to discover what it will look like when it’s done. Test out color possibilities, or explore your preview layer-by-layer. View time and materials estimates that tell you how much you’ll need of both to print your creation. You can even visualize extruder toolpaths to see where support will be applied and how infill patterns will look.

Download MakerBot MakerWare 2.3

MakerBot® MakerWare RELEASE NOTES

• New MakerBot Slicer Features:
  • Advanced Dual-Extrusion
    • Dual Extrusion Support Material
    • Dual Extrusion Rafts
    • Dual Extrusion Bridging
    • New Extrusion Guards for Dual-Extrusion prints
    • Control over which toolhead prints Rafts and Support
  • Multimaterial Printing using MakerBot Dissolvable Filament
  • A MakerBot Flexible Filament option for the Replicator 2
• UI Changes
  • “Lay Flat” button
  • Objects too large for the build volume result in an alert and the option to resize the object
  • Orthographic projection skybox option
  • Print Preview
    • Toolpath Visualization
    • Material Estimation
    • Print Time Estimation
• Conveyor Changes
  • Conveyor no longer uses PID files or the Python virtualenv
• Changes in Firmware 7.5
  • Bug fix related to Heat Hold
  • Other minor bug fixes

• Windows XP users should continue to use 2.2.2. MakerWare will not support this operating system going forward.

UPDATE: MakerWare 2.3.1 is now available with the following changes:

• A fix for graphics display failures on the latest Nvidia driver.
• A fix for objects sometimes appearing black in Print Preview.

UPDATE: MakerWare 2.3.2 is now available with the following changes:

• Digitizer Firmware update
• Conveyor performance optimization
• Few minor slicer changes regarding temperature, rafts and bridging

What’s on Tap for MakerBot Software
Today we’d like to take a moment of your time to share the features and improvements we’ve been working on and what you can look forward to in the next few months.

Our passionate teams of software experts have been hard at work, iterating and improving on the three software products we released this Spring, and working closely with their colleagues (specialists in hardware manufacturing, industrial design, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and more) to bring you the best 3D printing experience we can.

We know you’re eager to hear about specific features and fixes we’ve only hinted at before. So here is what you can expect from us from now until the New Year.

MakerBot Desktop

First up for the app this fall is v3.3. It contains:

–A new Device Preferences dialog: so you can easily access and modify your printer settings
–Automatic filament unloading when your filament runs out. Currently, when filament runs out, a small piece remains inside the Smart Extruder and should be unloaded. However, it’s easy to miss and, if it’s not unloaded, may cause a jam.
–Camera improvements: These apply to the most recent generation of MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers. You’ll get faster frame rates, plus the ability to view through your printer’s camera over USB (as well as via your network, as it currently does).
–Bug fixes

We’ll also squeeze in an update to Library by adding Print History:
Anything you print from your personal Cloud Storage Library or Thingiverse can quickly be reprinted.

Version 3.4. Following on the heels of v3.3, this version will contain some of our most significant updates to the MakerBot Desktop app, including

–Improvements to print quality and slicing
–Advanced calibration tool: For tuning first layers and rafts, contributing to better overall print quality
–Auto update functionality: so you don’t have to reinstall
–Ability to print via your network without having to manually confirm (press printer’s button or dial). Plus you can view the build plate via your printer’s camera.
–Post-print: Reprint an item and share to Thingiverse from the onboard camera if it’s a public item

MakerBot Mobile

Early on in the fall, v1.1 of MakerBot Mobile will be a Universal Application that supports both iPhone and iPad screen resolutions. In addition, we’re including updates to better support iPhone 6 and 6+ resolutions.

Android lover? Version 1.0 will be released for you soon after. This version concentrates on Library access, Printing, and Monitoring.

Sneak peek. We’re also working on support for remote, on-the-go monitoring of your MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer. Start a print at home. Then head on down to the coffee shop and check your print’s status with MakerBot Mobile. You’ll be able to view it via your printer’s camera too!

MakerBot PrintShop

The MakerBot PrintShop team is eager to release two new tools that we think you’ll really enjoy.

First up this autumn will be Vase Maker, which has been making an impact around MakerBot’s Brooklyn facilities as vases, bowls, and containers of all sort of shapes and sizes (all the way up to Z18 heights) have appeared on shelves and desks. We can’t wait to see what you make with it.

After that, it’s time for a medal making tool. These fun medals can be used for sports, events, and achievements. Pick a sport or icon, add your own text, and print.

Medals pictured are prototypes. Stay tuned for the final designs.

You can also expect continual updates to the Explore section of PrintShop during the next few months.

MakerBot Thingiverse

Before year’s end, the plan is for the Thingiverse community to take advantage of an exciting new collaborative feature called Groups. Members will be able to start a Group around a topic they’re passionate about, invite others to join, and then collaborate by sharing things and discussing subtopics.

To sum up, we have an incredibly passionate team dedicated to pushing the MakerBot 3D Ecosystem ever further for you and we’re eager to bring these updates in the next few months. Stay tuned for more as it develops.

Here at MakerBot, we’re constantly rolling out new tools and product features that give you fun and easy ways to make the most of your MakerBot 3D Printer.

Today, we’re excited to announce the release of Version 1.0.5 of MakerBot PrintShop for iPad. Its dynamic design interface enables you to easily sculpt and 3D print an endless variety of decorative vases and containers.

Download MakerBot PrintShop 1.0.5 on the Apple App Store now.

Customizable and Optimized
Pick from four base patterns and then use the drag sliders to control surface texture, height, and shape to make a vase that’s truly your own. And while the Vase Maker tool is optimized for seamless use with all of our latest generation of MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers, if you have a MakerBot Replicator Z18 Printer, you can create and print vases up to 17.5 inches tall!

Make Elegant, Personalized Gifts
With endless possibilities and patterns for potted plant holders, desk accessories, bowls and containers, you’re just a few taps of your iPad away from creating the perfect personalized 3D printed gift for friends or family.

We Can’t Wait to See What You Make!
Post your creations to Twitter and Instagram with the tag #makerbotvasemaker.

Tip: For filling your vase, we recommend 3D printing our beautiful Spring Blossoms flowers available on the MakerBot Digital Store. However, if you want to use real flowers and water, find a small glass container and measure its height and diameter. Then, when using sculpting mode in Vase Maker, make sure the diameter of the vase’s opening is wide enough to fit your glass container inside.

NOTE: The decorative bowls and vases created with MakerBot PrintShop’s Vase Maker are not guaranteed to be food safe, water safe, dishwasher safe, or microwave safe.

Just a few weeks ago, we told you about upcoming software releases that are on the way. Today, we’re excited to announce a new release of both MakerBot Desktop and the firmware for our latest generation MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers.

This firmware update contains background changes that lay the groundwork for print quality improvements that will be coming soon in MakerBot Desktop 3.4. Getting this release out into the field and getting your feedback is essential to making the next several releases great.

New capabilities on MakerBot Desktop 3.3
Among the changes included in the upgrade, MakerBot Desktop now features:

• An overhaul of the communications between the printer, MakerBot Desktop, and MakerBot Mobile
• Automatic filament unloading following an ‘out of filament’ error
• The ability to change Smart Extruders during a paused print and resume printing
• An improved assisted leveling process
• A faster camera streaming over both network and USB for closer monitoring of your prints
• An expanded Device Preferences dialog for advanced users

Download the free MakerBot Desktop 3.3 upgrade now.

Upgrade your firmware now
Because a number of firmware changes have been made to support these new features (and to support the print quality improvements coming soon in MakerBot Desktop 3.4) it’s crucial to also upgrade your firmware.

Here’s how:
1. Upgrade to MakerBot Desktop 3.3 here.
2. Connect to your MakerBot Replicator 3D printer.
3. Upgrade to Firmware 1.4 to keep your MakerBot Replicator running in top condition with all the latest features.

For the full MakerBot Desktop 3.3 release notes, click here.

Coming soon: Print Quality Improvements and Print History
MakerBot Desktop 3.3 is an important release because it sets the stage for the 3.4 release where we will make some significant changes to the way we manage synchronizing the extruder advance to the movements of the gantry. The heavier computational requirements of our new extruder-advance modeling required us to refactor the communications protocol to make room. We’re really excited about the print quality results we’re seeing in our testing and we’re looking forward to getting them out to you.

Another feature that we’ve been hearing a lot of folks asking for is a way to save files they’ve already printed. In the coming days, we’ll be telling you more about this functionality as a Print History folder within the MakerBot Desktop Library tab. Stay tuned.

We’re always working to continuously improve and update our software, so we are thrilled to share the big improvements to print quality and reliability that came with our latest MakerBot Desktop and MakerBot Firmware upgrades.

Step 1. Download MakerBot Desktop 3.4
If you haven’t downloaded the latest version of our free 3D printing software, MakerBot Desktop 3.4, please do so now.

DOWNLOAD MAKERBOT DESKTOP 3.4 NOW

Step 2. Update Your MakerBot Firmware
Once you’ve opened up MakerBot Desktop 3.4, connect to your MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or USB. Next, head straight to the Devices menu in MakerBot Desktop and click Update Firmware to load MakerBot Firmware 1.5 onto your printer.

NOTE: Updating both MakerBot Desktop and MakerBot Firmware is the only way to activate all the new improvements. To take advantage of these new features, continue to prepare and print your files through MakerBot Desktop. When printing files via the USB port, your printer’s internal storage, or your Library, reprepare them through this updated version of MakerBot Desktop to achieve the best results.

Improvements to Print Quality and Reliability
As promised, we’ve made significant improvements to our MakerBot Firmware and print slicing software in order to help improve print quality and reliability.

First off, we’ve updated how the MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruder and the gantry motors that move it around in three dimensions work together.

We’ve also improved the speed and acceleration of the gantry motors, which means better handling of curves and edges in your 3D designs.

Lastly, we’ve shortened the distance that the MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruder’s retractable nozzle has to move during prints, improving the life of your Smart Extruder, and helping to prevent clogs.

With these enhancements, you’ll see a big increase in print quality and a noticeable decrease in print times, so don’t miss out.

Advanced Calibration
Another great feature we packed into MakerBot Desktop 3.4 is a calibration tool called Z-Axis Offset, which you can find in the Device Preferences panel under the Devices menu in MakerBot Desktop. This tool lets you adjust where your build plate is, relative to your Smart Extruder.

If you’ve been experiencing print quality issues with your rafts and the initial layers of your print, or hear clicking noises when you’re printing, your build plate may be too close or too far from your Smart Extruder. Adjusting your Z-Axis Offset could be the solution, so give it a try.

Tell Us About Your Experience
We want to hear about your experience using MakerBot Desktop 3.4 and MakerBot Firmware 1.5. Let us know how things are going by shooting us an email at thoughts@makerbot.com.