Getting Started with MakerBot

Ready to join the personal fabrication movement? This hands-on book shows you how to make a wide variety of physical objects with the amazing MakerBot 3D printer.
It’s handy when you need a replacement for something lost, broken, or no longer made—like a knob on your stove. You can make things instead of buying them, or solve problems with inventions of your own. The possibilities are endless, and MakerBot is the fun, affordable, and inspiring way to go. Get started with your own little factory today!

• Set up your MakerBot Replicator 2 and understand how it works
• Learn the basics and print 10 useful objects right away
• Make objects with sturdy yet biodegradable PLA
• Get examples of real-world problem solving, from ceiling hooks to hermit crab shells
• Choose from thousands of free designs on Thingiverse.com—and share your own
• Repurpose disposable products by making them part of your design
• Design your own 3D objects, using SketchUp, Autodesk 123D, OpenSCAD, and other tools
• Use 3D scanning technology to replicate real objects around you

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Get a hands-on introduction to the world of personal fabrication with the MakerBot, the easiest and cheapest rapid prototyper available. This book shows you how the MakerBot open source 3D printer democratizes manufacturing and brings the power of large factories right to your desktop. Not only will you learn how to operate MakerBot, you'll also get guidelines on how to design and print your own prototypes. 3D printing is a key part of the prototyping process, yet desktop models to date have cost a minimum of $10,000. But not any longer. A variant on the open source RepRap 3D printer, MakerBot is designed to be assembled quickly and cheaply. Even the deluxe MakerBot kit costs under $1,000.
This fun and informative guide - written by MakerBot's creators - opens up a new realm of discovery and creativity for makers, hobbyists, students, artists, designers, and tinkerers. Understand exactly what's possible in the world of personal fabrication. learn how to assemble, upgrade, and tune the MakerBot 3D printer. Familiarize yourself with the open source design tools you need to design 3D objects and get a guide to 10 interesting and useful object prototypes you can print right away.