Since their release, the Makerbot Method and Makerbot MethodX 3D printers have been optimized and calibrated so that anyone can get started with professional 3D printing without prior experience. Now, MakerBot users can explore a wider variety of materials than ever before thanks to the Makerbot LABS Experimental Extruder upgrade. 

Let's break it down-

Open Material Platform

While Makerbot has a large catalog of 3D printing materials, there are hundreds of different filament manufacturers, each with their own potential for unique colors or physical properties. The LABS Experimental Extruder easily integrates these new materials into your workflow by unlocking advanced settings within the slicer, allowing you to fine tune the printing parameters for each filament.

Print with whatever material you want with the LABS Experimental Extruder, from NylonG to generic PLA.
Print with whatever material you want with the LABS Experimental Extruder, from NylonG to generic PLA.

Partner Materials

Makerbot had the initiative to work closely with partners to develop printing profiles for many industry leading 3D printing materials, like BASF Ultrafuse 316L, a material used to create real metal parts for small batch custom part production; carbon-fiber filled NylonX for  parts that need to be extremely tough , or glass-fiber filled NylonG for supreme impact resistance. For these materials, you can be confident in your ability to succeed without needing to dive deep into the settings and can instead trust that Makerbot and their partners did their due diligence to ensure each material's printability.

3D print in metal using BASF Ultrafuse 316L, a unique filament that requires some precise post-processing to make a 100% metal finished part.
3D print in metal using BASF Ultrafuse 316L, a unique filament that requires some precise post-processing to make a 100% metal finished part.

New Applications

The Makerbot LABS Experimental Extruder doesn’t just unlock new functionality from your existing Makerbot 3D printer, it’s also incredibly reliable and serviceable. The hardened steel gears and nozzle  are used so any abrasive filament you are printing with won’t have any effect on the wear of these essential components. You can even swap out your nozzles with the provided hex key and nozzle wrench, so  you can experiment with different nozzle sizes for various projects. 

A supplied torx wrench makes nozzle changes quick and easy for the LABS Experimental Extruder.
A supplied torx wrench makes nozzle changes quick and easy for the LABS Experimental Extruder.

Makerbot’s Method and MethodX have stood out for their ability to reliably 3D print using materials from the Makerbot ecosystem, and now you can explore the possibilities with the LABS Experimental Extruder. To learn more and order your solution to an open material marketplace, check it out here.