MakerBot Replicator 2 unboxing

By Nic Healey | December 11, 2012 | 1

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Nic Healey

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CNET Editor

Nic Healey can usually be found on a couch muttering about aspect ratios and 7.1 channel sound - which is helpful given that he's the home entertainment guy at CNET.

We've finally got our hands on the Replicator 2 from MakerBot — here's what you can find in the box.

We're more than a little in awe of just how quickly home 3D printing has advanced. MakerBot's Replicator 2 is just AU$2540, has a build platform that can handle 410 cubic inches and a resolution of 100 microns.

Home fabricating is now absurdly easy and, more importantly, it's fun, with a big community of "fabbers' rising up to share "recipes" of different objects and objet d'arte.

So when you pop open the box, what's actually inside?

(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

The unassuming and modest exterior hides a particularly cool piece of gear. We were finding it hard not to just tear in without a care.
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

By this stage, we've collected a medium-sized audience of colleagues wondering what we're tying up the kitchen with, so all decorum goes out the window as we get started on the business at hand.
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

One of the more entertaining warning labels we've seen — and also an important one. We can safely say that our first instinct would probably have been to use it exactly like a handle.
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

It's out — removing the additional packing materials, we found a small surprise from BilbyCNC, the distributors for MakerBot in Australia. But more on that later.
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

The Replicator 2, unpacked and ready to be set-up properly.
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

We've even got a MakerBot branded SD card, which has six object files to get us started with on the Replicator.
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

A spool of black PLA filament. The Replicator 2 uses PLA, rather than ABS, as the 100 micron resolution means that the layers are almost painted on. It's also biodegradable.
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

And the instruction booklet — a plain, English walk-through of the set-up and use of the Replicator 2.
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

But what about that mysterious present we mentioned before?
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

Turns out it's a geared purple heart...
(Credit: Joseph Hanlon/CNET Australia)

It's an incredible piece, actually — an amazing example of what home fabbing can produce. It's got us very excited to get the unit set-up and producing our own stuff.