3D printing enthusiasts who have been waiting for MakerBot to bring their small 3D printer to the market now have something to be happy about. The company is now accepting preorders for their petite 3D printer, TechCrunch reported.
Since the 3D printer maker introduced their three printer models at the CES last month, only the Replicator, the size of which is almost similar to the printer they have been selling for some time, was made available to the market. The Replicator Mini and the giant-sized Replicator Z18 remained under wraps. Enthusiasts who wanted them could only sign up to get more information at a later date and wait.
Now, preorders for the Mini model which costs $1,375, excluding taxes, shipping and others, are being accepted. TechCrunch reported that it's the most affordable 3D printer in the MakerBot pipeline, cheaper by nearly a grand compared to its other products. Information from its website showed that the Replicator costs $2,899, the Replicator 2 costs $2,199 while the Replicator 2X costs $2,799.
However, MakerBot is not very specific about the shipping date. The preorder page only says "Shipping Spring 2014." If the company is referring to the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere then that's anywhere from March 21 to the end of June, TechCrunch reported.
Despite the uncertainty over the shipping date, the Replicator Mini remains a good choice for those who are interested in owning an affordable 3D printer. At the CES 2014, MakerBot Chief Executive Officer Bre Pettis called the Mini the "consumer 3D printer." It features single-touch 3D printing and is also capable of printing through mobile devices. It also has Wi-Fi and built-in camera that allows users to track the things constructed on it. The Mini does not also need leveling for it to print using PLA filament, a January 6, 2014 TechCrunch report said.
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