Filament - MakerBot Replicator 2X User Manual

FILAMENT

Your MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer is optimized to print objects
using ABS plastic filament, 1.75 mm in diameter. The Makerbot Replicator 2X can also
use 1.75 mm filament made from other plastics with similar properties. Similar filament,
known as plastic welding rod, is used in a number of other applications, but filament
made for 3D printing needs to be more consistent in diameter than ordinary plastic
welding rod.
Sometimes 1.75 mm plastic filament can vary in size between 1.65 mm and 1.85 mm.
The extruders in the MakerBot Replicator 2X can accommodate this range of sizes. The
consistency of the filament diameter is more important than the size of the diameter.
Filament that is thicker in some places than in others is difficult for the extruder to grip.
It can also result in poor print quality: a section of plastic that is too thin will result in a
section of your print that does not contain enough plastic and a section of filament that is
too thick will result in a section of your print that contains too much.
If you load a new roll of filament that is slightly thicker or thinner than your previous roll,
the extruders might feed too much or too little plastic for your print. To fix this problem,
adjust the feedstock diameter in the MakerBot Slicer through MakerBot Desktop's
custom profiles feature. For more on custom profiles and the feedstock diameter setting,
see the Using Custom Slicing Profiles guide online at:
www.makerbot.com/support/new/Desktop
Be careful with your filament. Keep it dry; humidity might cause it to expand. Avoid letting
the filament loosen on the roll; this can result in tangles which could cause your filament
to break or get stuck during a print.
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