09-20-2012/2013/2014: MakerBot and Ultimaker released three iconic 3D printers: MakerBot Replicator 2, Ultimaker 2, and Ultimaker Original+
09-20-2012/2013/2014: MakerBot and Ultimaker released three iconic 3D printers: MakerBot Replicator 2, Ultimaker 2, and Ultimaker Original+
Special episode!
Today, for the first time in the history of the series, we have a special episode! For three consecutive years, on exactly September 20, 2012, 2013, and 2014, MakerBot and Ultimaker released new models of what would become iconic 3D printers, setting the direction for the entire industry for years to come. Since both companies merged in 2022, I thought it would be a great idea to combine these launches into one episode. Let’s dive in!
On September 20, 2012, MakerBot held a press conference announcing the launch of its new fully assembled desktop 3D printer, the Replicator 2, as well as its first retail store. The 3D printer was designed to work with PLA filament, and its build volume was 11.2 x 6.0 x 6.1 inches (28.5 x 15.3 x 15.5 cm) — 37% larger than the original MakerBot Replicator. Furthermore, the company announced that it was working on a more advanced dual-extrusion version, the MakerBot Replicator 2X (Experimental), which would hit the market in early 2013.
The Replicator 2 became one of the most popular 3D printers in the history of desktop FFF 3D printing, elevating the design of 3D printers from the rough RepRap aesthetic ("doesn't matter how it looks, as long as it works") to a sleek, consumer-ready product. This 3D printer was simply beautiful and looked like a true consumer product. Moreover, it printed really well (for the time), setting a high bar for the competition. Photos of Bre Pettis casually holding the printer in his hand (or on his shoulder) became an iconic image of the growing 3D printing industry.
A year later, on September 20, 2013, Dutch company Ultimaker unveiled the successor to its original wooden design: the Ultimaker 2. The 3D printer sported a dazzling white casing, which became its signature look and is still in use today. But it was the series of technological improvements that made the Ultimaker 2 one of the best-selling 3D printers for years, popular with both hobbyists and professionals alike.
Its build volume was 23 x 22.5 x 20.5 cm, and its speed — a hallmark of Ultimaker — reached up to 300 mm/sec. A few months later, the company introduced two alternative versions of the "2" — the tiny Ultimaker GO and the extended Z-axis model, Ultimaker Extended. The former proved unsuccessful, but the latter became a long-standing complement to the base model.
And another year later, on September 20, 2014, Ultimaker returned with a more modest launch, introducing a refreshed and modernized version of its original 3D printer — the Ultimaker Original+. Still offered in a "retro" wooden casing, it featured several new functionalities (such as a heated bed) and was sold as a DIY kit.