SETTING UP THE MAKERBOT MINI

When the new MakerBot Replicator Mini arrived in the mail, we were quick to judge. The cardboard box was around 4 feet by 2 feet, and we wondered how such a small printer could create large projects KidPrint had in mind. We could not have been more wrong.

The MakerBot Replicator Mini is the perfect printer because of its combined compact size and strength. Moving from libraries to elementary schools, the printer is mobile and sturdy, easing the commute. And after a couple of weeks, the KidPrint team had printed around thirty individual projects with no hassle. The machine was magic. The set up of the printer took no longer than thirty minutes. The manual has an easy pictoral guide as to how to load the filament, and the extruder. To our pleasent surprise, the extruder had magnets that allowed it to stick onto its other half. With the click of a button, the extruder snapped into place and the printer was ready to be used.

Most of all, the team was ecstatic to learn about the color system the printer obtained. When the extruder was heating, the printer's lights turned red, and when the Mini was waiting for approval, the light would blink blue. This ingenius system helped the team learn the application of the printer in less than a week.

Our team would like to give a big thanks to MatterHackers for their generousity. Erica guided us on our selection and helped us find the perfect printer for our program, which we are very thankful for. If you would like to visit their website, please Click Here.

All of the KidPrint members are in love with the printer, and could not be happier. If you would like to learn more about the manual and set up, please Click Here.