Makerbot in India ?

[gautam]

Hi,

I am looking into getting a Makerbot for prototyping and hobby
projects.

What has your experience been in using the machine in India ?
Are the ABS plastic wire spools available readily in India ?
Durability of the machine in local conditions ?

Any suggestions about getting any addons or spares when purchasing the
machine ?

Given that it is meant for DIYers, I understand a certain amount of
tweaking involved. Hopefully keeping the machine running would not end
up as the hobby !

Thanks for your time.
Gautam

[Shubham Goel]

Hi

My experience with the machine has been all right. It requires constant tweaking to run and the prints often fail. 

I haven't found a place to by the ABS spools in India.

I would suggest getting extra extruder parts. Extruder is what often breaks down for me.

I have a old version. I hear the new machine is significantly better. 

Cheers
Shubham

[aakash.ece]

Hello Guys!

I've had a makerbot since Dec 2009 (probably the first one in India) and I must say it has really evolved. However that does not mean you can simply hit "print" and sit back  :)

Anyway, I write to inform that I've recently started a company, and plan to start selling and supporting 3D printers very soon (1-2 months). Team building underway.

The features planned are:

- *real* low price so to support the community.
- Bigger build area. Ideally 200x200x150 mm^3
- Scalable to support multiple (dual/triple) print heads, and probably a dremel tool in the future.
- Accessories, like heated build platform etc.

The even more important plans (IMHO) are:
- Availability of spare parts (extruder, as Shubham points out!)
- Locally available ABS spool

And the most important point is:
- Dedicating full-time engineers for indigenous R&D on 3D printers. We plan to lead the 3D printer revolution, not follow it!!!

This is the blog - You're invited!
http://ahagadgets.wordpress.com

--
- Aakash
+91 99299 04445
MindField Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
www.mindfield.co.in

[Sudhir P]

Wow. Akash! This was much needed. Eagerly awaiting the release.

I dont have a makerbot/reprap yet. Was thinking of building a reprap myself(with jugaad components instead of printed ones). But drifted away with the zillion to-dos.

Which city are you from? In Bangalore, i've 'heard' that we can get ABS spools from the KR market area. But if you are starting a company selling stuff, i guess it makes more sense to buy directly from the chinese suppliers. (of course you'll need an import license et al, beyond an amount).

All the best for your venture. If it is indeed priced well, i might even be your first customer :). If you are based in bangalore, i can even come over for helping with alpha and beta tests :)

-sudhir

[aakash.ece]

Thanks a million Sudhir! Your encouraging words come at the right time :) The first customer or not, you're immensly valuable for being there in support! I'll share the price point as soon as the BOM is done. (no commitments but) my personal target is to keep it below 30K for the hobbyists here. The team is working hard to offer these for sale by March end.

I was in Bangalore for two years (my first job)... finally I'm just giving entrepreneurship a go, because the impulses got too strong to suppress :)

Right now I'm based at Jodhpur Rajasthan, which is the right place for doing this type of work, because its the largest industrial city in Rajasthan.

Let's see how we come up with spares... sourced or made-in-india. We'll surely be in touch!

Cheers!
Aakash.

[Sudhir P]

Hi aakash,

The 30k price point is reasonable.

And i understand the bit about 'impulses getting too strong to suppress'. I too broke off

from being a neuro-scientist to follow my impulses into entrepreneurship. I hope to make

automated solutions to some manual tasks done in biology labs.

I needed some small parts for the machines. And thats why i wanted to build the

reprap and/or a cnc. I started building a 3-axis dremel cnc. Then the project got paused

as i got into other stuff. Two of the 3 axes work fine right now though. And thanks to you,

I'm motivated to try and finish the stuff.

Anyway, i'm glad folks like you are budding up and making stuff for the DIY community.

And i hope you attain all the success you are hoping for.

Regards,

Sudhir

p.s: I was in Jodhpur ~ a month ago, en route to a desert trek near Jaisalmer. I totally

loved the Makhania Lassi from Mishrilal sweets near the clock tower there!

[Gautam Sridhara]

Thanks Shubham for the tips especially about an additional extruder (step strudder assembly .. right ?)

The MK7 stepstrudder spare seems to be $200 - about 20% of the cost of the entire Makerbot.

http://store.makerbot.com/stepstruder-mk7-complete.html

Shall be contacting the folks at Makerbot. There seem to be some sources sources of ABS in the China that would be useful.

A thread seems to indicate there even with some additives to the ABS it is ok:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/makerbot/n8jP3bQjsO4

I do know ABS pellets (for plastic injection moulding is available in locally). Wonder why the spools are not.

Thanks, Gautam

[Gautam Sridhara]

Good luck Aakash. Local spares would deifnitely be a bit plus.

Cheers, Gautam

[Siddharth Valambhia]

Good luck Akash.... I tried to call you yesterday... but it keeps ringing... 

Best Regards

Siddharth VALAMBHIA

RAM-VILLA, NEW JAIL R0AD,

JAMNAGAR-361005(GUJARAT)

INDIA.

Mobile:+91-94 29 33 39 59