Rep 1 support ending

[Chris Fastie]

I have used MakerBot support so I got an email a few weeks ago which included this:

At MakerBot, we strive to provide industry-leading products so our customers can continue to experience the best of what desktop 3D printing has to offer. To devote more resources to our newer product lines, we are discontinuing support care and replacement parts for the Replicator 1 on March 31st, 2016.

For ordering additional parts, please read the FAQ below or call our support team at 1+347-334-6800 and select Support.
Upgrade with a 15% Discount
For being one of our first customers, we want to extend a 15% discount to you when you upgrade to a Replicator 2X Experimental Printer or a Replicator Desktop 3D Printer (5th Gen)....

I had a very good experience with MakerBot support when the old Delrin plunger filament feed mechanism started to make poor quality prints. This was after just 200 hours of printing with the OEM mechanism. I explained to the guy that I was using a Replicator 1 that had been donated by Makerbot to Public Lab. He sent me all the parts for a new right extruder, the hardware for the left extruder, and the stl file to print some parts for the left extruder. There was no charge. Those parts lasted for about 1500 hours before I had to replace the spring.

I also had a good experience when the x-axis cables started to fail after 600 hours. The guy walked me through some diagnostics to distinguish between a failed bot step and failed cable, then sent me all new cables for free. They are still functioning 1700 hours later (I arranged the cables differently).

MakerBot support has changed since then, and technically they are supposed to charge $100 just to listen to your problem. But I don't know what actually happens when you call now.

I have decided that it is time to stock up on spare parts. To have a good chance of keeping the machine working, I would like to have:

x-axis cables

thermocouple

heater element

extruder fan

extruder springs

ceramic insulation tape for heater block

several nozzles

These things don't cost much, but it is surprisingly tough to know exactly what parts to order. 

Chris