The ‘symbiotic’ relationship between additive and subtractive manufacturing

MakerBot's Shawn Miely explained to Additive Report Editor Don Nelson how the company's new Method X printer differs from its predecessor.

The "Method X has allowed us to take a bigger step into the manufacturing space," he said. "Its chamber heats to 100 degrees C, which is really important with an FDM-type printer like this. Without it, you're going to get a lot of warping and curling of parts." He added that what allows this is a proprietary technology MakerBot got from its parent company, Stratasys.

Miely added that the Method X is ready to use "out of the box," making it a good machine for manufacturers unfamiliar with AM technology.

A MakerBot customer has stationed a 3D printer alongside its million-dollar CNC machines to build jigs, fixtures, and robot grippers, he said. "They've created this nice symbiotic relationship."

MakerBot product manager Shawn Miely (left) talks to Additive Report Editor Don Nelson.