Last CES, 3D printing company MakerBot announced the original Replicator, marking the first time the company offered printing in two colors at once and supported the ABS plastic used in toys like Legos. But by the time the Replicator 2 rolled around in September, neither of these features was included. Now, we’re back at CES 2013, and so is two-color printing. The MakerBot 2X, announced today, has the same resolution and external design as the MakerBot 2, but it’s been redesigned with a new extruder — the system that feeds, heats, and “prints” the plastic — and a plate that’s optimized for ABS, as well as the aforementioned dual nozzles for multiple colors.
MakerBot Replicator 2X brings back dual-color 3D printing, shipping in March for $2,799
is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.
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The Replicator 2X isn’t a huge step over what MakerBot has released in past years, but it re-adds some desirable features. It’s also, however, significantly more expensive than the $2,199 Replicator 2. The 2X will sell for $2,799 starting January 11th, and printers will start shipping in March.
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