USER MANUAL    |    SINGLE EXTRUSION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Specifications 
How It Works 
Terminology 
A  WELCOME. LET’S GET STARTED 
 
 
 
 
B  SETTInG up YOuR MAkERBOT REpLICATOR 2 DESkTOp 3D pRInTER 
  What’s in The Box 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D printer Diagram 
unpacking Your MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D printer 
Installing Build plate 
Installing Filament Guide Tube and Spool Holder 
Mounting Filament Spool and Attaching uSB Cable 
Attaching power Supply and powering On 
C  STARTup pROCESS: LEvELInG, LOADInG, TESTInG 
 
 
 
Leveling the Build platform 
Loading MakerBot pLA Filament 
Making a Test Object from the SD Card 
D  MAkInG An OBjECT WITH MAkERBOT MAkERWARE 
E  TROuBLESHOOTInG, DIAGnOSTICS, AnD MAInTEnAnCE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Troubleshooting 
Diagnostics 
    LCD panel  |  Top-Level Menu 
    LCD panel  |  utilities Menu 
    LCD panel  |  Info and Settings Menu 
Maintenance 
    unloading MakerBot pLA Filament  
    Lubricating the Threaded Rod and the X-Axis Idler pulley 
    Cleaning the Drive Gear 
    Adjusting the plunger 
F  TERMS OF SERvICE 
04
06
07
08
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V 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
03
A
Welcome.  
Let’s get started.
This User Guide is designed to start your journey 
with the MakerBot® Replicator™2 Desktop 3D Printer 
off in the right direction. Even if you are familiar 
with earlier MakerBot machines, it is essential that 
you read through this guide, as there are several 
important and exciting updates with the MakerBot 
Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer.
In chapters A and B, you will learn the basics of 
the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer, how 
to unbox safely, and how to get set up. Chapters 
C–E will take you through leveling, printing, 
maintenance, and troubleshooting.
MakerBot is excited to welcome you to the world 
of the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer. 
Following this guide will help ensure that you are 
getting the most out of your machine, and that you 
continue to make amazing things.
WARNING: The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer generates high temperatures and includes 
moving parts that can cause injury. Never reach inside the MakerBot Replicator 2 while it is in operation.  
Always allow the MakerBot Replicator 2 to cool down before reaching inside.
CAUTION: If opening the MakerBot Replicator 2 for service, ensure that the power supply is turned off and 
the cord is disconnected.
A  WELCOME, LET’S GET STARTED
05
SPECiFiCATiONS
PriNTiNg 
PhySiCAL DimENSiONS
Print Technology: 
 Fused Filament Fabrication
Without Spool: 
 19.1 x 12.8 x 14.7 in  [49 x 32 x 38 cm] 
Build Volume: 
Print Quality: 
 
 11.2 L x 6.0 W x 6.1 H in 
[28.5 x 15.3 x 15.5 cm]
With Spool: 
 19.1 x 16.5 x 14.7 in  [49 x 42 x 38 cm]
Shipping Box: 
 23 x 21.5 x 17 in [59 x 55 x 43 cm]
 High 
100 microns [0.0039 in]
 Medium  270 microns [0.0106 in] 
Low 
340 microns [0.0133 in]
Weight: 
25.4 lbs  [11.5 kg]
Shipping Weight: 
32.0 lbs  [14.5 kg]
Positioning Precision:    XY: 11 microns   [0.0004 in];  
Z: 2.5 microns   [0.0001 in]
Filament Diameter:  1.75 mm  [0.069 in]
Nozzle Diameter:   0.4 mm  [0.015 in]
TEmPErATUrE
Ambient Operating     15° – 32° C  [60° – 90° F]
Temperature:
Storage Temperature:   0° – 32° C  [32° – 90° F]
SOFTwArE 
Software Bundle: 
File Types: 
Supports: 
 MakerBot MakerWare™  
.stl, .obj, .thing
 Windows 7,  
Linux [Ubuntu 12.04+],  
Mac OS X [10.6/ 10.7/10.8]
ELECTriCAL
AC Input: 
100 – 240 V, ~2 amps, 50 – 60 Hz
Power Requirements:  24 V DC @ 6.25 amps
Connectivity: 
USB, SD card [included]
mEChANiCAL
Chassis: 
Body: 
Powder-coated steel
PVC Panels
Build Platform: 
Acrylic
XYZ Bearings: 
Stepper Motors: 
 Wear-resistant,  
oil-infused  bronze
 1.8° step angle with  
1/16 micro-stepping
06
A  WELCOME, LET’S GET STARTED
hOw DOES iT wOrK?
The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer makes solid, three-dimensional objects 
out of melted MakerBot PLA Filament. Your 3D design files are translated into instructions 
for the MakerBot Replicator 2 and sent to the machine via USB cable or SD Card. Then 
the MakerBot Replicator 2 heats the MakerBot PLA Filament and squeezes it out through 
an extruder to make a solid object layer by layer. This method is called Fused Filament 
Fabrication [FFF].
A  WELCOME, LET’S GET STARTED
07
TErmiNOLOgy
ACTivE COOLiNg FAN:  The fan that 
cools the MakerBot PLA Filament as  
it extrudes.
BUiLD PLATE:  The surface on which the 
MakerBot Replicator 2 makes an object.
BUiLD PLATFOrm:  The support for the 
build plate. The build platform includes 
knobs for manual leveling.
PLUNgEr:  A part of the extruder 
assembly. The Delrin plunger pushes the 
MakerBot PLA Filament against  
the drive gear.
DrivE gEAr:  The gear that drives the 
MakerBot PLA Filament into the heater.
ExTrUDEr:  Draws MakerBot PLA 
Filament from the spool and pushes it 
into the nozzle, where it is heated and 
squeezed onto the build plate
ExTrUDEr FAN:  The fan that keeps the 
MakerBot Replicator 2 motor cool and 
disperses heat from the heat sink.
FAN gUArD:  A grill that protects the 
extruder fan and protects the user  
from the fan.
gCODE:  A computer language used to 
describe the toolpath your MakerBot 
Replicator 2 will use to build an object. 
GCode is converted to S3G before being 
sent to your machine.
hEAT SiNK:  An active heat sink that 
dissipates heat from the cartridge heater. 
It looks like an aluminum plate with fins.
LCD CONTrOL PANEL:  The liquid-
crystal display in the front lower right 
corner of the MakerBot Replicator 2. This 
control panel provides status information 
about the MakerBot Replicator 2 and 
includes control menus and diagnostics.
mAKErBOT PLA FiLAmENT:  Polylactic 
acid filament. PLA is a renewable 
bioplastic. MakerBot PLA Filament is the 
source material from which you make 
objects on the MakerBot Replicator 2.
mAKErBOT rEPLiCATOr 2:  The 
MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer.
mAKErwArE:  Free software created 
by MakerBot that allows you to load 3D 
model files, manipulate and edit those 
files, and send them to the MakerBot 
Replicator 2 for building.
FiLAmENT gUiDE TUBE:  A plastic tube 
that guides the MakerBot PLA Filament 
from the filament spool to the extruder.
mOTOr ASSEmBLy:  The stepper motor 
and the drive block that push filament 
into the extruder.
08
A  WELCOME, LET’S GET STARTED