MakerGear Forum

Hey everyone. I'm very interested in the MakerGear M2. I've researched for days and it seems like it's the best one for me. I'm really excited to get one! But before I make the purchase I was wondering if there was going to be a new generation coming out. I know they're on the 3rd generation and I've read that it's been a few years since it came out. Is there any word on a 4th generation? Thanks!

Not as far as we know for the near future. They have been releasing upgraded parts every so often, which is better than making folks buy a new printer every couple of years.

It is a good machine as it is, without the need for upgrading on purchase the way so many of the lower-price point machines are.

Spencer wrote:Hey everyone. I'm very interested in the MakerGear M2. I've researched for days and it seems like it's the best one for me. I'm really excited to get one! But before I make the purchase I was wondering if there was going to be a new generation coming out. I know they're on the 3rd generation and I've read that it's been a few years since it came out. Is there any word on a 4th generation? Thanks!

To be honest, people have been asking this question since about 20 minutes after the M2 was announced.

The M1 had a small build volume, 5" cubed, with a single 240C V3a extruder and heated bed.

The M2 was this large of an upgrade -- 515 extra cubic inches of build volume (640 vs 125), dual 300C extruders, LCD printing, auto-levelling.

I don't see MakerGear releasing an M3 until they have that large of an incremental upgrade again -- and I just don't see it for consumer FDM printing. Sure there's large-format printing, but that's way too finicky for now (or way out of people's price range). Can MakerGear make the M3 a usable laser-sintering machine with a 12" cubed build volume and reusable media? That's really about the only way I see it going.


edit: the M1's build volume is small by today's standards, but at the time it was competing with the Cupcake and TOM, so it was right inline with other market offerings. The far superior print quality was the winner.

I saw a prototype Delta type printer Makergear had when I helped them out at PAX East Boston 2013 (X2 was the name I think). It looked and worked great all day but it was not released (I guess it didn't meet their expectations. I don't think Rick ever responded to questions about it). I like how Rick, et al don't release stuff that's still in alpha. I got suckered by the ToM before I discovered Makergear but the last 3 years have been pretty smooth sailing (user error being my biggest problem).

Joe