If you are looking to improve your MakerBot Replicator 2’s reliability and ease of use, we sell several upgrades for your build plate. Each of these upgrades is very easy to install, most taking only a few minutes. These upgrades also do not require any permanent modification to your 3D printer so you can swap between upgrades as they best suit your current print jobs.
Zebra Plate
The Zebra Plate is a great upgrade for many different reasons. First off it means you will not have to worry about replacing damaged blue tape ever again, as it is a durable surface that stands up to some rough use. Secondly it allows you to print parts that have a tendency to warp more easily than on standard build plates because it offers greater adhesion and its two different colored sides means it can always contrast your filament making it easy to see your first layer of your print and how well squished it is. A third great feature of the Zebra Plate is it’s ability to very easily remove large prints that may be too well stuck to the platform, all it takes is slightly twisting the platform and the print will pop off.
To use a Zebra Plate all you need is to print some clips that attached it onto your existing build plate and a z-endstop spacer to account for the extra thickness. This means switching the Zebra Plate in and out is very straightforward.
Glass Build Plate
A glass build plate is a great way to improve your 3D printing experience on a Replicator 2. The glass build plates will improve the stability of your platform and never warp or bow like the standard acrylic ones can. These glass build plates are also a much flatter build plate which helps getting your printer properly leveled as there are fewer high/low points on the print bed. You will still have to print on blue painters tape to get proper adhesion of your PLA but this build plate will make large prints easier.
Installation of this new bed is very straight forward, all you have to do is remove your old acrylic plate and replace it with the glass version. This plate does weight more than the acrylic version so you may get some additional sag at the front part of the platform, this makes it great to pair with our Aluminum Platform Arms.
Aluminum Platform Arms
These Aluminum Platform Arms are great paired with heavy build plates such as the glass build plates, and also work as a stand-alone upgrade as the will stiffen the stock platform arms and help your printer go longer between needing platform releveling. As an added bonus these platform arms look great as they are all a highly reflective metallic shine.
These platform arms slide right over your stock platform arms and use setscrews to attach.