User manual

ACTIVE COOLING FAN: The fan that
cools the MakerBot PLA Filament as
it extrudes.
BLUE TAPE: Blue masking tape that
makes a great build surface for objects
printed with MakerBot PLA Filament. You
can find blue tape at any hardware store.
BUILD PLATE: The acrylic surface on
which the MakerBot Replicator 2 builds
an object.
BUILD PLATFORM: The support for the
build plate. The build platform includes
knobs for manual leveling.
DRIVE GEAR: The gear that drives the
MakerBot PLA Filament into the heater.
EXTRUDER: The assembly that draws
the filament from the spool, melts it,
and pushes it through the nozzle 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: The grill that protects the
extruder fan and protects the user
from the fan.
FILAMENT GUIDE TUBE: The plastic tube
that guides the MakerBot PLA Filament
from the filament spool to the extruder.
FIRMWARE: The soware that runs on
your MakerBot Replicator 2.
GANTRY: The metal rods that allows the
MakerBot Replicator 2’s extruder to move
on the X and Y axes.
GCODE: The computer language used
to describe the toolpath your MakerBot
Replicator 2 will use to build an object.
GCode is converted to .x3g before being
sent to your machine.
HEAT SINK: The component that
dissipates heat from the cartridge heater.
It looks like an aluminum plate with fins.
LCD CONTROL PANEL: The liquid-
crystal display at 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.
MAKERWARE: Free software created
by MakerBot that allows you to load,
rotate, scale and move 3D models and
send them to the MakerBot Replicator 2
for building.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
53E TROUBLESHOOTING, DIAGNOSTICS, AND MAINTENANCE