MakerBot Replicator (5th Generation) — Technical data

The fifth-generation MakerBot Replicator appeared in 2014 and was the first model with the swappable Smart Extruder, combining nozzle, drive and sensors in one module. It prints only 1.75 mm PLA on an unheated plate in a 252 × 199 × 150 mm build volume and can be controlled via USB or Wi-Fi. It is operated via an LCD with control knob. The successor Replicator+ took over the housing in 2016 but received a larger build volume, a flexible plate and the improved Smart Extruder+.

The early Smart Extruder is considered fragile, which is why many owners swapped it for the Smart Extruder+; ask which extruder is fitted and whether a spare is included. Check the plate and its mount for warping and the Z axis for play. Firmware and software depend on older MakerBot programs whose support is running out. Spare parts are only available sporadically, so the unit is better suited to hobbyists or as a parts donor.