Makerbot’s new Z18 provided an intoxicating capability of large scale prints (just look at that cool helmet on the website!), so that’s where our story begins.  Technically, our story begins on when we put in a pre-order for it and then waited with baited breath for what seemed like years.  Let me point out, that the point of this blog is not to condemn or endorse one printer brand over another, we just felt like going for height.  Two months later, we get the call to come and get our new toy from Central Receiving!  I have never been an exceptionally risky driver, but driving back to your office with a brand spanking new 3D printer in the back of your truck makes it VERY easy to take the turns and speed bumps nice and slow.  Time to plug it in and make some toys, right?

…Of Course!

After printing the pre-loaded bracelet, tiny coffee table and nut/bolt, it was time throw up an actual architecture model and let ‘er rip.  Twenty minutes later, after tweaking a SketchUP warehouse model of the Arch of Titus we discovered to very important things:

1. Everybody turns into a 5-year old at Christmas time when they watch this thing run
2. …our prints were leaning off to the side…