User Manual V. 3 for the MakerBot Replicator 2X: The Prepare Screen

1. +/–

• Click the Plus and Minus buttons to zoom in and out.

• You can also zoom using a track pad or the scroll wheel on your mouse.

2. Home View

• Click the Home View button to return to the default view of the build plate.

3. View

• Click the View button or press the V key to enter View mode.

• In View mode, click and drag with your mouse to rotate the build plate.

• In View mode, hold the Shift key and click and drag with your mouse to pan.

• Click the View button again to open the Change View submenu and access preset views.

4. Move

• Click the Move button or press the M key to enter Move mode. 

• In Move mode, click and drag with your mouse to move your model around on the

build plate.

• In Move mode, hold the Shift key and click and drag with your mouse to move your

model up and down along the z-axis.

• Click the Move button again to open the Change Position submenu and move your

object by a specific distance along the X, Y, or Z-axis.

5. Turn

• Click the Turn button or press the T key to enter Turn mode.

• In Turn mode, click and drag with your mouse to rotate your model around the z-axis.

• Click the Turn button again to open the Change Rotation submenu and rotate your

object by a specific number of degrees around the X, Y, or Z-axis.

6. Scale

• Click the Scale button or press the S key to enter Scale mode.

• In Scale mode, click and drag with your mouse to shrink or enlarge your model.

• Click the Scale button again to open the Change Dimensions submenu and scale your

object by a specific amount along the X, Y, or Z-axis.

7. Object

• Click the Object button twice or press the O key twice to open the Object submenu.

• Select which extruder you would like to print each object on your build plate.

• You can set each extruder’s display color by navigating to Edit > App Settings in

MakerBot Desktop.

• To have all objects printed by the same extruder, select the appropriate extruder and

then click Select All.

8. File Name

• The File Name bar displays the name of the file or layout currently open.

9. Settings

• Click Settings to open the settings dialog.

• Use the dialog to change print settings for the current model or layout.

10. Add File

• Click Add File to open an Open File dialog.

• Navigate to the location of any STL, OBJ, or Thing file and select the file to add a

model to the build plate. 

• Add as many models to the plate as you like. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/

Command + L to automatically arrange multiple models on the plate.

• Duplicate models already on the plate using the Copy and Paste options in the Edit

menu or the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl/Command+C and Ctrl/Command+V.

11. Save to Library

• Click Save to Library to open a Save dialog.

• If you are logged into your MakerBot account, you can choose to save to your Library or

to your local computer.

• If you are not logged into your MakerBot account or if you are working offline, you will

be able to save your file only to your local computer.

• If you are working in an existing Thing file, you can rearrange the models on the plate

and save this new layout to the Thing file without overwriting earlier layouts.

12. Export Print File

• Click Export Print File to slice your print and save the file to your local computer or SD

card. Be sure to save the file as a .X3G. After the model has sliced, you can click Print

Preview to open a preview of the sliced model.

13. Print

• The Print button functions only when your MakerBot Replicator 2X is connected

via USB.

• Click Print to slice your file and send the file to your printer. After the model has sliced,

you can click Print Preview to open a preview of the sliced model.

14. Status

• The status bar displays the connection status of any connected MakerBot 3D Printer.

• The status bar displays the progress of the current print.

• Click the menu icon at the right side of the status bar to open a print monitor panel,

which will display more detailed information about your MakerBot Replicator 2X and

any print in progress.

• Open the print monitor panel to pause or cancel a print.