What is a Performance 3D Printer? The MakerBot Method Story

Engineers, product developers and design teams in Australia often hit the same wall. Hobbyist desktop FDM machines lack the accuracy and material range serious work needs. Industrial 3D printers cost too much, take weeks to install, and need a dedicated technician on staff. The performance 3D printer category exists to fill the middle ground.

The MakerBot Method launched in 2019 as the first machine purpose-built for the segment. It set the spec floor for the category by combining industrial-grade thermal control, dimensional tolerance and dual-extruder support inside an office footprint. Six years on, the platform still anchors the desktop-to-pro bridge in the Australian MakerBot range.

This guide explains where the performance 3D printer category sits, what defines it, who buys one, and how to think about pricing and availability in Australia today.

Where the performance category sits between desktop and industrial

Three tiers run through the FDM market. Hobbyist desktop machines under A$5,000 produce parts at ±0.5mm tolerance and stop at PLA, ABS, PETG and a few flexibles. Industrial 3D printers above A$50,000 hit ±0.1mm or tighter and run engineering-grade composites, but they take weeks to install and need a trained operator. Performance 3D printers sit in the middle of those two tiers.

The middle class targets work hobbyist printers cannot finish and industrial printers feel oversized for. Functional prototypes mounting in a real assembly. Jigs and fixtures destined for a production line. Small-batch end-use parts where dimensional repeatability matters more than throughput.

This category did not exist before Stratasys and MakerBot combined forces in 2013. Stratasys had decades of industrial FDM heritage, including the thermal architecture and print core engineering inside industrial machines. MakerBot brought the desktop workflow, the user interface and the office-friendly footprint. The Method, released in 2019, was the first 3D printer to ship with both DNA strands inside one chassis.

What makes a 3D printer "performance" class

Five technical specifications separate a performance 3D printer from a hobbyist desktop machine. The Method hit all five at launch:

• ±0.2mm dimensional tolerance across the build envelope. Half the variance of a typical desktop FDM machine.

• Dual performance extruders with PVA soluble supports. The second extruder lays water-soluble support material. Overhangs and internal cavities print without manual cleanup damage.

• Circulated heated build chamber. Stable print temperature across long jobs and on geometries with large flat sections. Warping drops sharply.

• Roughly twice the print speed of standard desktop FDM machines on like-for-like geometry. Shorter prototype-to-test loops.

• First-year total cost around one-third of an entry-level industrial 3D printer. Lower buy-in, similar engineering outcomes.

These five specs are the benchmark a performance 3D printer needs to clear. Newer MakerBot machines like the Method XL keep all five and add a larger build envelope. The category-defining floor has held since 2019.

Who buys a performance 3D printer in Australia

Five buyer profiles consistently choose this category over a hobbyist tier or an industrial system:

• Engineering firms running design-to-production workflows in-house. Prototype, jig, fixture, small batch, all on one machine.

• University research labs needing repeatable dimensional accuracy without a dedicated industrial cell.

• Design studios doing functional rather than visual prototypes, where the part has to mount and load.

• Manufacturing teams producing small-batch end-use parts. Brackets, housings, connectors, runs of 10 to 500 units.

• Product developers moving from concept to validated design with shorter print cycles than industrial systems allow.

Across these profiles, the appeal stays consistent. Production-grade output sits inside an office environment, runs without a dedicated technician, and avoids the procurement cycle an industrial 3D printer demands.

Australian engineering teams adopted the platform from 2019 onwards. Australian 3D Printers now supplies and supports the current MakerBot range locally. See the current MakerBot Method 3D printer overview for spec breakdowns and use-case examples sourced from the Australian market.

The MakerBot Method legacy and where the category is today

MakerBot's path to the performance 3D printer category started in 2009. The brand set out to make desktop 3D printing affordable. Four milestones shaped the platform:

• 2009: MakerBot founded with the goal of making 3D printing accessible.

• 2010: First MakerBot 3D printer shown at CES in Las Vegas.

• 2013: Acquired by Stratasys, gaining decades of industrial FDM engineering.

• 2014: Launched the first Wi-Fi-connected desktop 3D printer.

In 2019, the work culminated in the launch of the Method. Paul Harman, leading the launch through then-Australian distributor Alloys, marked the moment:

"We're excited to bring the Method to Australia to give maximum innovation for minimal investment. It's an agile solution perfect for designers, engineers, product developers, and innovators."

Six years later, the original MakerBot Method remains in the global MakerBot range. Australian buyers needing parts beyond its envelope step up to the Method XL, which carries the same dual-extruder thermal architecture inside a larger build chamber. Teams pushing engineering-grade composites like carbon-fibre-reinforced nylon pair either machine with the Gen 2 Experimental Method Extruder for high-temperature material support.

Today, the performance class is no longer alone in the segment. Competing platforms now ship in the same price band. Method's place in the story is the one no rival owns, the first 3D printer built specifically for the performance class.

Pricing and getting started in Australia

Pricing for the MakerBot performance range in Australia runs through a quote process rather than a published flat rate. Final figures shift with bundles, materials packs, including RapidRinse water-soluble support, extended care plans and on-site training options. A request-a-quote conversation usually takes one short call to scope your use case, then a tailored quote arrives by email.

For a broader sense of where performance 3D printers sit relative to entry-level desktop and industrial systems, see our 3D printer cost guide for Australia. It walks the full price spread from A$1,500 hobbyist machines up to A$80,000 industrial systems and slots the performance class clearly inside the range.

If you want to skip ahead, request a quote and our team will scope a system to match your throughput, materials and budget.

FAQ: Performance 3D Printers Explained

What is a performance 3D printer?

A performance 3D printer is a professional FDM machine sitting between desktop and industrial 3D printing. It runs ±0.2mm dimensional tolerance, supports engineering materials, includes a heated build chamber, and costs roughly one-third of an entry-level industrial system in its first year. The MakerBot Method was the first machine in the category.

How is a performance 3D printer different from a desktop 3D printer?

Performance 3D printers hold tighter dimensional tolerance (±0.2mm vs ±0.5mm for typical desktop FDM), use a heated build chamber to control warping on long prints, and ship with dual extruders for soluble support material. A hobbyist desktop machine usually has none of these.

What can you make with a performance 3D printer?

Functional prototypes, jigs, fixtures and small-batch end-use parts are the standard print jobs for a performance 3D printer. Engineers print parts mounting into real assemblies, holding load and meeting dimensional callouts. Brackets, housings, connectors and tooling are common.

Is the MakerBot Method still available in Australia?

Yes, the original MakerBot Method remains in the MakerBot range. The Method XL adds a larger build envelope for parts beyond its volume. Australian 3D Printers supplies and supports both, with quote-based pricing through the request-a-quote process.

Which performance 3D printer should I buy?

For most Australian engineering, design and university research teams, the Method XL is the current pick because of its larger build envelope and full feature set. The original Method still suits teams with a smaller part footprint who want the same workflow at lower buy-in. Pair either with the Gen 2 Experimental Method Extruder if your work needs engineering-grade composites.

Where can I buy a performance 3D printer in Australia?

Australian 3D Printers is the authorised reseller for the MakerBot performance 3D printer range in Australia. The full range, including the Method and Method XL, sits on the MakerBot collection page. Request a quote or book a call to scope a system to your use case.

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Want to view the full MakerBot performance 3D printer range? Click here.

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