Does the MakerBot Sketch 3D printer work with SimplyPrint, OctoPrint, Mainsail and Fluidd?
Each way of connecting it, what it needs, and how to set it up.
Takes only .makerbot print files, through MakerBot CloudPrint, the network or a USB stick. MakerBot documents no G-code printing over USB serial.
Source
Unfortunately, the MakerBot Sketch is currently not, to our knowledge, compatible with OctoPrint, Mainsail, Fluidd, or SimplyPrint. For the best 3D printing experience, consider other 3D printers that are compatible with these softwares.
How we determine compatibility
We consider a printer compatible if it works with one or more of the following:
SimplyPrint custom integration for this specific model
OctoPrint support (requires the printer to support serial printing)
Klipper support (printer can run Klipper, either by flashing compatible firmware or using an external controller/pad)
OctoPrint compatibility is primarily based on whether the printer supports serial communication. If serial printing is not supported, we mark OctoPrint as not compatible.
Note: Some printers have third-party OctoPrint plugins that enable unofficial/custom connections. We don’t maintain a list of these plugins, so they are not reflected in our compatibility data.
Use MakerBot's own slicer, MakerBot Print: none of the slicers in SimplyPrint's cloud has a profile for the MakerBot Sketch, and it doesn't take standard G-code that we know of.
MakerBot Sketch specifications: bed size, print height and more
Its size, temperatures, multi-material and how it connects, from the maker and our own research.
Read more by the manufacturer
Size
Build volume
150 x 150 x 150 mm
Bed type
Square
Bed size
150 x 150 mm
Max print height
150 mm
Printing
Enclosure
Fully enclosed
Max extruder temperature
240 °C
Has heated bed
Yes
Max bed temperature
100 °C
Number of nozzles
1
Toolheads
1
Direct drive
No
Probing tool / Auto Bed Leveling
Yes
Filament width
1.75 mm
Multi-material
Toolchanger or hotend changer
No
IDEX (independent dual extruders)
No
Connecting
Connectivity
USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi
Built-in camera
Yes
Supports serial printing
Unknown
Shipped firmware
The maker's own
Files and slicing
Supported file formats
G-code (.gcode, .gco, .g)
The printer
Printer manufacturer / brand
MakerBot
Printer model name
Sketch
Made by a company from
USA
Launched
February 2020
Disclaimer:
We strive to keep this information as current and accurate as possible, but cannot guarantee its completeness or reliability. Our data is based on user submissions and manufacturer references.
What filament can the MakerBot Sketch print?
Filament compatibility for the MakerBot Sketch: the materials MakerBot lists for it.
Filament
Suitability
Notes
PLA
Great
On the maker's list of materials for this printer.
PETG
Great
Comfortably in range (PETG likes a ~230-250C hotend and a ~70-85C bed).
TPU & flexibles
With care
Possible, but a Bowden extruder makes flexibles harder - print slowly and prefer firmer (higher-shore) TPU.
ABS & ASA
Great
Enclosed, with a hot enough hotend and bed: ABS and ASA print well.
Nylon (PA)
Not ideal
Not recommended - nylon needs a hotter hotend (~250-270C) and ideally an enclosure.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Not ideal
Not recommended - PC needs very high hotend temps and an enclosed chamber.
Carbon-fiber & glass-filled
With care
Possible if you fit a hardened or wear-resistant nozzle - the abrasive fibers quickly wear a stock brass nozzle.
Tip: this is a general guide from the printer's specs - always check your filament's recommended settings. With SimplyPrint you can save a profile for each spool and track exactly what filament you have in stock.
Printers like the MakerBot Sketch that work with SimplyPrint
Printers from the same maker, of a similar size, printing the same engineering materials or multi-material like it, that you can buy today and that we know work with SimplyPrint.
Who makes the MakerBot Sketch, and how open MakerBot leaves you: whether its printers run without its cloud, take any filament and slicer, and can be repaired. Each area is rated from public sources.
Openness: Mostly closed (2.3 of 5)
Mostly closed
Walled gardenOpen
MakerBot is an American 3D printer brand founded in New York in 2009 out of the open-source RepRap scene. Stratasys bought it in 2013 and merged it with Ultimaker in 2022; MakerBot is now UltiMaker's education brand, selling Sketch classroom printers with lesson plans, teacher tools and management in UltiMaker's Digital Factory cloud. The Replicator printers in our catalogue are discontinued.
Founded:
2009-01 ·
Headquarters:
Brooklyn, New York, US ·
Ownership:
Brand of UltiMaker, formed in August 2022 when Stratasys merged MakerBot with Ultimaker (NPM Capital 53.5%, Stratasys 46.5% at closing) ·
Website:www.makerbot.com
Proprietary firmware, MakerBot-only extruders and materials, and classroom management in UltiMaker's cloud. In return schools get one managed system with curriculum and support.
Firmware and custom firmware ●●●●●
MakerBot stopped sharing its hardware designs with the Replicator 2 in 2012, and its fifth-generation printers moved to proprietary controllers, extruders and firmware. We found no firmware source for the current Sketch line.
[15][14]
Local control and integrations ●●●●●
The Sketch Sprint prints over Wi-Fi or Ethernet from UltiMaker Cura or Digital Factory, or from a USB stick. Classroom management, remote monitoring and browser slicing (Cura Cloud) run in UltiMaker's Digital Factory cloud, which replaced MakerBot CloudPrint in 2025. We found no documented local interface that other software could use.
[16][2][3]
Third-party filament, slicers and parts ●●●●●
MakerBot lists only its own PLA and Tough PLA, and only its own Sketch extruder, for the Sketch Sprint. Slicing is in UltiMaker Cura (open source) or Cura Cloud.
[2]
Repairs and spare parts ●●●●●
UltiMaker's shop sells Sketch extruders, a Sketch Sprint nozzle assembly, build plates and cables, and still sells Smart Extruder+ units for the Replicator+; spare parts are mostly whole assemblies.
[6]
Data and privacy ●●●●●
Some MakerBot services need an account, and MakerBot's privacy policy lists what it collects (including device identifiers such as MAC addresses and usage data) and its use of Google Analytics and retargeting. Students can submit files through Link Share without an account.
[5][2]
Community and documentation ●●●●●
MakerBot offers hundreds of free lesson plans, educator certification, Thingiverse Education and a support site; there is no public source code or bug tracker.
[1]
Pros
Built for schools: curriculum, lesson plans, teacher tools and certification are part of the package.
Enclosed Sketch printers with HEPA filtration, aimed at classrooms.
Students can submit files without creating accounts (Link Share).
Spare extruders and parts are still sold, even for the Replicator+.
Cons
Closed firmware and MakerBot-only extruders; only MakerBot PLA and Tough PLA are listed for the Sketch Sprint.
Fleet management depends on UltiMaker's Digital Factory cloud.
CloudPrint's 2025 shutdown left the Replicator 5th Gen, Mini, Mini+ and Z18 without cloud support.
Many ownership changes and layoffs over the years (Stratasys 2013, layoffs 2015 and 2017, Ultimaker merger 2022).
Track record
December 2025: UltiMaker shut down MakerBot CloudPrint in early December 2025, after announcing 1 October 2025. Printers had to be reconnected to Digital Factory by hand, and the Replicator Z18, 5th Gen, Mini and Mini+ are not supported there; MakerBot points their owners to MakerBot Print.
[3][4]
August 31, 2022: Stratasys closed the merger of MakerBot with Ultimaker into a company named Ultimaker (now UltiMaker), owned 53.5% by NPM Capital and 46.5% by Stratasys.
[7]
February 2017: MakerBot announced a restructuring with another round of layoffs, Fortune reported.
[9]
July 2016: A court dismissed the investor class action over the fifth-generation printers and Smart Extruder, finding the statements at issue were not actionable.
[10]
April 2016: MakerBot moved printer manufacturing from Brooklyn to the contract manufacturer Jabil and parted ways with an undisclosed number of Brooklyn staff, The Verge reported.
[13]
July 2015: A class action was filed against MakerBot and Stratasys alleging investors were misled about problems with the fifth-generation printers' Smart Extruder.
[11]
April 2015: MakerBot laid off about 20% of its staff, roughly 100 people, under a new CEO, Motherboard reported.
[12]
June 2013: Stratasys bought MakerBot in a stock deal worth $403 million at the time.
[8]
September 2012: With the Replicator 2, MakerBot stopped publishing its machine designs, a break with open-source hardware that co-founder Zach Smith criticised publicly.
[14][15]
Researched from 16 sources, last checked October 18, 2026. Show sources
Is the MakerBot Sketch compatible with SimplyPrint?
To our knowledge the MakerBot Sketch is not yet supported. SimplyPrint works with 130+ brands and 600+ models via OctoPrint, Klipper and built-in integrations - check the compatibility list for a supported printer.
What slicer should I use for the MakerBot Sketch?
Use MakerBot's own slicer, MakerBot Print: none of the slicers in SimplyPrint's cloud has a profile for the MakerBot Sketch, and it doesn't take standard G-code that we know of.
What filament can the MakerBot Sketch print?
MakerBot lists PLA for the Sketch.
What is the MakerBot Sketch's bed size and build volume?
The MakerBot Sketch has a 150 x 150 mm print bed and prints up to 150 mm tall, a build volume of about 150 x 150 x 150 mm. See the full specifications table above for bed type, temperatures and more.
When did the MakerBot Sketch come out?
MakerBot launched the Sketch in February 2020.
Where can I buy the MakerBot Sketch?
From MakerBot's own store, which has shops for everywhere else. The links on this page go to those stores; some are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
USA
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Cura
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