Help!

[jackleuer 0]

I'm 3dprinting through my schools lab, and they only have Makerbot Replicator Plus printers. Using Cura software, can I slice and export through Cura or do I have to use the Horrible Makerbot software? When I try, I get an error labeled, "There are no file formats available to write with!" can anyone interpret this or help me use Cura rather than Makerbot to prepare my prints?!

[dmitche3 0]

You can setup a generic printer in Cura.  When selecting a printer there isn't much that is specific to the printer that would cause issues.  What is important is defining your bed size and maximum Z height, and where "Home" is located.  There might be something else but it's probably a minor settings.

You'll probably want to copy some pre-print and post processing scripts from other printers if there isn't any provided.  These would print a priming line down the left side of the bed before printing.  And the post-processing move the print head away from the item when completed.  I would guess that these are added to a generic printer by Cura.

Also, look at the last section in the setup panel for Printer Settings, under "Experimental".  You'll see additional printer settings that you'll need to review.