May 5, 2014
The Nomad 883 is a ready to run CNC milling machine that can be used in any office, shop or studio. Made with the goal of making CNC milling as easy to do as 3D printing, The Nomad 883 is positioned as a technology that exists right next to most 3D printers.
We track the development of this project because it could be an alternative to fill the gap between huge milling machines and desktop 3D printers that are limited by materials. Roughly the size of a desktop 3D printer, the Nomad is designed with a rigid aluminum frame and can make parts out of plastics, wood, circuit boards, waxes, and aluminum and brass. It is fully enclosed for quiet, dust-free operation.
"We designed the machine from the ground up to address the complaints we've heard about CNC machines - from designing our own spindle to adding automation like tool length probing and custom fixtures to simplify common job setups," said Grzesek, co-founder of Carbide 3D, the company behind The Nomad. "We think this is the next step in the recent Digital Manufacturing trend started by low-cost 3D printers."
The Nomad is the brainchild of Rob Grzesek and Jorge Sanchez, both electrical engineers, and designer Apollo Crowe. It comes with all the necessary software to start cutting 2D or 3D design files from a Mac or Windows computer. Unlike other machines, there is no need to shop for separate software, and the Nomad can read the same files used for 3D printing.
"We include software to plan the toolpath (with CNC you usually have to find your own) and the software to control the machine with a simplified interface. The software is designed for "normal people" to learn quickly." said Grzesek.
"We also include automation functions to simply tedious operations like setting the machine position, measuring tool length, and fixtures to hold the material you're cutting so that it can be flipped over to create two-sided parts." Grzesek explained. Grzesek and Sanchez spent nine years running a product development company, doing work for Fortune 500 companies before starting work on a new CNC mill.
"Putting a CNC machine next to a 3D printer opens a world of options that neither can do alone." Grzesek said, "Both have their benefits and we think that it's only the complexity of CNC milling that has kept it behind 3D printing lately."
As an example of the type of thing the Nomad can make, Carbide 3D showed a walnut and aluminum iPhone dock made on the device.
The Nomad 883 is available on Kickstarter from $1,500. Carbide3D launched the Nomad 883 last week, and has raised $172,600 so far, almost six times its original goal of $30,000, with another four weeks to go. Check out more info on Kickstarter here.
Posted in 3D Technology
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I am keeping a close eye on this product; looks amazing for it is both fit for purpose and affordable. I shall be looking to purchase one of these units myself in the very near future.
chris wrote at 1/7/2015 7:38:00 PM:
Hi will this product be for sale in the UK and what cost
paul.battram@btinternet.com wrote at 6/1/2014 9:32:53 AM:
Do you eventually intend to sell to countries in Europe (i.e. UK) and if so when is this likely to happen?
Joe wrote at 5/11/2014 7:16:29 PM:
I want one! When do these become available?
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