Mar. 31, 2015 | By Simon
Less than two weeks ago, we caught a sneak-peek of the new Tiko unibody 3D printer at the Austin, Texas SXSW festival where it was met with a positive response.
The $179 3D printer has been marketed as being capable of printing objects that are similar in quality to existing Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers but for hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars less.
Today, Tiko 3D launched their Tiko 3D printer on Kickstarter and have nearly met their campaign goal in just hours. As of press time, they have raised more than $188,000 from 1189 backers, with 30 days still left to go in their campaign.
“Go into a store with $179 and see what you can get,” says Tiko 3D on their Kickstarter page.
“A microwave, a mini-fridge, a vacuum, etc. All of these products are pretty complicated, and no one expects them to require fixing every week. We believe a 3D printer shouldn't be any different. That’s why we designed Tiko.”
If the early funding success is any indication, the company might have hit the sweet spot for those looking for an affordable and reliable 3D printer that’s easy on the eyes, is capable of producing reasonably-sized objects and has some level of ‘smart’ plug-and-play capabilities and connectivity. To put it simply, the 3D printer doesn’t need to be a prosumer product anymore; it can be just as accessible as other household appliances such as vacuum cleaners if manufactured for that purpose. Needless to say, it appears that the Tiko 3D team has done just that.
In addition to its unique enclosed unibody design that would look right at home next to a Microsoft Surface or Apple computer, the delta-style printer is designed to be transported easily for makers-on-the-go. Additionally, the material used for the unheated print bed ensures that those who use don’t need to bring along an arsenal of tools or chemicals to un-stick their print...meaning that in many regards, this truly is a portable 3d printer (for those curious, the print is released by bending the removable bed).
As for the unique software, everything is based in the Cloud. While some people may not be warmed up yet to operating software from within their browser, this is increasingly the direction that many software developers are moving in because it gives users to access and operate their files on any device regardless of onboard power or limitations.
When he presented the Tiko 3D printer at SXSW, Tiko 3D CEO Matt Gajkowski - along with Business Analyst Sharon Charitar and Supply Chain Manager Mike Zhang - added that the printer was built with mass manufacturing in mind to help bring down the cost as low as possible for the users. At the rate that the Tiko is selling right now on Kickstarter, this shouldn’t be any problem.
Backers will receive various rewards including Baby Tiko Unibody ($18), earliest bird ($99 - all gone), early bird ($139 - all gone), and the printer ($179). Those who choose to back the Tiko on Kickstarter for $179 can expect to see their printer delivered in the Fall of this year according to the company’s projections.
Posted in 3D Printers
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I am from Serbia, south-eastern Europe. How can I buy this printer?
kim wrote at 10/1/2015 8:31:04 PM:
where can i buy this printer
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