Nov 4, 2016 | By Alec

While 3D printers do honestly come in all shapes and sizes, the vast majority of models feature roughly the same desktop size – with size differences usually being negligible. While the dream is always to go bigger and wider to facilitate larger prints and more ambitious projects, there’s a lot to be said for downsizing as well. Aside from the obvious benefit of making your 3D printer extremely portable, it also means 3D printing smaller, more efficient objects and optimally using your build volume. Why be tempted to go bigger if smaller means becoming more efficient? If this sounds appealing, then the palm-sized PocketMaker might be something for you.

The 3D printer itself has been developed by a team of students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, including engineers Hu Biao and Sun Ran, industrial designer Lang Qiyue and visual designer Xu Shiwen. They have just launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for this palm-sized piece of hardware, which is true to its name in every way. Just 10.8cm × 12.8cm × 14.2cm in size, it very nearly fits into your pocket – while the $99 price tag means that you could actually afford one using nothing but pocket money. Though if you’re only starting to save up now, it’s good to know that the price will actually be raised to $149 upon the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign.

What’s more, it  looks like the Chinese developers have made the most out of the very small volume that is available to them. A very efficient design means that nearly the entire hardware volume is also the build volume, and the final 8cm × 8cm × 8cm build space can still house quite a list of 3D printing projects. As they revealed, going small and low-cost seemed like a perfect way to bring 3D printing to everyone. “Our mission was to make 3D printing simple and affordable. We redesigned and customized the motor while leaving only the essential structure needed for stable, quality 3D printing to make it truly affordable and completely effortless to use. We know that some point in the future 3D printing must be a part of everyone’s lives,” they say.

What’s more, the actual build platform is removable and bendable, making it very easy to remove 3D printed objects from the plate. Say goodbye to putty knives, ruined prints and filament residue – all you have to do is bend the bed slightly and the print just pops off. The process can be seen in the Indiegogo preview clip visible below. Along with the price tag and build volume, this makes the PocketMaker a perfect educational 3D printer option for kids and classrooms.

This mini-3D printer also supports both PLA and ABS, and works with custom ‘pocket filament’ spools and other standard 1.75 mm spools. “We specially designed pocket PLA filament spools so that people can print with more materials and color choices,” the Chinese developers add. For optimal accessibility, the PocketMaker is further supported by a one-touch-print app and a forthcoming model library.

That level of accessibility is further supported by a clever replaceable nozzle design. Of course nozzle clogging is a common problem that haunts 3D printer users throughout the world, and not something beginning users want to be confronted with. Few teachers and parents would feel comfortable with letting young children deal with clogged nozzles either. In an attempt to overcome this problem, the PocketMaker is compatible with magnetic nozzle modules, that simply slide into place and are replaced in a moment’s notice. Clogging never has to get in the way of 3D printing fun ever again. It’s just another feature that makes the palm-sized PocketMaker 3D printer a very appealing entry-level option. For more, check out the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign here.

PocketMaker specifications:

  • Print volume: It's a cube, 80 mm (3.15 in) per side.
  • It is lightweight, roughly 850g (1.87 lb).
  • Replaceable nozzle.
  • Removable Print Bed.
  • Print accuracy:0.2mm.
  • Wireless connection.
  • USB-Compatible connection.
  • It can be used with Android, iOS, Windows, or Mac.
  • Filament: standard 1.75mm. Nearly 160g (0.35lb) rolls.
  • Supports many different materials: PLA, ABS, and more.
  • Other standard 1.75 mm filament spools on the market also supported.
  • PocketMaker APP for an effortless, plug-and-play experience.
  • Supports and uses open source software (for advanced users).

 

 

Posted in 3D Printer

 

 

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ajith wrote at 2/7/2018 6:27:32 PM:

when it was launching from where to buy hw to proceed

Dinos wrote at 11/6/2016 5:03:58 AM:

This seems, all too familiar and a bit too good to be true. If this 3D printer is genuinely legitimate than I wish it the best of luck. Ps. I love this awesome site, I visit it nearly every day, Keep up the great work.



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