Feb 13, 2017 | By Tess
Swedish company Febtop Tech has just launched its new three-in-one desktop 3D printer, laser cutter, and CNC mill on Indiegogo. Within hours of launching the crowdfunding campaign, Febtop Tech has already surpassed its funding goal of $50,000. Backers still have 30 days to make their pledges.
Dubbed the Optimus (a nod to the Transformer Optimus Prime), the hybrid machine offers users an affordable and modular three-in-one system. Comprised of FDM 3D printing technology, a laser cutter, and a CNC mill, the desktop system is aiming to fulfill the manufacturing needs of individual makers.
Febtop Tech CEO Tom Yang explained the main inspiration behind the hybrid 3D printer: “We wanted to make a machine capable of making your own products, going from an idea, to final product, not only a prototype. We wanted a machine capable of making things you can not find in stores and also be able to make personal things like engraving your own name on your bag. Why should it say Nike on my bag instead of Tom?”
Like Optimus Prime, the Optimus 3D printer must be transformed to fulfill its various tasks. To use it as a 3D printer, users can easily build the machine up into a vertical Delta 3D printer configuration; to use it as a laser cutter or CNC mill, users can deconstruct the machine and rebuild it as a horizontal Cartesian configuration. If that sounds complicated, Febtop Tech claims the transformations from one structure to the next can be done in as little as ten minutes. Additionally, the Optimus is built to calibrate automatically, so users won’t have to spend extra time doing that.
To support all three manufacturing techniques, the Optimus is made up primarily of strong metal components, and has been rigorously tested for its strength and durability. According to Febtop Tech, it assembled and disassembled three of its machines more than 500 times to test their lasting performance. If you make sure the screws are tight before printing, cutting, or milling, the startup suggests the Optimus should last for years.
The machine’s delta 3D printer has a build volume of 240 x 300 mm and is equipped with cooling fans and a CNC machined aluminum heat sink for heat management. The printer’s brass nozzle is also surrounded by a titanium isolator, which helps to keep the heat from the nozzle concentrated. Nozzle sizes can easily be changed, as the printer can fit a range between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm.
The Febtop team has also included a built in automatic levelling bed system, ensuring your 3D prints will print evenly and adhere properly to the print bed. In line with the machine’s modular nature, users can also choose if they want a heated print bed, and can extend the printer’s build size (vertically) by installing longer sliders.
As a laser cutter, the Optimus boasts a work area of 500 x 500 mm, and can be used with a variety of materials, depending on what strength of laser you are working with. Febtop Tech is offering a range of laser powers, from 500mW up to 10W. On the lower end of the spectrum, the startup says it is possible to engrave on most materials, though it is only possible to cut soft and thin materials like a 2mm foam board. With a 10W laser, however, users should be able to engrave on harder materials, such as anodized aluminum.
The CNC mill configuration offers a work space of 400 x 400 x 80 mm and is equipped with a 450W spindle with a speed of 12,000 rpm. With the CNC mill, users can look forward to working with materials such as wood, acrylics, ABS, machinable wax, brass, aluminum, and more.
CNC mill configuration
Optimus is powered by a control box which itself consists of two 32-bit processor boards (one for machine control, the other for a touch screen) and plug and play connectors. In addition, the hybrid machine features USB and SD card compatibility, as well as WiFi connectivity, so you can control your prints or makes remotely via an app. The app in question is currently only available for Android devices.
In terms of software, the Swedish startup will provide a version of Cura optimized for the Optimus 3D printer. For laser cutting, the company recommends using Inkscape software with 305 engineering and J tech photonic plugins. Autodesk Fusion 360 can be used for generating CNC mill tool paths.
One of the main draws of the Optimus hybrid 3D printer (aside from its many functions) is its affordability. The three-in-one machine is available for a pledge of $1,579 (though the first batch of 50 are nearly sold out!). Backers also have the option of purchasing only the 3D printer ($979 to $1,079), a 3D printer-laser cutter hybrid ($1,159 to $1,259), or 3D printer-CNC mill hybrid ($1,359 to $1,459). The second batch of three-in-one Optimus machines are going for $1,679 a piece.
“First batch” backers (the cheaper prices) can expect their perks to begin shipping in March 2017, while second batch orders will only be manufactured starting April 2017.
Posted in 3D Printer
Maybe you also like:
- T-Bone Cape motion control board launches on Indiegogo
- New extruder could lower costs of 3D printing cellular structures for drug testing
- New Ninja Printer Plate for consumer 3D printing
- mUVe3D releases improved Marlin firmware for all 3D printers
- Zecotek plans HD 3D display for 3D printers
- Add a smart LCD controller to your Robo3D printer
- Maker Kase: a handy cabinet for 3D printers
- Heated bed for ABS printing with the Printrbot Simple XL
- Next gen all metal 3D printer extruder from Micron
- Pico all-metal hotend 100% funded in 48 hours, B3 announces Stretch Goal
- Create it REAL announces first 3D printing Real Time Processor
- A larger and more powerful 3D printer extruder on Kickstarter
This campaign is a joke; they just joke all along! "waffle maker", "tony stark", "deal with the devil"... really ? those are your arguments? Sure you got your campaign money, but it will not last. Who seriously is going to disassemble the "printer" to have a "mill"? and only to carve wood. good luck
shaun lamont wrote at 2/14/2017 7:26:34 PM:
when will you ever learn...crowdfunding 3d printers is akin to burning money....almost every single one fails
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
