Aug.11, 2012
Developed by Matt Strong, TangiBot is a Makerbot Replicator clone. It offers the same performance and features of the Makerbot Replicator. Every part and component on TangiBot is 100% compatible with all Makerbot Replicator firmware upgrades, parts and accessories.
But TangiBot costs only 2/3 of Makerbot's price. Look at their price compare below:
Plywood Single Extrusion
Tangibot: $1,199
Makerbot: $1,749
Plywood Dual Extrusion
Tangibot: $1,299
Makerbot: $1,999
And for $100 more you can get a Acrylic case instead of Plywood.
But is it legal to make a Replicator Clone? Matt Strong says:
The MakerBot Replicator is open source. In other words, Makerbot makes its design publicly available on the internet. Why do they do this? Well, it may surprise some of you that Makerbot is required to do this. You see, MakerBot used other open source designs when designing and producing their 3DPrinters. When someone uses an open source design in their product they are required to share any improvements in the design with the world. In other words, if you use open source and then improve on the design you have to share that improvement so that the rest of the world can benefit from it. 3DTangible will also be bound by these same laws and all the improvements we make to the design will also be shared with the public.
Just to be clear, there is nothing illegal, sneaky or underhanded going on here. Everything is legal and fair. Makerbot also used other people's open source designs when they created their business. This is simply the way open source designs work. Welcome to the world of open source.
whether this hurts makerbot or just stimulates Makerbot to low the price or innovate better version 3D printer, we could already see there will be big argument between people with opposing viewpoints on Matt Strong and his Makerbot clone.
Does it against the Kickstarter principle ""funding creativity"? Or is a $500,000 goal too high for a clone project? Will you consider a Makerbot Replicator clone with $700 discount?
Whether you like it or hate it, this project is pledged $12,463 in three days on Kickstarter. It will be very interesting to watch how it goes in next 27 days.
Posted in 3D Printers
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Your post begins with "Developed by..." He didn't really develop it. Just sayin'.