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Jan 5, 2016 | By Alec

With CES kicking off on 6 January, a very interesting time is just ahead for the 3D printing community. While 2016 is still young, this is usually the moment when all the technologies and machines of the coming year are revealed to a large audience. And it looks like this edition won’t be a letdown either, as plenty of 3D printer developers are ready for the spotlight. Much of the attention is expected to go to XYZprinting, the Taiwanese world leader in terms of 3D printer sales, who is bringing an exceptional range of machines to Las Vegas. As they just announced, they will unveil new products all aimed at providing commercial or educational 3D printing solutions, including a brand new home consumer machine priced at just $269, an FDM 3D printer capable of mixing colors, a full-color binder jet 3D printer, as well as a range of 3D printing accessories and software.

XYZprinting is thus using the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas as a gigantic podium for their plans for the coming year – just like they did in 2015. XYZprinting (owned by the Kinpo Group) is of course especially known for their basic 3D printers in the sub $500 range, but has already realized successes with more expensive and more capable machines as well. One of the largest and most successful players in the 3D printing industry, they are especially focused on classrooms, small businesses and private users around the world, but the machines they are bringing to CES suggest that they are expanding their focus to the complete spectrum of 3D printer users.

This was apparent at the CES pre-show on Monday 4 January, when they gave a first look at their upcoming hardware. As Simon Shen, CEO of XYZprinting and New Kinpo Group, explained the coming year is all about reaching the mainstream. "XYZprinting has been assertive in breaking down the technology barriers in the consumer 3D printing market, by introducing easy-to-use devices that deliver innovative experiences to consumers at cost-effective prices," he said "At this year's CES, we are making an aggressive push in the B2B market by introducing new products and devices to our product ecosystem within and beyond the 3D printing ideology, while continuing the successes we've experienced with our accessible 3D printers."

Their main weapons are eight different 3D printers intended for various markets, as well as a range of accessories that include robotics and wearables. In terms of expected sales, of course, it’s all about the affordable, accessible da Vinci range, for which three new machines were showcased: the Mini, the Junior 1.0 3-in-1 and the Junior 2.0 Mix. Perhaps most eye-catching is the Mini for its expected price tag of just $269 – perfect for starting users and classrooms. A small, compact machine with Wi-Fi capacity and USB ports, it’s thirty percent smaller than the 2015 Junior but features the same build size of 5.9"x 5.9"x5.9". The Junior 1.0 3-in-1 3D printer (expected price of $549) is perhaps more interesting to more experienced users, as it will come with a laser engraving module, auto-calibration features, and scanning capabilities. The upcoming da Vinci Junior 2.0 Mix ($499), finally, is equally interesting for its ability to blend two colors into a single output – perfect for adding an unusual touch to your prints.

However, XYZprinting also isn’t forgetting the professional users. Over the coming year, they will be releasing two very interesting prototyping machines that will doubtlessly please designers and engineers everywhere: the Nobel 1.0 Advanced (or 1.0 A) and the da Vinci 1.0 Pro 3-in-1. The latter is essentially a top quality version of the regular 3-in-1 3D printer, featuring a bigger build volume, a laser engraving module, scanning capabilities and Wi-Fi connectivity, as well as the ability to 3D print any PLA or ABS thermoplastic filaments. Not bad for a price tag of $899.

If that’s not enough in terms of quality, the XYZprinting Nobel 1.0 A will be just what you need. The Taiwanese 3D printing experts call this the most cost-effective stereolithography (SL Laser) 3D printer on the market. Expected to cost just $1,699, this is a laser-based resin 3D printer that simply produces higher resolution prints with more complex geometries than your average FDM machine. “The device features an X/Y-axis print resolution of 0.13mm and a Z-axis resolution up to 0.025mm, allowing users to achieve print results with astounding detail. This simple and easy to operate printer is perfect for designers wanting to achieve superior print results at an affordable cost,” they say in their press release.

But as we said above, XYZprinting is focusing on more than just home users and prototypers. Also present at the CES are the Nobel DLP and 3D JET 3D printers, both for commercial users. The Nobel DLP, to start with, is intended for the production of jewelry and similar high quality objects, but is cheaper than most competitors at just $1,999. Using Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing technology, it prints both castable resin and standard resin, achieving amazing resolution results: an X/Y-axis resolution of 50 microns (0.05mm) and a layer thickness (Z-axis resolution) reaching up to 25 microns (0.025mm). To illustrate, that’s thinner than an average human hair (which is around 75 microns).

The alternative is the 3D JET 3D printer, which XYZprinting calls their most competitive product of the upcoming year, and is aimed at prosumers (engineers, toy makers, entrepreneurs, project designers and so on). Relying on inkjet 3D printing to deposit photopolymer resin (and featuring a dedicated head for support material), it is perfect for making extremely detailed parts. It’s versatility is also partly derived from its large print bed of 300mm x 150mm, making it a perfect engineering tool.

Together, these eight 3D printers are expected to make quite a splash in the 3D printing community, but XYZprinting is showcasing more than just 3D printers at the CES. Also exhibited are two new education solutions. The first is XYZ STEAM, an online program that will enable educators to seamlessly incorporate 3D printing into curriculums with the help of a model library, instructions, videos and stimulating programs. For kids slightly familiar with 3D printing, there’s also XYZmaker, a 3D modeling app that will let them intuitively design and edit 3D printing projects in the classroom. This intriguing app will be made available for Windows OS in the first quarter of 2016, with Android and iOS following in the second half of the year. Finally, there are the accessories, all intended to add an extra dimension to 3D printing with XYZ products: The XYZprinting 3D Pen, for freehand plastic creation without the need for software($49) and the XYZprinting Nobel Post Curing Machine, a UV chamber for quickly and consistently hardening resin prints ($299).

There is thus so much to see and admire at the XYZprinting exhibit at the CES 2016, and not just in terms of 3D printing. They will also feature several products from their XYZlife and XYZrobot lines, including wearables and their new Humanoid Robot Line. It looks like booth #72326 in the Sands Expo Convention Center, Halls A-C, is a must-see at CES from January 6 to 9. All in all, it seems as though XYZprinting has all the ingredients necessary to make 2016 another successful growth year.

 

 

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