Jul 5, 2016 | By Benedict

Airwolf 3D, a Californian 3D printer manufacturer, has released the Talon X1 Educational Drone Kit, a 3D printing kit for students that comes with everything needed to build and fly a quadcopter. The company plans to release more 3D printing kits in the near future.

It makes perfect sense for companies in the 3D printing industry to develop products and services for young people. By doing so, a company can market a line of products for a new demographic, while at the same time helping youngsters to learn about an increasingly important area of modern technology. Everybody wins. Airwolf 3D, a 3D printer manufacturer based in Costa Mesa, California, is one such company looking to introduce 3D printing to a new generation. And despite having a few of its Axiom 3D printers stolen a month ago, the company has just unveiled a particularly exciting new product for students: a build-it-yourself, 3D printable drone kit.

The Talon X1 Educational Drone Kit, Airwolf 3D’s first in a planned line of STEM 3D printing kits, combines two of the most exciting areas of technology today: drones and 3D printing. While young learners need little incentive to get their hands on a camera-equipped flying toy, the concept of additive manufacturing can be a little harder to sell. By combining the two technologies, however, Airwolf 3D delivers the best of both worlds: students can have their own drone, but before they can fly it, they get to learn about design, prototyping, and 3D printing. The kit encompasses 3D printing, electrical engineering, soldering, and programming.

“Here at Airwolf 3D, we take time to play every day,” said Eva Wolf, Co-Founder and CEO of Airwolf 3D. “We explore and invent every day. It’s all part of a continual effort to foster a culture of creativity and innovation. It’s also our job to fully understand our customers’ needs and problems. When you combine that with a passionate team that is constantly pushing the creative and technical limits of our 3D printers, you come up with some truly innovative solutions like the new Talon X1 drone kit. It’s just the first of a series of Airwolf 3D printing kits that we’re designing for easy use in a classroom setting.”

Despite being a manufacturer of 3D printers by trade, Airwolf 3D certainly isn’t “winging it” when it comes to drones. In fact, Tyler Caros, Airwolf 3D’s Creative Director and the brains behind the Talon X1 kit, happens to be a long-time RC enthusiast with years of professional experience in 3D printed drone development. Before linking up with Airwolf 3D, Caros built drones for use on television, with some of his flying creations appearing on American Pickers and Germany’s Next Top Model. “Over the years, teachers have asked me for advice on fun ways to bring 3D printers into the classroom and get students excited to learn about STEM,” said Caros. “With drones being such a popular technology right now, the choice to combine it with 3D printing was a no-brainer.”

While there are other 3D printable drone kits out there, Airwolf 3D believes that its new Talon X1 kit offers an important advantage over the alternatives: namely, completeness. Other kits may build drones of a similar quality, they may even be cheaper, but the Airwolf 3D kit contains almost every required piece in its box. No searching for hard-to-find components only to find they have been discontinued; just read the instructions and go. “Teachers simply do not have the time to order several individual parts, only to find out later that certain items have been discontinued, are difficult to find, or are very expensive,” Caros said.

The Talon X1 Educational Drone Kit is available for preorder at $399, with shipping due to begin mid-July. The kit is upgradable, and users will soon be able to take advantage of a live video feed, LED kits, and other planned developments. The Talon X1 will make its first public flight this week, July 5-10, for Inventor’s Week at the Discovery Cube OC, where visitors can expect to see a fully built version of the drone whizzing around the museum.

Airwolf 3D Talon X1 Educational Drone Kit contents:

  • STL Files for the Talon X1 airframe
  • All hardware
  • Motors, ESC's, Power Distribution Board, Flight Controller (all electronics needed to complete the drone)
  • 2.4ghz 6 channel Radio with DSM2 Satellite Receiver
  • 3s 1300mah Lithium Polymer Battery with Charger

Required items:

  • Soldering iron and solder
  • 3D printer with build volume of 6 x 6 x 6”
  • PLA or ABS filament
  • Tools
  • 4 x AA batteries

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

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