Oct 18, 2017 | By Tess
A startup from San Sebastian in Spain has launched a new “fully integrated” 3D printer on Kickstarter. Called the Voladd 3D printer, the machine is available for as little as €499 ($587).
With the number of new 3D printers hitting the market on Kickstarter, it can sometimes be difficult to know which are going to be the reliable ones and which ones might turn out to be duds.
Judging by the new Voladd 3D printer’s raised funds (it has already surpassed its goal of €25,000), a fair number of people seem to believe it's the former.
Let’s take a look at what the new “fully integrated” 3D printer has on offer for its users. First off, the company behind the 3D printer claims the Voladd is the first 3D printer “you can share online,” meaning that users can easily share their 3D models and print updates with their family, friends, coworkers, or even clients using the Voladd Cloud.
The main appeal of the 3D printer is how streamlined it makes the 3D printing process. Nearing a one-click solution, the printer offers its users an integrated connection to the Voladd app which allows users to easily choose prints and communicate with the 3D printer via their smartphone, laptop, or mobile device.
Via the app, users will reportedly have thousands of 3D models (developed by Voladd’s in-house team of designers) to choose from for instant 3D printing, or have the option to upload their own 3D models to the platform.
Voladd’s developers also claim the desktop 3D printer has “the soul of a computer,” as it is equipped with a Beagle Bone Black open source minicomputer and a Linux Debian operating system with a real-time kernel.
In terms of its printing capability, the Voladd 3D printer has a build volume of 175 x 125 x 150 mm, as well as a “dynamic airflow system,” which activates fans in response to the print head’s movement to cool the deposited filament.
If you’re wondering about what materials are compatible with the new 3D printer, Voladd has taken it upon itself to offer a range of specialized filament cartridges which fit into the back of the 3D printer. The cartridges eliminate some of the bulk of traditional 3D printers.
“[The] Voladd Cartridge features a printing head that will ensure that the quality of your 3D printouts will be as good as new,” reads the Kickstarter campaign. “No jamming, no cleaning or tedious maintenance unlike the more traditional 3D printers. When including the printing head in the cartridge, different materials cannot pass through the nozzle and prevents the possibility of future plugging.”
The cartridges are available in different nozzle diameters, including a medium head (0.4 mm), a bold head (0.6 mm) and soon a fine head (0.2 mm). These different diameters mean that users can choose how fine they want a print to be. If, for instance, you’re making a rough mockup, you can opt for the bold print head to speed things up.
Moreover, the Voladd cartridges are designed to communicate with the 3D printer, so you don’t have to peek inside the device to see how much filament you have left as your Voladd app will alert you.
When you have emptied a cartridge, the company says you can either recycle it or collect five and send them back to the company, which will in turn send you a free cartridge. Currently, the Voladd cartridges hold 420 grams of PLA in seven different colors.
If you’re interested in the Voladd 3D printer, there are still some Super Early Bird deals left on Kickstarter, which will get you a 3D printer and one white bold cartridge for €499. Delivery is set to begin in December 2017.
Posted in 3D Printer
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