Affordable 3D Printing?

We're examining a news release from Bits From Bytes, who apparently will be unveiling what they say is the "first fully assembled 3D printer to be put on the market for less than £2,000" at the RAPID 2010 Conference and Expo on May 18th. 

 

The new BFB 3000 has a couple of interesting features, aside from the price:

• It's completely standalone, and receives input models via a simple SD card. We're not sure if this is good or bad, but it is certainly simple. With this feature it *definitely* is a desktop printer, since you'll have to grab it to insert the SD card when you want to print.
• Upgradeable from a one-head machine to a two- or three-head machine. This feature likely would permit different materials and/or speedier printing, but according to the specs you lose a bit of X-axis build chamber as you add heads.

 

The BFB 3000 can be pre-ordered right now for £1,995, which is approximately USD$3000. You can add up to two additional print heads at a cost of £250 each (approximately USD$400) and choose a chassis color of Clear, Smoked or Black.

  

We think this is a great step forward for those requiring an introductory 3D printer and who don't have the skills or time to assemble it. The BFB 3000 would be ideal for schools or small design or architectural offices whose needs have grown beyond the use of 3D print services. 

 

Via BitsFromBytes

Comments

[Thomas Mueller]

It's a great product for sure, Stratasys as patent holder is a grat opponent, for sure too!

[Chris]

For designers, seeing and touching design prototypes dramatically can change the way they work and reduce time to market. Companies that have switched from handmade or outsourced 3d modelling to inhouse 3D Printing have seen drastic reductions in cost and creation time from months to a couple weeks!