A Tour of Buildatron

PC Magazine took a tour of a Brooklyn, NY-based 3D printer manufacturer, and it wasn't MakerBot. It was Buildatron, an up and coming personal 3D printer operation whose signature feature is a stunning metal case. 

 

What did they find? They found a tiny manufacturing space, likely very similar to most other personal 3D printer manufacturers these days - but that's the point - this is early days in the technology of 3D printing. PC Mag reckons it's similar to personal computers in the 1970s and we agree. We like to call this time the "Dot Matrix Era" of 3D printing, much like the bad old days of horrible 2D printer output that everyone suffered through decades ago.

 

Today we find amazing 2D paper printers in almost every home, capable of producing output equivalent to big-time operations in the 1970s. We think the same evolution will take place with 3D printers over the next decade. Or maybe sooner. 

 

Via PCMag

The New Buildatron

Buildatron has released a new version of their attractive personal 3D printer, the Buildatron Series 2. Like its predecessor, the Series 2 includes that very cool wedge-shaped metal case we believe is unique among personal 3D printers. But what's different about this version as compared to the Series 1? Here's what we found:

 

• Series 2 includes 12 LM8UU bearings which should ensure very smooth and accurate head movements, leading to higher quality prints
• Build envelope of 200mm x 200mm x140mm, as compared to Series 1's 140mm x 140mm x 110mm, a  2.6x volume increase
• Based on the RepRap Prusa design, whereas the Series 1 is a Huxley
• Improved hot end and plastic extrusion system
• Heated print bed to reduce warping
• Optional smaller nozzles of 0.4 and 0.35mm in addition to the standard 0.5mm
• Finally, it's a touch heavier: 7.0Kg vs 6.8Kg

 

Of course, both models use 1.75mm filament and have a great metal case, which by the way includes a magnetic hatch to quickly access the filament spools. 

 

The Buildatron Series 2 looks pretty good - not only compared to its predecessor, but also to the competition, which is getting fierce these days. Available now as a kit for USD$1600 or fully assembled at USD$2500. 

 

Via Buildatron