Lumi Industries has launched a new inexpensive 3D printer that can do more than 3D printing: the LumiPocket LT.
Lumi is not new to 3D printing. The company previously produced the Lumifold and Lumipocket resin-based 3D printers, both of which made their funding objectives on Indiegogo.
Now the company has developed a new machine, the LumiPocket LT and has launched it on a new Kickstarter campaign.
They’re actually calling it a “Revolutionary Personal Fabricator”, because they’re leveraging the on-board laser to do more than just 3D printing.
But first, the 3D printing part. This is a resin-based 3D printer, which uses a laser to solidify a UV-curable resin to form solid layers. As printing proceeds, successive layers adhere to each other to complete an object.
The LumiPocket LT can 3D print within a 100 x 100mm cylindrical volume, and can produce layers as small as 0.05mm. For X-Y resolution, the machine can be as accurate as 0.10mm.
The interesting feature is the unusual mechanism used to move the laser. They’ve developed a “Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm”, or “SCARA” system shown here. The idea is that it can cover the entire print area, yet be folded up into a small size.
And did we mention this item is small? It’s only 200 x 110 x 350 mm exterior dimensions, with a weight of only 1.8kg.
Aside from 3D printing, there are two other functions this machine can provide: laser etching and PCB manufacturing.
The laser etching simply re-uses the existing laser to burn marks onto 2D surfaces. The laser is very low power, only 0.2W, so you can’t do much damage with it. Consider this a means to lightly mark wood, cardboard and similar materials.
For PCB manufacturing, the laser is also used to mark a pre-sensitized PCB blank, which can then be developed.
Three fabrication technologies in one device.
The cost of the LumiPocket LT is quite low, with initial early-birds receiving a breakthrough cost of only €399 (USD$450) for the kit. As units are sold, the price rises to €699 (USD$795), still a great price for an inexpensive resin 3D printer.
Via Kickstarter
