A Kickstarter project is launching the gMax personal 3D printer. It’s claim to fame is a whoppingly huge build volume, hence it’s name.
gMax is designed by Architect Gordon LaPlante of Brooklyn, a hotbed of 3D printerness. His story:
As much as I loved the RepRap, I found myself being limited by the bed size. While I love the idea of sourcing parts from the community, there were larger objects I wanted to print but simply wasn’t able to. I then started playing around with designs for a larger 3D printer and eventually the idea started to grow legs and become something tangible. I sourced the latest electronics and a strong aluminum framework and used my RepRap to print the parts I needed to build what would become the gMax 3D printer.
Necessity is the mother of invention in this case. The gMax does have a monstrously huge build volume for a personal 3D printer: 16 x 16 x 9″ (406 x 406 x 229mm), or 2,304 cubic inches (almost 38 litres!)
One interesting feature that supports (literally) the large build volume is more robust frame extrusions. While most 3D printer kits use 1″ aluminum spars, the gMax boasts 1.5″.
You won’t sacrifice accuracy for the large size, either. The gMax is capable of printing layers as small as 0.075mm in 1.75mm ABS or PLA plastic. We’re not sure how successful warp-ridden ABS printing will be at that size, but you can certainly make an attempt.
The machine is also designed for easy assembly and maintenance, with many parts having simple swap-out capability.
The gMax can be pre-ordered on the Kickstarter page for USD$1295. For that you’ll receive a full kit complete with all required parts.
We’re not fans of large prints due to warping, time delays and the higher probability of failure, but if you need larger pieces printed and have a reliable machine like the gMax claims to be, you’d be all set. Just buy one before October 10th, when the campaign concludes.
Via Kickstarter
