In a sudden announcement, Solidoodle has completely revamped their line of personal 3D printers.
Well, not completely; the Solidoodle 4 still appears for sale. But it’s now superseded by three entirely new models.
The Solidoodle Press, an unusual name, seems to be the flagship model. It’s an enclosed chamber, heated glass bed personal 3D printer with a serviceable 203 x 203 x 203mm build volume. Capable of printing in ABS or PLA plastic filament, the attractive Press features a black case. If those features don’t excite you, the price certainly will. The machine is available for pre-order for only USD$499! Even better, there are limited quantities available at USD$349 [already gone] and USD$399 [going fast].
Two other models have also been announced: the Solidoodle Workbench and Workbench Apprentice. They are both fully assembled, open frame-style personal 3D printers with dual extruders. There are two major differences: the Workbench includes a heated glass bed and has a build volume of 305 x 305 x 306mm, whereas the Workbench Apprentice can build only up to 152 x 152 x 203mm and has an unheated acrylic print surface. The pricing is quite different from the Press as well: The Workbench goes for USD$1299 and the Workbench Apprentice for USD$799.
We have not tested these devices yet, but expect them to be of similar quality to Solidoodle’s previous models, which have been well-received by the market.
Interesting side effect: with this announcement, it seems that Solidoodle no longer sells 3D printer kits. With their SoliCare warranty, they are beginning to look a lot like MakerBot did two years ago.
Via Solidoodle
