14 DAY TRIAL // 3D printers either use one sort of technology or they use another. That's usually how it goes. The new OmniMaker, however, can use two and can do a bunch of other things as well.
Just like paper printers started to integrate fax, Xerox, and scanner functionality soon after their debut, 3D printers are assimilating related products as well.
It's happening pretty fast though. Also, the assimilation is more all-inclusive than even I expected, and I've been writing about 3D printing (et al.) for a while now.
For one thing, OmniMaker has support for two 3D printing technologies: filament-based fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolitography-based resin curing by means of ultraviolet light (SLA).
For another, the same product can take scans of objects and sculpt things instead of actually printing them (CNC mill). It's all about modularity.
On that note, future iterations of the OmniMaker will feature food support (including chocolate), 4-axis robotic spray printing, laser sintering (metal 3D printing as it were), etc.
One OmniMaker costs from $499 / €499 (a small kit) to $5,000 / €5,000 (steampunk large version, hand-made). The modules shipped along will, of course, be matched to the base size of the kit or fully assembled printer you opt for.
