14 DAY TRIAL // 3D printers are some of the product types that got most of their momentum through crowd-funding websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. In fact, it's Indiegogo where the Stalactite 3D printer made its appearance.
Invented by the company of the same name, which happens to be based in Barcelona, Spain, the printer uses stereolithography (SLA).
That means that instead of building an object plastic drop by plastic drop, like FFF/FDM printers (fused deposition modeling), it “grows” them from resin instead.
Although the process is actually called “curing.” Resin is bombarded, so to speak, with direct light processing (DLP). It enables better resolution than on normal FDM printers.
That said, the Stalactite 102 3D Printer can print in standard (low-end), prototyping (hard and tough), elastic, and waxy resins.
That last one is meant as a replacement for casting waxes. If you print a model, you can use the lost wax investment process to cast the design to any meltable metal (bronze, silver, gold, etc.).
The minimum layer thickness is of 25 microns (though the hardware can handle 10 microns) and the build volume is of 102 x 76.8 x 180 mm / 4.01 x 3.02 x 7.08 inches.
You can reserve the Stalactite 102 3D printer if you pledge €1,850 / $2,550 (first 5 backers), or €1,999 / $2,760 (next 10 people).
If you miss the chance, you'll have to wait until later, maybe the third or fourth quarter of 2014, to order it. It will cost €2,895 / $4,000 though.