14 DAY TRIAL // Foregone conclusions are often looked upon as dull, boring things, but sometimes events conspire in such a way that they are the opposite of that. Usually, when it's something exciting to look forward to.
And we dare say that the PrintM3 3D printer that has just got uploaded on Indiegogo is definitely an exciting piece of work. After all, it's a fully functional 3D printer that costs less than many paper printers, and the majority of smartphones, tablets, storage devices and gadgets out there.
It wasn't that long ago that 3D printers sold for tens of thousands of dollars/euro. Even after they dropped to under ten, then five, then two thousand, they still qualified as expensive. At least too expensive for normal consumers to even begin to consider the purchase of one.
That changed when prices dropped below $500 / €500 and, now, it's changing even further, as 3D printers are switching from expensive commodity to cheap, ubiquitous part of the office or bedroom, or at least garage.
What other interpretation could there be, when there's a 3D printer that sells for $139 / €139. Although we suppose it's a bit much to say that product is selling. More like it sold for a while at that price, but stopped.
Then again, that choice of words has its own problems, because the product didn't sell, exactly. And won't sell if its Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign doesn't pan out.
What really happened was that the company behind PrintM3 offered some printers for that price to those who pledged first. Needless to say, the things sold out in short order.
For that matter, the next step suffered a similar fate. The PrintM3, even with a $199 / €199 price, is already out of supply. If you still want to make sure you get one, you'll need to pledge $249 / €249 or more.
Which should be less that the retail tag that the 3D printer will bear when (and if) it reaches the actual market, this November.
PrintM3 has a build volume of 200 x 200 x 220 mm / 7.87 x 7.87 x 8.66 inches, and a resolution of 0.01 mm. That's 10 microns, which leaves us a bit skeptical. Optimistically so, but still skeptical, since other 3D printers barely manage 80-100 microns. Only the Objet Connex comes close to 10 microns, being able to create 16 micron layers, nearly as thin as laser printers.
Printer speed is of 4800 mm per minute, the extrusion temperature is of 255 deg cel, and the printing nozzle diameter is of 0.4 mm. All in all, the PrintM3 should have an easy time making things out of PLA or ABS plastic. All you need is a Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 8, Linux or Mac OS system.
