Over the years, we've seen a number of companies bring high-quality 3D printing mainstream with the creation of affordable 3D printers. At the forefront of the industry is Makerbot and its Replicator 3D printers. The company may have just recently came out with its new and improved Replicator 2, but it looks like it may already have some serious competition.
Dubbed the Form 1, this 3D printer promises to create models sufficient enough for most professional engineers. According to its creators, there are currently no low-cost 3D printers that meet the quality standards of the professional designer. As researchers of the MIT Media Lab, the bunch has very high standards when it comes to quality.
To put into perspective the exact level of quality the Form 1 offers, the printer can print layers as thin as 25 microns (0.001 in) with features as small as 300 microns (0.012 in) in a build volume of 4.9 x 4.9 x 6.5 in. Makerbot's Replicator 2 on the other hand is only capable of layers as small as 100 micron, though the build volume is quite a bit larger at 11.2 x 6.0 x 6.1 in.
Started Wednesday, the Form 1 3D printer has already reached over $1,000,000 in funding, more than 10x its goal of $100,000. Achieving $800,000 in its first 24 hours, the Form 1 has been selling like hotcakes. While the initial price tiers came in at $2,299 and $2,499, engineers and crafty hobbyists will now have to contribute $2,699 or more for their own Form 1. For more information on the project or to contribute yourself, head on over to its Kickstarter page here.
