The team at Robotic Industries were huge fans of 3D printing as an idea but disenchanted with the options available on the market. Working through research and development, supply chain management and iterative testing, they developed a new printer. The BuildOne is currently running a highly successful campaign on Kickstarter, billed as a $99 3D printer.
Key features of the BuildOne include an auto calibration setting and auto leveling. An app lets users run the printer over WiFi b / g/ n, and a web interface can also control printing. LED lights indicate the status of the printer - heating, printing, and finished build are all given different colors. A panic button under the printer can stop operation at any time. Add-ons include a polyehterimide bed, an OLED screen and joystick control for direct printer control, heated bed for ABS printing, and an enclosure / carry case.
The build envelope is 5x5x5 inches with a 20 micron horizontal resolution and a 50 micron layer resolution, although 100-300 micron layers are recommended. The machine uses 1.75mm PLA or ABS with a heated bed. The entire machine fits in an 8 inch cube and weighs around 4 pounds. A 12 Volt adapter powers the machine.
BuildOne uses the Marlin firmware as a base and is committed to open source operation. Several slicers and design packages are shown on the webpage as currently compatible, with a note that third party hot ends, nozzles and accessories are also compatible.
This looks like a good solid entry level 3D printer with good features. It's hard not to have some skepticism that a low price point and aggressive timeline can be met, but lead designer Erik Kettenburg has an excellent track record after five Kickstarter projects and 15,000 orders filled. The campaign ends on June 22 and first units are scheduled to ship in September, 2017.