Brian Jaffe and Gabe Rosenhouse wanted to create a 3d printer to harness the natural creativity in children. Their solution is Printeer, a brightly colored 3d printer with an easy child-friendly app to create printed objects. Kids are already fascinated by 3d printing but adding color components, easily visible processes and an easy app make the process even more accessible.
Printeer - a cross between the words printer, pioneer and engineer - is seeking Kickstarter funding for an initial production run. The build volume for the printer is 6 inches wide by 4 inches deep and 5 inches tall. 1.75 mm PLA filament is used for printing. Building wirelessly from a tablet is the default operation mode but using a computer interface the machine can also print using STL exports.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2001363001/printeer-a-3d-printer-for-kids-and-schools
One thing I found striking in the campaign video is the machine's removable bedplate that levels itself. Brian Jaffe tells me that a probe attached to the extruder assembly measures the height of a raised lip on the edge of the build surface. Software determines the exact plane of the bed and self-adjusts the height of the nozzle during printing.
The project has blasted past its Kickstarter funding goal of $50,000 with the campaign period open until July 10th. An update on the funding stage says that the high amounts of backers and pledges has allowed for a transition to a larger manufacturing setting instead of the team's mini factory.
Printeer is an amazing product and it's great to see engineers thinking about the next generations. The two co-founders met in 6th grade, performing an experiment that measured the speed of sound in different gases for a science fair.
Future plans for the Printeer team revolve around growth. The production facilities will be built up using lean manufacturing principles. Two additional design apps are being developed with more advanced features than the apps in the campaign video. More schools in Southern California will be identified as sites for more printers.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2001363001/printeer-a-3d-printer-for-kids-and-schools