UK’s ‘Most Affordable’ 3D Printer Unveiled

Taiwanese manufacturer XYZprinting announced a bold statement this week: the company wants to ship 120,000 3D printers in 2015.

Unveiling its new ‘plug in and play’ consumer 3D printer, the da Vinci Jr, to TechWeekEurope today, it’s easy to see how this target may be reachable.

XYZPrinting was borne of a company which made its mark in producing calculators for Casio and traditional printers for the likes of HP, but speaking to the company in London today, spokesperson Fernando Hernandez told TechWeekEurope that the company wanted its own brand, and with the 3D printing market heating up, this was the perfect opportunity.

The main product on show was the da Vinci Jr, touted as the UK’s ‘most affordable’ 3D printer at £299. The da Vinci is aimed at the beginner, whilst a more expensive model, the 1.1, adds a 5-inch touchscreen with a camera embedded into the printer allowing users to remotely watch their product assembled.

Affordable

‘Affordable’ 3D printers are becoming more and more popular this year, with Hernandez telling TechWeekEurope that with the da Vinci and its 100 micron printing quality that is comparable to that of machines almost twice its cost, the product should be a huge success. When asked how XYZprinting can flog the machines for cheaper than competitors,  Hernandez said it is because, as an OEM, XYZprinting cuts down on manufacturing costs so can offer cheaper printers.

Hernandez also noted XYZprinting’s online community, with a website that features a ‘gallery’ of downloadable designs that are reviewed by other 3D printer users.

The entry-level da Vinci Jr weighs 12kg and uses PLA plastic for its printing. It measures 42 x 43 x 38 cm, and can print in resolutions from 100 microns up through 200 and 300 to 400 microns. There is also no need for calibration, as well as an auto-loading filament system for easier printing.

The da Vinci 1.1 series 3D printer rises to £599 but offers a printing size of 20cm x 20cm x20cm, and is also Wi-Fi enabled. Users can browse XYZ’s designs on the touchscreen and choose the design they wish to print for effectively one-click printing.

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