Solidoodle: The 500$ 3D Printer

The 3D marketplace is really starting to heat-up… and then a 500$ 3D printer called the Solidoodle enters the arena.

To put this into perspective, the most “popular” 3D extruder out there right now is the MakerBot – they launched their 2nd generation MakerBot Replicator in early January (still 8 week lead time required) for just under 1 800$US with a build envelope of 225 x145 x150 millimeters or 8.9 x 5.7 x 5.9 inches.

The Solidoodle just launched and has a build envelope of 6 inches (150mm) cube… for less than 1/3 the price. Both come fully assembled and although the MakerBot Replicator has a few features such as a double extrusion head along with a few more refinements, to be honestly, the 500$ 3D printer still wins I think for consumers because it can get the job done cheaper (Walmart affect). Sure, resolution and other issues might not be equivalent but as an entry level 3D printer… half the price of a 3D Systems Cube and a third that of a MakerBot – it’s at almost the perfect price point for features as far as entry level extrusion 3D printers go.

Is extrusion the future? Only for a few more years

This is why I believe these extrusion machines will soon be a dime a dozen – and eventually loss leaders to the much more capable 3D printers by big companies to get people interested in larger capable machines such as the ZPrinters (and equivalents). Think of inkjets, companies lose money on those printers and make it back with the ink… it’s a little more complicated as the extrusion material is so cheap and easy to find but I’m sure proprietary blends will be out shortly that work only with specific machines (like ink cartridges).

Once this hits about 1K in price in a few years – these extrusion printers are out of business. Moving parts, support material, no warping… there are just so many advantages beyond larger build area and far superior resolution. I’m sure between now and then – there will be other technological advances but WOW… I think next year is the year that extrusion 3D printers go mainstream!