Zim 3D printer reaches funding goal… this video tells you why

In interviewed Philippe Guglielmetti, CEO of Zeepro a few weeks ago about the Zim 3D printer and just the other day, they reached their Kickstarter funding goal.

Although they have lots of videos on their kickstarter page, this one video below is what I think sells the amazing potential of the Zim. This video shows 2 colors and PVA support printed at a 25 to 50 mm/s speed and a 150 microns per layer medium resolution.

Pretty neat, working gears, dissolving support material and incredible resolution (otherwise gears wouldn’t work). No big deal you might say? Compare it to what I do with my 3D Systems Cube.

It would be impossible for me to make with my Cube what the Zim does in one 3D printing session. Not due to lack of ability or imagination, my Cube just can’t do it.

A small difference? No… A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE! Let’s compare.

• If I want a dual head 3D printer like my Cube, I can’t get it… I need to buy at the minimum, the CubeX Duo which runs at 3299$US. The price of a dual-head Zim? 799$US. My single head 3D Systems Cube is 1399$US (cost me almost double with customs, taxes and shipping here in Oz).
• Zim can use 3rd party filament rolls from any other source – not possible with my 3D Systems Cube where I have to manage proprietary cartridges (Zim also has cartridges but they are optional).
• Zim can print in two different colors at the same time + support material – not sure how three processes were done with only two heads but whatever, I can’t even do more than one color with my Cube and there is no way to have support material dissolve away.

I could go into more detail but you get the point, the Zim isn’t a step up the evolutionary track of 3D printers, it’s a giant leap like jumping from a fish to a bird in one generation.

What does this mean for my 3D Systems Cube?

Despite the amazing stats and figures (read my interview with Philippe for more details), I still very much love my 3D Systems Cube and I don’t look at it as any lesser of a machine. I bought the Cube to allow me to LEARN 3D printing first-hand and BUILD cool projects – and it does the job wonderfully. I already have a small format 3D printer but if I was in the market for one right now, it would be incredibly difficult for me to justify a Cube over a Zim.

Back when I bought my 3D Systems Cube, the only real competition was a MakerBot… a lot has changed since then! The FormLab came out – which I think is the Zim’s real competition now and a bunch of other neat 3D printers but at Zim’s price point for features… you can pretty much create on a Zim what most people can with a FormLab and that’s a high-end stereolithography SL 3D printer! I’d actually buy a Zim before a FormLab!!!

Although they’ve reached their funding goal – it’s not too late to get your hands on the Zim 3D printer at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1410146982/zim-the-first-dual-head-personal-3d-printer-fully