Affordable 3D Printer from A1 Technologies
We have done quite a few posts on 3D printers, but most have been rather expensive, costing to the tune of thousands of dollars. So I was surprised to find an article that featured a 3D printer that cost only £750 – a little over a thousand dollars.
A1 Technologies recently launched the RapMan, an affordable and cost-effective 3D printer. It is geared towards being affordable enough to be purchased by schools for use in instruction for those with Design and Technology in their curriculum, specifically for use in instruction for computer-aided manufacturing.
The RapMan comes in kit form and will allow students to learn basic engineering principles. According to research, kids as young as 14 years old, or even younger, are quite capable of understanding and building the RapMan. Once assembled, the RapMan is capable of producing three-dimensional parts through a specially designed extruder head that is laying down a fine bead of molten plastic.
The usual 3D printing process takes place inside a “black box”, so students are unable to see the actual “printing” process. In contrast, the RapMan has been designed to use clear acrylic parts so that the process is completely open to view and students are free to observe and understand the 3D printing process.
The RapMan also uses a variety of raw materials, which include ABS, a widely used polymer used in car parts, high and low density polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, polycarbonate and polylactic acid.
Martin Stevens, CEO for A1 Technologies, is quoted in the feature on Time-Compression.com: “We are very excited about this new product as we believe it will allow schools to deliver the curriculum more effectively. The price falls within the budget of most schools’ D&T departments and it will change the way D&T and engineering are taught.”
The product is reportedly not only arousing curiosity among educational institutions but among industries who would like to engage in 3D printing for the first time.
Tags: a1 3d printer, a1 technologies 3d printer, affordable 3d printer, cheap 3d printerRelated posts
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Loading ...Posted by PrintFriendly on May 23rd, 2009
May 23, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
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