Engineering Lifestyle
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karophi
You're right though, David, that I think Kickstarter projects need to give ...
selinz
This definitely empowers the "little people" to go off and create something that ...
Top 10 engineering Kickstarter projects
Sylvie Barak
12/28/2012 5:12 PM EST
3-D printer from Formlabs
With 3-D printing all the rage lately, it’s hardly surprising that another massively funded kickstarter project this year has been the affordable, professional 3D printer from Formlabs.
With a whopping 2,068 backers pledging $2,945,885 –well above the original $100,000 goal—the machine’s inventors, researchers from MIT’s media lab, made a pretty package thanks to putting the project on Kickstarter.
While 3-D printers seem to have become almost a commodity amongst the nerdy, the Form 1 is different in that it doesn’t just use cheap plastic, but liquid photopolymer resin, which hardens rapidly when exposed to light of a certain wavelength.
The system uses stereolithography, in which a laser outlines one printed layer on the surface of a container of liquid resin, moves the layer up and continues printing from the top down. This is different to most 3-D printers which print from the bottom, up.
Another feature that makes the Form 1 quite remarkable is its level of precision for an entry level 3-D printer price. Formlabs claims the machine can build layers at 25 micron thickness, which is about a quarter of the thickness to its nearest price competitor, MakerBot’s new Replicator 2.
The printer can print up to a maximum size of 4.9 x 4.9 x 6.5 inches and can be seen in the video below:
Click next page for next best Kickstarter project >>
With 3-D printing all the rage lately, it’s hardly surprising that another massively funded kickstarter project this year has been the affordable, professional 3D printer from Formlabs.
With a whopping 2,068 backers pledging $2,945,885 –well above the original $100,000 goal—the machine’s inventors, researchers from MIT’s media lab, made a pretty package thanks to putting the project on Kickstarter.
While 3-D printers seem to have become almost a commodity amongst the nerdy, the Form 1 is different in that it doesn’t just use cheap plastic, but liquid photopolymer resin, which hardens rapidly when exposed to light of a certain wavelength.
The system uses stereolithography, in which a laser outlines one printed layer on the surface of a container of liquid resin, moves the layer up and continues printing from the top down. This is different to most 3-D printers which print from the bottom, up.
Another feature that makes the Form 1 quite remarkable is its level of precision for an entry level 3-D printer price. Formlabs claims the machine can build layers at 25 micron thickness, which is about a quarter of the thickness to its nearest price competitor, MakerBot’s new Replicator 2.
The printer can print up to a maximum size of 4.9 x 4.9 x 6.5 inches and can be seen in the video below:
Click next page for next best Kickstarter project >>
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dblaza1
12/28/2012 9:22 PM EST
I am a huge fan of Kickstarter and I think it will be a game changer in system design but I ordered my Pebble a year ago and am still waiting! Got my Twine though and love it
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SylvieBarak
12/28/2012 11:58 PM EST
You'll be the envy of everyone when you get your Pebble! I am already plotting about how to win it off you in a game of poker or something! :) You're right though, David, that I think Kickstarter projects need to give better time commitments. Other than that... it's awesome. I want almost everything on this list!
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Robotics Developer
1/2/2013 11:44 AM EST
Kickstarter is a very interesting way to fund small startups! I am wondering how the site funding and money transfer details work. Does Kickstarter get a cut of the overall funds raised or is there a set fee structure? It sounds like a great way to get ideas funded, I may consider a few projects myself.
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Frank Eory
1/2/2013 12:50 PM EST
Great success stories! If not for Kickstarter, most likely none of these 10 products would have seen the light of day.
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elPresidente
1/7/2013 1:42 PM EST
Good thing Formlabs raised $2,945,885.
They will likely spend $2,900,000 of it on lawyers defending their patent infringement allegation.
Sad that dinosaurs (I'm looking at you RIAA) need the courts to keep a business going that has not evolved to the market environment, or where it's simply appropriate to throw in the towel.
3D printers are now under $1000. A good chunk of the 3D printer market got obliterated by this, and an entirely new segment got created - are the dinos making sub-$1000 printers to keep market share, brand, or play in the newly emerging segment? Nope - send in the lawyers and defend your $20,000 price tag.
Failure to adapt to the environment = extinction.
And lawyers will only hasten your demise when the money could have been spent on engineering R&D.
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selinz
1/8/2013 2:37 PM EST
This definitely empowers the "little people" to go off and create something that would otherwise be very difficult to both create and reap the benefit from.
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karophi
5/3/2013 2:18 AM EDT
You're right though, David, that I think Kickstarter projects need to give better time commitments. Other than that... it's awesome. I want almost everything on this list! In my opinion http://www.movingangels.com should be in the new list.
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