A new 3D printer has popped up on Kickstarter – and it may be too good to be true.
The Kokoni Sota boasts several big features that raise eyebrows from the get-go, the first of which is an upside-down design, with moving parts such as motors and rails mounted to the bottom of the printer. This isn’t necessarily a new concept, although the claims that the design – along with Kokoni’s self-developed, closed-loop, high-speed stepper motor – results in “close-to-zero vibration,” print speeds of 600 mm/s, 21 m/s² acceleration, and accuracy of 0.1 mm deserve high scrutiny.
Also scrutiny-worthy is the Sota’s promise of an included app that allows users to create 3D models from 2D images via a “self-developed AI algorithm” in mere seconds. The technology is reminiscent of OpenAI’s Point-E, which enables users to turn images or text into mesh-like 3D point clouds – albeit in rather low resolution, and without fine-grained textures or shapes.
Further in line with the big talk is the Sota’s “self-developed intelligent motor control,” which enables the printer to work at noise levels lower than 30dB – “similar to the volume of a quiet conversation.” It also touts an assembly-free design that eliminates the need for bed leveling, a carbon filter for VOCs, and operates at a low 240 W.
Additionally, Kokoni says, the Sota “offers 7-color synchronous printing up to 7 materials in one print,” plus an additional five with a “filament tower” that looks like a material changer. An HD camera, meanwhile, works to prevent errors by comparing printed parts with 3D models (as well as film time lapses), with optical radar reading nozzle height and calibrating print flow.
Software-wise, the Sota leverages Kokoni’s online, cloud-based, “one-click” slicer, which is used via the aforementioned app. This is another large claim, although the printer is also compatible with third-party slicers such as Ultimaker Cura.
Taken at face value, the Kokoni Sota is quite the attractive proposition – and its Kickstarter reflects that, with more than $400,000 raised of its $50,000 goal at the time of this writing. Packages start at approximately $450 for the coverless Kokoni Sota Lite and increase from there.
As always, we urge anyone interested to proceed with caution; nothing on Kickstarter is set in stone until you have your printer in hand – which will be in August 2023, should shipments go out on time. For full specs, more information, or to make a pledge, visit Kokoni’s Kickstarter page.
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