A new resin 3D printer is making waves on Kickstarter touting desirable features such as a heated resin vat, prompting backers to pledge over $1 million on a nearly $50,000 goal.
The Apex-Maker X1 intends to be an 8K resin machine with a 16-inch mono LCD screen, which Apex-Maker says is a “world’s first”. Apex-Maker also claims the printer hits regular print speeds of 30-80 mm/h, and can achieve a blistering top speed of 180 mm/h thanks to dual linear guides and a closed-loop motor, which can achieve layer heights from 0.01 to 0.3 mm. It will also feature an X/Y resolution of 46 microns.
The X1’s 353 x 198 x 400 mm print volume (which outdoes even the gargantuan Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K) will allow for larger-scale prints, with users controlling the machine via a seven-inch touchscreen and referring to an indicator light bar for at-a-glance print progress, or diving deeper with the printer’s HD camera and Apex-Maker’s app for real-time monitoring.
Perhaps most noteworthy about the Apex-Maker X1 is its promised automatic resin feeding and temperature-control system, which Apex-Maker says will allow the resin vat to stay consistently topped up and heated up to 60 °C. That’s quite a novel feature and, if it works as intended, will undoubtedly be one that users enjoy; we’ve found heated vats to dramatically improve print success.
The X1 also plans to include an air filter, a “power loss protect” feature that Apex-Maker says will help the printer resume printing after sudden power loss, a “pre-calibrated” build plate (which appears to be auto-leveling, though that’s not said explicitly), and a built-in air purification system. Additionally, all printers come with a free year of Chitubox VIP. Add-ons such as a curing station and wash station will also be available at additional cost, but the “Ready to Print Package” includes both.
At the time of this writing, “Super early-bird” packages for the Apex-Maker X1 are still available for ~$1200 (HK$ 9,412), netting backers 40% off the machine’s $1,999 MSRP. For full specs or to make a pledge, visit the Apex-Maker X1’s Kickstarter page.
Keep in mind, however, there are quite a few big promises here – along with a lot of sensational, Kickstarter-y language (“hyper-speed”, “6x faster”, “ultra-large”). These aren’t necessarily marks against the machine, but they are, by and large, hollow, until the X1 starts walking the walk. But isn’t that every Kickstarter printer’s way?
You’ve read that; now read these:
Editor’s Note – This article highlights a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Kickstarter is not a shop; campaigns are under no legal obligation to deliver on crowdfunding promises, nor offer refunds on unfulfilled campaign rewards.
For more insight, read our article 8 Things to Watch for When Backing a 3D Printing Kickstarter.
License: The text of "This Kickstarter 3D Printer Plans to Be Larger Than the Sonic Mega 8K" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.