The Spanish tech company BQ has announced an Android-powered 3D printer, the Witbox Go!, which they plan to release later this year.  

Based out of Madrid, the tech company BQ is recognized for creating quality smartphones and tablets that won’t break the bank. But the Spanish manufacturer is also trying to take their success and make headway in the consumer 3D printing market.

Last year, we featured a review for the BQ Hephestos 2 3D printer, an open-source, easy to use, but relatively expensive system. Now, the tech firm has announced the Witbox Go!, which looks to be the world’s first Android-powered 3D printer.

The Witbox Go! is an open-source 3D printer that is clearly aimed at the entry level market. With a build volume of 140 x 140 x 140 mm, the printer is quite compact. But the innovative features seem to be where the consumer might get the most bang for their buck.

The printer runs off of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 401 processor, 4GB or 8GB of internal memory, as well as an Android Marshmallow operating system. This powerful technology could possibly meet some pretty high market demands, and BQ isn’t being shy about that potential.

The company is claiming that the Witbox Go! will reduce two hour prints down to just 15 minutes. They are also boasting a slew of other features, including an auto-stop function for when the nozzle clogs or filament runs out, a filament recognition system, and a heated print bed.

Using a Trinamic chip, the noise coming from the printer’s motors will be kept at a minimum, making it both home and office-proof. In addition, the Android-powered printer can print using WiFi or NFC connectivity.

The BQ Witbox Go!: What Could An Android-Powered 3D Printer Do?

BQ is aiming to release the Android-powered desktop printer during the third quarter of this year. The proposed price for the basic model of the Witbox Go! is 600€.

BQ has already made a name for themselves in the Android-powered smartphone and tablet department. But the 3D printing industry has proved to be a tougher shell for them to crack.

Although the benefits of 3D printing with Android and the exact release date are still relatively unknown, a few assumptions can be made about the Witbox Go! For instance, the Android-powered system will likely make the printer easy to operate and monitor from a remote location.

Their experience with Android-powered devices could finally help BQ find solid footing in the consumer 3D printing market. While some companies like ONO are developing machines that use an actual smartphone to print, BQ is instead using smartphone guts to create their very own unique printer from scratch.

Source: Technogeek