Fibreseeker has revealed more details about their price-breaking continuous carbon fiber 3D printer.
The device was first revealed to the public back in August. The machine is a FFF 3D printer, similar to others, but with one big difference: it can lay down strands of continuous carbon fiber as it prints polymer.
This makes it possible to print plastic objects with extraordinary strength: carbon fiber strands are stronger than steel. The resulting parts will be extremely rigid, making them ideal for certain applications. However, they’re still made from polymer, so there are still thermal considerations: no hot environments!
Continuous carbon fiber 3D printing has been around for a while. First appearing with Markforged, and then with a few other companies, including Anisoprint. The problem was that these continuous carbon fiber equipment were somewhat pricey as compared to other 3D printers.
FibreSeek, a new startup, hoped to change this by changing the price equation. But we didn’t know the price.
Now we know a lot more, as they are about to launch a Kickstarter campaign for their first machine, the FibreSeeker 3 on November 17th, which happens to be opening day at Formnext.
The MSRP for FibreSeeker 3 is US$4,999 — lower than competing continuous carbon fiber systems.
However, there’s also discounts that take place only during the campaign. The “Super Early Bird” orders will be priced at only US$2,699. Even better, the pre-campaign price is lower at US$2,399 — with a US$50 deposit.
US$2449 is a steal of a price for a continuous carbon fiber 3D printer, so if you have any interest in this technology, you should consider this option.
Who needs this device? Anyone that regularly prints parts that require extreme rigidity and strength. Typically this would be parts used in a mechanical system that experience significant force loads.
By lowering the price point for continuous carbon fiber 3D printing, FibreSeek could enable many manufacturers to consider producing “CCF” parts in a more economical manner. Producing them with more expensive equipment may have prevented some applications simply by creating a financial barrier. Now that barrier has been lowered.
Via Kickstarter and FibreSeek
