You may recall the mysterious launch of the ProDesk30 from BotObjects the other week? It was said to be an amazing Full Color personal 3D plastic extrusion printer. Many observers were highly skeptical of this claim, particularly because little evidence or even specifications had been released by BotObjects.
Now that’s changed. A bit.
BotObjects has released more information, including pricing (USD$2,849-$3,749) and specifications for the ProDesk30 models:
- Full color FDM-based printing system
- 5-color PLA cartridge system
- PVA support material cartridge
- ABS supported with additional cartridges (not included in standard package)
- PLA/PVA/ABS filament diameter 1.75mm
- Exterior case dimensions 475mm, 365mm, 365mm (H,W,D)
- Build platform dimensions 300mm, 275mm, 275mm (H,W,D)
- 175mm/s max printing speed
- 25 micron printing accuracy in z direction
- Fully automatic system set up – plug and play
- Auto levelling heated build platform
- Dual extruder head
- Tri-fan air system
Looks pretty good, doesn’t it? But is it real? How can they actually print full color at such tiny resolutions? On their site they now show a few example prints.
A vase.
A Robot in several pieces, assembled together.
A musical recorder.
Do you notice anything about these color prints? We did. All of them simply change color on layers. The vase in particular exhibits this most clearly. It appears (and we’re saying this because we’ve done it on other extrusion 3D printers) that an orange filament was swapped out for a white filament in mid-vase. The same effect is seen on the other objects.
That’s NOT color 3D printing.
That’s been done before many times and is not particularly useful, unless you’re looking for rainbow-ish objects.
We are now becoming a lot more skeptical of BotObject’s claims and it seems we’re not the only ones. SolidSmack has a very critical writeup, and they propose there are reasons why BotObjects has not shown up on Kickstarter.
BotObjects, if you’re listening, now is the time to reveal some more convincing evidence.
Via BotObjects
Those pictures are quite obviously renderings, this project absolutely reeks of deception, an I have a feeling they are trying to build up to scamming people via crowdsourcing sites. I bet this will end up on indiegogo because kickstarter doesnt accept purely renders as prototype evidence. If they have technology this impressive a video of it printing would be available. Fake fake fake. Ill eat my words if we ever see a video (much more difficult to fake).
Those pictures are quite obviously renderings, this project absolutely reeks of deception, an I have a feeling they are trying to build up to scamming people via crowdsourcing sites. I bet this will end up on indiegogo because kickstarter doesnt accept purely renders as prototype evidence. If they have technology this impressive a video of it printing would be available. Fake fake fake. Ill eat my words if we ever see a video (much more difficult to fake).
Its not color printing? then what is it? would u call a word document where some of the text was highlighted in red and printed in red and black not color printing? of course you wouldnt! this is exactly evolving how the early color 2d printers evolved, it started out with base colors and barely able to print out photographs pic or really anything besides color text, over the years it got better and you got better tech and resolution. Just because your expectations were thinking of printing 3d photographic items out and sugar plums dancing in yer head was not met your cant denounce their achievement.
frankly a 11in x 10in x10in build platform, dual extruder, 25 micron and the ability to switch colors on the fly rather than having to stop and switch out filament and then start printing again is pretty awesome not to mention similar pricing to a replicator 2x! one thing will kill it however if you cant refill yer filiament carts and have to buy from them at a huge price increase.
Its not color printing? then what is it? would u call a word document where some of the text was highlighted in red and printed in red and black not color printing? of course you wouldnt! this is exactly evolving how the early color 2d printers evolved, it started out with base colors and barely able to print out photographs pic or really anything besides color text, over the years it got better and you got better tech and resolution. Just because your expectations were thinking of printing 3d photographic items out and sugar plums dancing in yer head was not met your cant denounce their achievement.
frankly a 11in x 10in x10in build platform, dual extruder, 25 micron and the ability to switch colors on the fly rather than having to stop and switch out filament and then start printing again is pretty awesome not to mention similar pricing to a replicator 2x! one thing will kill it however if you cant refill yer filiament carts and have to buy from them at a huge price increase.