The LumiPocket LT: More Than Just a 3D Printer

By on August 26th, 2015 in printer

Tags: , ,

Lumi Industries has launched a new inexpensive 3D printer that can do more than 3D printing: the LumiPocket LT. 

Lumi is not new to 3D printing. The company previously produced the Lumifold and Lumipocket resin-based 3D printers, both of which made their funding objectives on Indiegogo. 

Now the company has developed a new machine, the LumiPocket LT and has launched it on a new Kickstarter campaign. 

They’re actually calling it a “Revolutionary Personal Fabricator”, because they’re leveraging the on-board laser to do more than just 3D printing. 

But first, the 3D printing part. This is a resin-based 3D printer, which uses a laser to solidify a UV-curable resin to form solid layers. As printing proceeds, successive layers adhere to each other to complete an object. 

The LumiPocket LT can 3D print within a 100 x 100mm cylindrical volume, and can produce layers as small as 0.05mm. For X-Y resolution, the machine can be as accurate as 0.10mm. 

The interesting feature is the unusual mechanism used to move the laser. They’ve developed a “Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm”, or “SCARA” system shown here. The idea is that it can cover the entire print area, yet be folded up into a small size. 

And did we mention this item is small? It’s only 200 x 110 x 350 mm exterior dimensions, with a weight of only 1.8kg. 

Aside from 3D printing, there are two other functions this machine can provide: laser etching and PCB manufacturing. 

The laser etching simply re-uses the existing laser to burn marks onto 2D surfaces. The laser is very low power, only 0.2W, so you can’t do much damage with it. Consider this a means to lightly mark wood, cardboard and similar materials. 

For PCB manufacturing, the laser is also used to mark a pre-sensitized PCB blank, which can then be developed. 

Three fabrication technologies in one device. 

The cost of the LumiPocket LT is quite low, with initial early-birds receiving a breakthrough cost of only €399 (USD$450) for the kit. As units are sold, the price rises to €699 (USD$795), still a great price for an inexpensive resin 3D printer. 

Via Kickstarter

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!