Sequels are a pretty common thing in entertainment – in fact, that may be the understatement of the century. In terms of movies, you generally have to wait a year or more for the follow-up; with books, there’s no telling how long a gap there will be (I’m looking at you, George R.R. Martin). 3D printer manufacturers, conversely, are less inclined to torture their fans. Take Airwolf 3D, for example. It’s only been eight months since they debuted their high-speed, high resolution AXIOM and AXIOMe printers, and now they’re about to introduce the AXIOM 2, an advanced dual-extruder, multi-material sequel to the successful original.
The AXIOM 2 will be officially unveiled at the Pacific Design and Manufacturing 2016 Show taking place from February 9-11 in Anaheim, California. It features two high-temperature extruder heads, the temperatures of which can be independently controlled. This means you can print pieces in an array of material combinations that weren’t possible before. The printer supports combinations of over 30 different thermoplastic materials, from low-temperature materials like PLA and TPU to high-temp materials such as polycarbonate and nylon.
“The AXIOM 2 sets the new standard in multi-material desktop 3D printing,” said Airwolf 3D founder and chairman Erick Wolf. “We can independently control the temperature of two separate, high temperature, print heads to create material combinations not previously possible such as polycarbonate and ABS hybrid parts having high rigidity in some areas and ductility in others.”
AXIOM 2 retains the same features that made the original AXIOM so attractive, such as auto leveling, an “easy feed” filament loading system, an enclosed design for heat containment, and an end-user replaceable cassette system. The jam-resistant hotends can operate continuously at temperatures of up to 315°C (599°F). The build volume is unusually large for desktop printers; users can print objects up to 12” x 8” x 9.5″ at the high speed of 250mm/s.
For current AXIOM users, there’s no need to run out and buy an entirely new printer; the original AXIOM can be upgraded with the dual extruder technology for $1,495 if you send your printer to Airwolf 3D’s Costa Mesa, California headquarters. The AXIOM 2 retails for $4,995, and can be leased for as little as $110 per month. A nice package is included with purchase, including two 2-pound spools of ABS filament and a bottle of Wolfbite Premium Adhesive Solution to prevent prints from warping. Pre-orders are being taken now, with shipping expected to begin in early March.
Orders can be placed directly through Airwolf 3D, or purchased through one of their resellers. Speaking of which, Airwolf 3D is looking to expand their reseller network. Currently, they have retailers in over 20 countries, but they intend to add several more both within the US and internationally. If you’re interested in selling Airwolf 3D products, send an email to mark@airwolf3d.com. Are you interested in placing an order for this new release? Discuss in the AXIOM 2 Airwolf 3D printer forum over at 3DPB.com.
