Configurable Commercial Quality Versa3D Desktop Fabrication Machine Launches on Kickstarter

CreateAll

The current trend of low-cost starter 3D printers has seemed to dominate the 3D printing industry for the past year, and while it has produced several great options of bringing new users into the industry it has been a little quiet on the commercial side of things. But Kickstarter just got a new crowdfunding campaign for a commercial quality desktop 3D printer that could change all of that. Today the Versa3D campaign was launched by 3D printing startup CreateAll and it includes a dual-extruder 3D printing toolhead, a CNC milling toolhead and a laser engraving toolhead all in the same compact machine. The Versa3D is packed with great features, including a large build volume and high-quality frame, and it’s capable of 3D printing with just about any filament on the market.

The team from CreateAll spent 3 years developing the Versa3D and while initially designing it as just a 3D printer they realized that they could seamlessly and easily integrate several different toolheads and desktop manufacturing technologies. With the Versa3D they wanted to build the ultimate desktop fabrication machine, and it looks like they may have succeeded. The desktop machine is entirely configurable, so backers don’t need to purchase all of the toolheads if they don’t need them. Additionally, if backers decide that they want the additional toolheads after all they can easily expand at any point. The 3D printing, CNC milling and laser engraving toolheads are completely modular so they can easily be swapped in and out of the machine with little to no trouble.

Versa3D Desktop Fabrication Machine.

The Versa3D includes some great features that most desktop 3D printers do not include. It has fully wireless 3D printing via WiFi and can be controlled and monitored from a smartphone. There is an onboard LIDAR that can be used to automatically level the printing bed as well as find edges on objects being milled. The Versa3D was designed to be easy to use and hassle-free, and it sounds like it may be a pretty simple to use device. In addition to the WiFi connectivity, the machine also has a drag and drop onboard slicing option that simplifies the 3D printing process, especially for new users.

CNC milling plastic.

Some of the other product features include dual extruders that include two E3D all-metal extruders, a powerful 300W spindle motor that results in a virtually silent machine and a 2500mW laser that can be used to laser cut or laser engrave. It includes a very respectable 300 x 300 x 220 mm (11.8 x 11.8 x 8.7 inch) build envelope and a BuildTak surface on the build plate to help prevent prints slipping off the printing surface. The Versa3D is also extremely fast, especially for the size printer. It is capable of printing at speeds close to 300mm/s for larger sized prints.

The CNC mill tool head includes powerful NEMA 17 motors and a 300W spindle so it can cut through most woods, plastics and soft metals as easily as much larger machines are capable of. The 3-axis milling device is virtually silent, something that is not common among other desktop CNC milling options. The 2500mW laser cutting tool head can burn through most woods with ease and quickly engrave or cut wood, while also offering the ability to engrave on virtually any surface. The Versa3D can lase cut or engrave on objects as tall as 75mm in height.

You can see the Versa3D Kickstarter video here:

The Cincinnati, Ohio-based startup is hoping to raise $100,000 in order to fund the first wave of their 3D printers — and they’re already off to a good start, with about $8,000 raised already as of the time of editing. The Kickstarter campaign will be running until September 17th, and they expect to be able to start delivering finished Versa3D machines as early as January 2017. Backers can select as many toolheads as they want, and early birds are getting a huge discount off of the retail price. Backers who want a single toolhead can get a Versa3D for $2,999 before it goes up to $3,799. Backers can select 2 different toolheads for $3,299 before the price increases to $3,999. The third backer option is all three toolheads for $3,499 before it goes up to $4,199. You can learn more about CreateAll on their website, and you can learn more about Versa3D on the Kickstarter campaign here. Discuss further in the Versa3D forum over at 3DPB.com.