Power Tool Giant Dremel Launches the 3D Idea Builder 3D Printer & Ecosystem

There is no doubt that 3D printing is making incredible inroads into the homes of consumers. Although there has been well under a million desktop 3D printers sold to date, it is my opinion that we are in the midst of an explosion of sales within the consumer segment of the market. Incredible price drops within the industry are helping to make 3D printing affordable, not only for businesses, but for hobbyists and general use as well.

In what I think is a sure sign that we are approaching mainstream adoption of the technology, $12.35 billion company, Autodesk, has recently announced their entrance into the market, with both an SLA printer, as well as a 3D printing platform, both called Spark. Although it may be a little while before we see an Apple, or Google 3D printer, just yesterday Microsoft announced that they too will be stepping a little bit further into the 3D printing ring by signing a deal with 3D Systems, allowing for users of their 3D Builder app to print via the cloud.

Today, we have learned that a subsidiary of Bosch, a $43 billion global company, has entered the 3D printing market in a big way. Dremel, who you probably have heard of if you have ever shopped for a power tool, particularly a rotary tool, was founded over 80 years ago in Racine, Wisconsin. Today they’ve announced the Dremel 3D Idea Builder, a 3D printer and ecosystem all in one.

“Dremel 3D will enable people to take 3D printing to new levels, from imaginative projects for the home, to inventive projects that may impact the world,” said John Kavanagh, president of Dremel. “Makers have been using Dremel tools to make three-dimensional creations with cutting tools for generations. Today, makers are using Dremel tools to fine-tune and fix their 3D printed creations and have been asking us to introduce a 3D printer.”

Below are some of the basic specifications of the Dremel 3D Idea Builder:

• Build Envelope: 9” x 5.9” x 5.5” / 230 mm x 150 mm x 140 mm
• Printer Weight: 19 pounds 8 oz (8.845 kg)
• Printer Size: 15.7 inches(400 mm) x 19.1 inches(485 mm) x 13.2 inches(335 mm)
• Extruder: Single extrusion
• Extruder temperature: Up to 230°C /397°F
• User Interface: 3.5” full color IPS touch screen
• Layer Thickness: 0.004 inches 100 microns
• SD Card: Up to 32GB in size /3D20 will not work with SD cards larger than 32GB
• Internal Storage: 4GB (Allows for storing models and printing them without a computer connection)

Certainly there is some overcrowding within the 3D desktop printing space, however, Dremel, with its name recognition, marketing power and budget, could very well enter the market with a bang. The company seems to be concentrating on making 3D printing easy for everyone, by incorporating an entire ecosystem which includes free models, tutorials, and design tools to make the process as care-free, and simple as possible. According to the company, they have entered a strategic partnership with CAD software giant Autodesk, allowing them to provide free print-ready models to their users.

“This is just the beginning for us,” said Kavanagh. “The Dremel 3D model portfolio will continue to grow with the help of Autodesk® 123D® apps and the models we will curate from our community. Additionally, we’ll be offering an increased number of customizers on our site that will further empower people to develop and personalize projects of their own. Long-term, the partnership with Autodesk will allow us to bring together hardware and software to better address the needs of our community. We’re excited to be an early partner with Autodesk in using Spark, the open platform to better connect digital content and the hardware.”

It is very interesting to note that this new machine is actually a rebranded and revamped version of the Flashforge Dreamer, a printer manufactured by Chinese technology company Zhejiang Flashforge 3D Technology Co., Ltd.  Dremel will also be offering their world-class product support and mentorship via the Dremel Experts, a service which is sure to be an asset to those just starting out within the 3D printing space. Pre-orders for the machine will commence tomorrow, September 18, exclusively on amazon.com and homedepot.com, and be availabile in the US and Canada for an MSRP of $999. Starting in November the printer will be on sale in select Home Depot stores.

Let us know your thoughts on Dremel’s entrance into the market. Will you be purchasing a 3D Idea Builder? Discuss in the Dremel 3D Idea Builder forum thread on 3DPB.com.  Check out the video provided below for a bit more information on this new machine.