Launched earlier this month, the Milkshake3D campaign reached its goal in a mere four days, and is continuing to pull in cash with more than a month left until its May 1 completion date. Billed as “the artist’s 3D printer,” the Milkshake3D certainly looks dazzling. The compact, top-down SLA 3D printer offers a remarkable level of detail, according to Orbi Lab, and the models demonstrated in the campaign certainly seem to back this up. The company includes plenty of video of the Milkshake3D in action, which is key to a successful campaign, especially these days. Would-be backers are more anxious than ever to see proof that a printer can deliver what its creators promise, and Orbi Lab offers plenty of looks at the printer printing everything from small, finely detailed to large models. (Equally importantly, the company makes sure to carefully credit the designers of each of the models they use for demonstration, unlike some of the campaigns that collapsed recently.)
Orbi Lab states that the Milkshake3D is “the largest 3D SLA printer for studio use,” with a build area of up to 288 x 162 x 160 mm. With one click, the user can switch between 50 to 100 to 150 µm print mode, and the projector will automatically adjust its focus. The top-down design of the printer offers the kind of stability that bottom-up SLA printers, with gravity working against them, can lack. A wiper system ensures that every layer is smooth, and layer thickness ranges from 20 to 100 µm.
Milkshake3D will come with a custom slicing software designed especially for Zbrush artists. Currently in development, Milkshake3D App supports models with up to 8 million polygons and promises a high anti-aliasing level, automatic support generation, and faster slicing, particularly on large models, than other software programs. It also offers .slc direct printing for jewelers, with no need for slicing. As for the printer itself, it can easily be controlled via the Internet.
“The web controlled printer is a hub for everyone in your studio,” Orbi Lab states. “Working as a stand alone machine, everyone sharing the same wi-fi could easily control, upload files for printing and access printing status. Scan the QR code on website to grant control by using your mobile or tablet. All os and mobile platform is supported.”
“This is not a conceptual printer nor a demo you may have watched a lot on youtube,” the company continues. “Milkshake3D has been working with jewel makers and artists to develop and test for months.”
The Milkshake3D campaign will be running until May 1; you can check it out here and take a look at the Kickstarter video below:
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