Approximately 14 months ago, a company called gCreate launched an incredibly successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for what was, at least at the time, the most affordable, large build volume 3D printer to hit the market. Raising nearly $130,000, easily surpassing their goal of $50,000, the gMax 3D Printer was born. With the gMax kit priced south of $1100 for the earliest backers, and a build envelope of 16″ x 16″ x 9″, the machine certainly excited the market.
Here we are 14 months later, with hundreds of happy gMax owners out there, and the company is announcing two new 3D printers. The gMax 1.5 and gMax 1.5 XT have been unveiled, boasting even larger build volumes, while taking up less space on the desktop. Both printers are the products of over a year of prototyping, listening to user feedback, and troubleshooting. They are now immediately available for order on the gCreate website.
These machines differ from the gMax 1.0 in several key areas. Besides the larger build volume and smaller frame, the extruders have been redesigned, and the frame as well as the wiring layout has been changed to make assembly less cumbersome. According to company founder Gordon LaPlante, both new machines will also be easier to calibrate, stronger, and feature sturdier parts, replacing some of the 3D printed plastic parts with carbon fiber and aluminum.
“As this continues to be an open source printer, all of the printed parts being replaced will be available for free download on their website for those who still wish to 3D print their own parts,” stated the company.
Below you will find some of the general specifications found in both new machines:
gMax 1.5
- Printer Technology: FFF – Fused Filament Fabrication
- Printer Size: 28.5”W x 24”D x 21.5”H
- Nozzle Diameter: 0.5mm (recommended) or 0.35mm diameter
- Print Resolution: 50 micron (0.05mm / 0.00197”) to 450 micron (0.45mm / 0.0177”)
- Filament Type/Size: ABS and PLA at 1.75mm
As for the differences between the gMax 1.5 and the gMax 1.5 XT, there really are only two. The gMax 1.5 features a build envelope of 16″ x 16″ x 10″ and weighs in at around 30 lbs, while the gMax 1.5 XT is a giant, weighing in at 35 lbs, with the ability to print objects as large as 16″ x 16″ x 18″.
gMax 1.5 XT
The gMax 1.5 is available in kit form or fully assembled. The kit will run you $1,595, while the fully assembled and tested printer will cost $1,795. The gMax XT will sell partially assembled only at a price of $1,895. All the machines come with an optional second extruder, as well as several different color options for the printers themselves.
Have you ordered either of these new machines? Let us know how they perform, in the gCreate gMax forum thread on 3DPB.com.
