10 New Software and Hardware Products Announced for LulzBot 3D Printing Ecosystem

Colorado-based Aleph Objects, which designs, develops, and manufactures the popular LulzBot line of desktop 3D printers, parts, and plastics, was built on the philosophy of freedom. LulzBot printers are open source, a popular maker ideology showcased in the company’s decision this spring to team up with IC3D to develop the first open source 3D printer filament. Aleph Objects has just announced a whopping 10 new software and hardware products for near-term release, and according to the company, the hardware addresses three main requests from the greater LulzBot community – geometric freedom, improvements to maintenance and ease of use, and expanded versatility.

All of the new products for the LulzBot 3D printer ecosystem, which include tool heads, filaments, and software, clearly show Aleph Objects’ ongoing commitment to developing 3D printing innovations.

“Free, Libre, and Open Source development respects user freedom, drives better products, accelerates innovation, and strengthens user communities. With these new products, the LulzBot ecosystem offers users more evolved tools to make everything,” said Harris Kenney, President of Aleph Objects.

Aleph Objects subscribes to the development methodology of “release early, release often,” which goes hand in hand with its commitment to open source. If you’re interested in tracking the company’s in-progress product development, you can do so here.

The first of the 10 new LulzBot products was released today – the new Cura LulzBot Edition software, which is now available for download. While it features new and improved print quality, what remains the same is the LulzBot line’s continued commitment to easy operation – the free software is still simple enough for new users to grasp, but is now even more powerful for 3D printing experts. What gives Cura LulzBot Edition its ease of use are the factory-tested print profiles for over 30 LulzBot filament materials.

The last version of Cura LulzBot Edition software was released this past January at the CES show, so it will be good to get some new features with this latest version, which include:

• Improved automatic support material generation
• Better-organized user interface
• New slicing options for advanced users

All of the other new LulzBot products are hardware, and the first two were designed to satisfy the LulzBot community’s request for geometric freedom, starting with the LulzBot TAZ Dual Extruder v3 Tool Head, which was released yesterday. The tool head is lighter and more compact than the earlier versions, and comes with integrated software and easy-to-use hardware. The new Dual Extruder also comes with improved heat sink and part cooling, and does not require offset calibration or nozzle leveling. Even better, it allows dedicated support material to be used – even water-soluble filament that dissolves.

Speaking of support filament, next month the company will be introducing its new dedicated Polydissolve S1 Filament by Polymaker, which is soluble in water and is a perfect match for the TAZ Dual Extruder v3. Both of these products will keep users from worrying about how to make their designs 3D printable, allowing them instead to focus entirely on their function and form.

The company also developed three new products that offer easier maintenance, and make LulzBot 3D printers easy to operate as well. The first is the LulzBot Mini Modular Print Bed System, which was released yesterday and takes the difficulty out of maintaining the LulzBot Mini’s heated print bed. The system also allows users to experiment with after-market build surfaces, and a similar system will be released next month for the LulzBot TAZ. Another new product will be released soon for the Mini – a Graphical LCD Controller that will allow users to print from an included SD card, without being connected to a computer.

Two of the final four LulzBot products, which enhance the 3D printer line’s versatility, were released last month – its Chroma Strand ABS filament and Nylon LulzBot 3D Printer Enclosure by GalaxG Design World. The new premium ABS filament is a good choice for production environments, due to its consistency and bright, rich colors. The affordable enclosure was made as a lightweight solution to protect your LulzBot 3D printer from drafts and dust – the magnetic flap is transparent, and it self-seals for easy access to your LulzBot TAZ and Mini 3D printers.

The LulzBot Aerostruder Tool Head – one each for the Mini and the TAZ – will be released soon. It offers high-quality 3D printing with flexible and rigid filaments, thanks to its powerful E3D Titan Aero Extruder and Hot End.

To receive all of the latest details on the newly announced LulzBot products once they are released and available for purchase, you can sign up here.

What do you think of these new products? Let us know your thoughts on this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or leave a comment below. 

[Images: LulzBot]