ZAGI-18 UV Curable, Paste Extrusion, Delta 3D Printer Launches on Kickstarter

With literally hundreds of different desktop 3D printers on the market today, it’s often hard to distinguish one from another. Despite the fierce competition within the market, many of the companies out there producing these machines are in fact just copying one another. Competition does lead to innovation; however, only a handful of companies out there are truly innovating.

One such company, called DeltaBots, based in Palm City, Florida, understands the need to present the market with an innovative new approach if they are going to survive. After two years of experimentation and R&D, the team has unveiled what they claim to be the sturdiest Delta 3D Printer to ever hit the market, the ZAGI-18.

The ZAGI-18, which the company is seeking to raise money on Kickstarter to fund, is unlike anything you have seen before. Besides its sturdy construction, enabling heavy extruders to perform without causing issues which stem from vibrations and misalignments, the modularity of the machine provides several very intriguing options to its users.

The printer, which is produced using premium aluminum, and can be assembled within 15-20 minutes, has the ability to utilize several different types of extruders and extrusion processes. Besides being able to print with PLA and ABS thermoplastics like most Delta-style 3D printers do, there is also the option to add in paste extrusion, including a very unique UV curable paste.

The UV curable paste attachment is quite unique in that the technology allows users to extrude a loose clay-like material unheated, and almost instantly have it hardened as it emerges from the extruder. This provides users with the ability to print in unique resin-based materials which are able to stand up to heat and chemicals unlike thermoplastics. Structurally the material is very sound, and hardens quite well.

The ZAGI-18 can be fitted with a peristaltic pump allowing for the extrusion of materials such as clay, and even food. The machine is strong enough to be able to carry as much as 400 ml (1 pint) of clay-like material within the extruder, or if preferred there is a second system which allows for the mounting of up to 1,000 ml on top of the printer itself, providing users with the capacity to print larger projects without the need to stop the machine mid-print. The peristaltic pump is driven by a very high precision geared stepper motor, allowing for prints with clay, chocolate, or other paste-like substances with extremely high resolutions, similar to those found in objects printed via FDM/FFF methods. Below are a few of the general specifications for this machine:

• Print Envelope: 11.8″ Diameter x 17″ Height
• Printer Speed: 300mm/s
• Nozzle Diameter: 0.4mm
• Layer Resolution: 50 micron
• Software: Reprtier-Host / GcodePrintr

DeltaBots seeks to raise a total of $38,000 via Kickstarter by December 5. In doing so, they are providing several rewards to their backers including the full printer setup. For a pledge of $2,185, backers will receive the fully assembled ZAGI-18 machine with the FFF attachment, ready to print using PLA and ABS plastics. With a pledge of $2,250 backers will receive the ZAGI-18 with the UV paste extrusion modular. This will allow for the printing of all sorts of pastes including their unique UV curable composite.

Let us know if you have decided to back this project, and your thoughts on this new machine in the ZAGI-18 forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the video below showing the machine printing using their UV curable photosensitive paste.