German RepRap Announces PRotos v3 Base & Full Kits

One of Germany’s most notable consumer-based 3D printer manufacturers, German Reprap, today announced an update to their PRotos 3D printer kit. Version three of one of the company’s best selling printers is now available with upgrades, which are sure to make the average 3D printing enthusiast happy.

The Protos v3, unveiled by the Feldkirchen, Germany-based company, comes in two separate kits, the Base-kit and the Full-kit, each suiting two different areas of the market, the DIY consumer side, as well as that of small businesses and companies looking to prototype small parts.

Both kits feature many improvements from their version two predecessor, including a new 3-point mounted printing bed which makes calibration a breeze. The milled aluminum frames of both printers are incredibly sturdy and the kits each come with a cable loom with pre-crimped connectors and fully-assembled circuit boards, equating to quick and easy assembly.

Before getting into the differences between the Base and Full kits let’s look at the general specifications shared by each:

• Printer Size:: 550 x 425 x 510 mm (21.7 x 16.7 x 20.1 inches)
• Build Envelope: 205 x 210 x 140 mm (8.1 x 8.3 x 5.5 inches)
• Nozzle Diameter: 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 1mm
• Layer Thickness: 0.1mm in ‘high resolution mode’ or 0.2mm in ‘fast mode’
• Filament Size and Compatibility: 1.75mm and 3mm; ABS, PLA, PS; PVA, Laywood, Laybrick, Bendlay, Soft PLA, smartABS, and PP (Some required the heated bet found in the Full-kit)
• Other Included Features: BuildTak pressure plate, USB interface

The PRotos v3 Full-kit also includes several major upgrades over the Base-kit, featuring a 12V heated bed which enables printing of additional materials. It also features an LC display and SD card reader for more portability. Additionally the Full-kit includes dual extruders, enabling the printing of two different colors or materials within a single print project. The base model can, however, be retrofitted with many of the upgrades found in that of the Full-kit model.

The Base-kit is priced at 999 Euro (approximately $1,138), while the Full-kit is priced at a steeper 1,449 Euro (approximately $1,650). Both these kits are available immediately on the company’s website, as well as re-seller’s websites worldwide.

Let us know if you have pre-ordered either kit and what your thoughts were. Was it easy to assemble? Were you satisfied with the output? Discuss in the German RepRap PRotos v3 forum thread on 3DPB.com.