Trimaker, a Latin-American 3D printer maker, will have its latest product, the T-Element, sold at Staples stores in Argentina. What’s more, a Staples’ store in Buenos Aires will incorporate the T-Element to its copy center: anyone with a design on-file will have the ability to 3D-print their creations.
Staples stores in Argentina have the T-Element in stock and also sell it on the company’s website for a current price of ARS$ 24,499 (a little more than 3,000 US $). This price includes the whole kit needed to do your own printing at home: a computer, 1 kg spool of printer filament (plastic), software, and access to many online video tutorials.
Trimaker is working with Staples to make 3d printing affordable and accessible in a wider consumer base in Argentina. While this printer is not necessarily the best and most powerful on the market right now, its main purpose is to bring 3D-printing to the household level, at an affordable price.
The specifications of the Trimaker Element are as follows:
- Printer Size: 50 x 47 x 40 cm
- Print Speed: 30 to 50 mm/second
- Build envelope: 200 x 200 x 180mm
- Filament Type: ABS, PLA, HIPS, Laybrick ,Laywood , Nylon, PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol), POM (Polyoxymethylene), PS (Polystyrene), PVA, TPE (Thermoplastic rubbers)
- Filament Size: 3MM
- Extruder Temperature: 300 °C
- Print Resolution: Min: 0.3mm / Max: 0.05mm
Staples is an early mover within the 3D printing market. In additional to a pilot program in Europe back in 2012, they have already adopted 3D printing in a relatively big way here in the United States compared to other office and electronics retail stores. Two months ago they began offering 3D printing as a service at two U.S. locations in New York City and L.A. In addition they offer a variety of different 3D printers on their website including 3D Systems’ Cube, and printers from Solidoodle, and FlashForge. Check out the promo video for the T-Element below.