Cheap Metal 3D Printer for $1600 - Open Source
Has anyone seen or found more information about this Michigan Tech project? Supposedly they are working on a 3D Metal printer which can be built for just $1600. A man named Joshua Pearce and his team have created this printer to allow just about everyone to be able to afford a metal 3D printer.
Quote:
"Virtually all small businesses will be able to make parts on site once this is perfected," Pearce says. "We've made some test pieces, including a small metal cup, but there will be a day when bike shops can make a key part for repairing a bike, and an auto mechanic can make a part he needs. I really believe that day is coming now that the technology has been made so inexpensive."
If you look into what Pearce has been working on it seems like he is pretty excited about the 3D printing industry. They are also trying to build an open source 3D printer capable of running on solar power alone, which can print out solar cells:
http://www.mse.mtu.edu/~pearce/Index.html
Boy does it seems like things are starting to pick up pace, progress wise!! Here are some of the prints from the $160 printer. Not perfect but is improving quickly:
http://up.secondwavemedia.com/galler...03052014/3.jpg
Here is the printer in action:
http://up.secondwavemedia.com/galler...03052014/5.jpg
