The Home 3-D Printer Is More Real Than Ever–And Costs As Much As An iPad
Solidoodle is a new effort from a former COO of MakerBot, Samuel Cervantes, aiming to bring the 3-D printer within reach of the average consumer with a price tag under $500. But it’s not the only project in its class, and with at least a couple more systems on the way it’s likely that 3-D printing will happen in your home sooner rather than later.MakerBot itself is already famous for selling affordable 3-D printers that work with extruded plastic, and the firm’s recent two-color extruder model is really pushing the boundaries of the tech. The thing is the assembled MakerBots tend to be expensive, and though many a hobbyist may be tempted to purchase a home-assembly kit to save money (after all, that’s how the iconic Apple I and ZX81 home computers were originally sold) the average consumer is almost never going to buy a semi-complete kit. Which is where Solidoodle comes in.