Meet the World's Smallest 3D Printer

Print

Another day, another 3D printer on the Kickstarter crowdfunding/preorder platform-- this time it's the turn of the iBox Nano, supposedly the smallest and most affordable 3D printer around.

iBox NanoHow small is the iBox Nano? All of 10 x 7 x 20cm. Makers iBox Printers say such dimensions are possible through use of liquid resin instead of plastic filament for 3D printing, which the printer hardens layer by layer via UV LEDs. Further shrinking the printer is construction in laser-cut extruded acrylic (aka Polymethyl metacrylate or PMMA).

The use of UV LEDs also allows the printer to be optionally powered via battery.

The small size obviously restricts the dimensions of printed objects-- but the makers suggest this is not too much of an issue, as 3D printers are generally used to print small objects anyway. In any case printed object resolution is around 328 microns, which is on par with extrusion printers.

On the software size the iBox Nano is wifi-enabled, and is controllable via browser using any internet-capable device (PC, tablet or smartphone). One can also connect it to PCs via ethernet, and iBox Printers promise a "robust" software ecosystem.

The iBox Nano Kickstarter has already reached a $300000 pledge goal, meaning the printer should start shipping from March 2015.

Go iBox Nano Kickstarter