3D Pandora 1.0: A Kickstarter Success

After launching their project on September 10th, 2014, Global Trend Technology Co., Ltd launched a Kickstarter Campaign to raise funds for their 3D Pandora 1.0, a full colour 3D printer which relies on powder technology. This project was a great success, raising $156,885 from 65 backers, and the printers started shipping in March 2016.

Stereolithography is known to be one of the more expensive processes of 3D printing, especially when the printer has the ability to print in full colour. This form of 3D printing usually relies on a laser or UV light which melts a layer of powdered print medium or cures it before another layer powder is added and melted on top.

Instead of a laser or UV light, the 3D Pandora 1.0 uses a binding agent between the layers of plastic, reminiscent of the D-shape method. The printer also has 4608 jets with provide both Basic K and Full CMY for coloring models after they are printed. After the models are colored, the models need to be dipped into a curing agent which can be purchased along with all other required materials.

This printer has a variety of applications too, including:

• Creative – for fun leisure products or artistic pieces
• Industry – different types of powder can be used, such as metal based ones
• Medicine –  there is a possibility of using print mediums such as bone powders and biomaterial
• Food – using edible print mediums
• Technology – print parts for electronics projects
• Building – print scaled models

The team behind the 3D Pandora 1.0 had the intention of creating a printer which cuts the cost of printing high detail, full color models. Stereolithographic printers usually have a very high set up cost, and the print cost of models is also very high. However, Global Trend Technology Co., Ltd has managed to cut these costs down to a fraction of what they were.

The specification includes: