It’s been a long time in the making, but Dutch 3D printer manufacturer Leapfrog has finally announced the launch of its professional 3D printer, Xeed. The Xeed is most comparable to Stratasys’ Mojo 3D Printer, a small industrial level machine that runs at close to $10,000. At €7,000, or just under $9500, Leapfrog’s machine resembles the sort of 3D printer we might hope ends up in homes of the future (after prices drop significantly).
The Xeed looks a bit like a desktop inkjet printer, but weighs a whole lot more: 55 kg or 121 lbs. It features an on-board touch screen with wireless printing, a build volume of 350 x 270 x 220 mm (13.7 x 10.6 x 8.6 inches) and dual extruders. The machine also operates an auto-calibration system after each print, removing the need for manual tinkering; and automatic filament detection, initiating a pause sequence when filament runs out so that you can step in to replace it. The Xeed can be used with all standard filaments, including water-soluble PVA for dissolvable support structures.
Coincidentally coinciding with Lady Gaga’s latest tour, the Leapfrog will be hitting the world stage so that fans across the globe can see it in action. The tour, unofficially dubbed “The Ultimate Live Experience Tour” (by me), lists the following stops:
- November 18th – Information Afternoon, San Francisco
- November 20th and 21st – Printed Electronics, USA, CA – Booth JJ16 (the official US launch)
- November 25th – Information Afternoon London, UK
- November 25th – Xeed Launch London, UK
- November 29th – Xeed Launch HQ, NL
- December 3rd till 6th – Euromold, Frankfurt, DE, Booth FN01d
If you have an opportunity, you should try to see it — so much better live. Especially before fame goes to its head and it starts abusing filament recklessly and winds up on the cover of tabloids.
