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Chinese 3D printer manufacturer Creality has revealed that it’s possible to manufacture ultra-low-cost anime figures using its recently-unveiled HALOT-SKY 3D printer.
According to the firm, its latest system allows fans of the popular Japanese animation genre to create and collect their favorite figurines by 3D printing them instead of paying lofty retail prices.
In fact, even compared to the base costs associated with traditional production, Creality says that its machine offers a cheaper and more tailorable solution, that’s capable of churning out precise models every three hours.
“The emergence of LCD 3D printers has opened up a new path for the anime industry, and the production process has become more convenient and free,” says Creality. “HALOT-SKY combines anime with 3D printing, transforming elements from the virtual world into real objects, and acts as a bridge between the comic world and the real world.”
Creality’s resin printing portfolio
Since 2014, Creality has become best-known for its core Ender line of 3D printers, including several iterations of the Ender-3, as well as its Ender-5 Pro, Ender-5 Plus and Ender-6 Core-XY machines. As recently as June 2021, the firm even supplemented its range with the new high-speed Ender-7, which is capable of printing at up to 250 mm per second.
Alongside its key FDM 3D printing portfolio, the company also offers resin-based LD-006, LD-002H, and LD-002R machines, in addition to the recently-launched HALOT series. With the new HALOT-ONE, Creality has so-far reported great commercial success, something it has attributed to the printer’s quality and cost-effectiveness, which has been “favored and welcomed by customers all over the world.”
With its flagship HALOT-SKY 3D printer, however, the firm has taken things to another level by packing a professional-grade 192 x 120 x 200mm build volume and 4K resolution LCD screen into a consumer-grade system, thus the company maintains that the machine is capable of not just producing high resolution figures, but ultra-accurate dental molds, architectural models and jewelry as well.
Accessible anime 3D printing
For many anime enthusiasts, collecting miniature replicas of their favorite characters is not only an enjoyable pastime, but an important part of being a fan. However, buying these models can get pricey very quickly, preventing many such fans from completing their prized collections, thus Creality has now released a 3D printer that it says “opens the door to a new world for collectors of anime figures.”
Driven by its ‘new generation’ integral light source technology, the company’s HALOT-SKY is capable of delivering up to 120W of power with 90% light uniformity. As a result, Creality claims that its machine enables the creation of models with fine details regardless of build plate orientation, as well as a high level of gloss and accuracy in “an all-round way.”
Compared to Creality’s previous printers, the HALOT-SKY also brings efficiency gains thanks to its new chip and high-performance motherboard with greater data processing performance, while its upgraded dual configuration double-line guide rail and ball screw layout, is said to yield models with a smooth texture and virtually no layer lines.
Finally, and potentially most importantly, Creality’s latest system comes with a simplified slicing software, as well as an app that enables the machine to be controlled remotely. The 3D printer is therefore designed with usability in mind, and provides collectors that may be complete LCD printing novices, with an easier means of accessing the technology.
Technical specifications and pricing
Below are the technical specifications for the HALOT-SKY 3D printer. Priced at $949, the machine is available to order now via the Creality store page.
For those interested in buying the HALOT-ONE, they can do so via Creality here, while customers in Australia can purchase the system on Flora Livings, and European clients can also buy it via Alza.
| Build Volume | 192 x 120 x 200mm |
| Light Source | Integral light source |
| XY Axes Precision | 0.01-0.05mm |
| Print Speed | 1-4s/layer |
| Layer Thickness | 0.01-0.2mm |
| LCD Resolution | 3840 x 2400 |
| Operation | 8.9″ digital HD touch screen |
| Slicer Software | Creality |
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Featured image shows the HALOT-SKY 3D printer. Photo via Creality.
