Last week 3D System’s Cube 3D printer became available to the general conusmer in the UK via Dixons Retail plc., Europe’s largest specialist electrical retailing and services company – a grouping of popular high street names that includes Dixons, PC World and Currys. Spare parts galore, simple plastic designs and general actualisation of imagination capabilities are there at the owners finger tips, well worth it for those with the spare cash.
The Cube 3D printer is retailing for a reasonable £1,195 – but customers should consider the rather steep 3D printing material cartridge costs, which are £52.80 each. In times of economic hardship, cost effectiveness is a consideration that may place this 3D printer as a low priority for the market’s majority.
The Cube 3D printer via this outlet comes with 25 free 3D print files designed by professional artists. One can connect the Cube to a Mac or Windows PC via a wireless network or USB port. This 3D printer prints layers of plastic 0.2mm thick using a single print head and can be ordered online in the new trendy range of colours: white, silver, pink, green or blue.
The prime technology industry forecaster Gartner expects that by 2015, seven of the fifty largest multinational retailers will sell 3D printers through their physical and online stores. Gartner project that worldwide shipments of sub-USD$100,000 3D printers will grow 49 percent in 2013 to reach a total of 56,507 units.
