When it comes to having a large print volume at an affordable price, not many do it much better than the Brooklyn-based 3D printer company gCreate. Started by Gordon LaPlante and Anna Lee, their gMax printer series has been a continuously evolving to have bigger print capabilities and better components. Not only are their large-format printers affordable, they’re also quite convenient, shipping out to customers fully assembled. Calibrated, and also pre-tested. Currently focused on their latest iterations, the gMax 1.5+ and gMax 1.5 XT+, the gCreate team has just announced a number of new component upgrades to improve their printer line, all while keeping their price point relatively low.
The new upgrades include a BLTouch auto-bed leveling sensor, a full graphical LCD screen, and an increased number of powder coated metal components. But the most exciting new prospect for the gCreate team and their customers is their implementation of a 16” x 16” dual zone heated bed, which comes with a custom BuildTak print surface and a digital controller to modify and monitor settings.
The gMax 1.5+ series uses J-Head Mk V-BV hotends, which allows for printing with PLA, ABS, NinjaFlex, SemiFlex, Stainless Steel, Carbon Fiber Reinforced filament, and more. But with the new heated bed, which was made in conjunction with Keenovo, and their fully metal E3D hotend will allow gMax 1.5+ and 1.5 XT+ users to use an even wider array of materials, such as Colorfabb nGen. And though these upgrade components seem to greatly increase the capabilities of the gMax 1.5+ series, gCreate has announced that the prices for the 1.5+($2,495) and 1.5 XT+($2,995) will remain the same.
According to gCreate, their gMax 1.5+ series continues to hold the FDM printing title of lowest price per cubic of build volume. With purchase of the newly upgraded 1.5+ or 1.5 XT+, customers will receive a handful of accessories and a full spool of Colorfabb PLA, courtesy of the gCreate team. The Brooklyn-based company has also recently expressed interest in acquiring a larger workspace, which will help with expanding their staff and ramping up their printer production. Having visited their shop space in Industry City a couple of times, and talking to LaPlante and Lee about starting in their own apartment, it’s great to see a local company moving onto bigger and better things, while ensuring their products follow suit.
