Plastic Scribbler is a company founded by Tim Manasterski, a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Mike Manasterski, who is head of manufacturing. The idea for the company, which was born during the 2012 Atlanta Mini Maker Faire, is to give back to the maker and DIY community, which both Manasterskis are a part of.
To do that they launched a full-optional large size 3D printer for as low as $569. The Asterid 1100 takes the base model, with an 8” x 8” x 8” build volume (over 8 liters), and adds to it a Smart controller LCD graphics display with SD card reader, while replacing the power resistor in the hot end with a heater cartridge (for faster heating) and adding a PCB heated bed to reduce ABS warpage. Basically everything that the higher end machines offer but at a much (much) lower price point, for a fully assembled machine.
The heated bed has also being upgraded to borosilicate glass on the print surface, which is smoother (making the critical first layer more uniform) and has a very low thermal expansion coefficient. The Asterid 1100 uses a 1.75 ABS or PLA filament but its “all-metal” hot end makes it possible to experiment with ‘exotic’ filament as well.
It is not a “portable mini-factory”, being a cube shaped machine with each side measuring 18.625”, but it does allow you to print directly from an SD card without requiring a computer (though a computer is still needed to slice models into G-code).
The Asterid 1100 may not be the prettiest of all FFF 3D Printers but most makers are not about looks and this one does seem to have all the right assets, including three resolution settings at .3 mm, .2 mm and .1 mm. If you are in the market for something efficient and cost-effective my opinion is that trying it out can’t hurt. And, in any case, there is a 30 day money back guarantee.
