Dutch startup Metal-Base has announced the pre-launch of The Metal 1.0, a compact Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) metal 3D printer priced below €10,000. The system is scheduled to launch via Kickstarter in Q1 2026 and is positioned to lower the barrier to entry for industrial metal additive manufacturing.
Based in Geldrop, the two-year-old company states that the Metal 1.0 is capable of producing near-fully dense metal parts using true LPBF technology, without the debinding and sintering steps associated with metal-filled polymer filaments. The company claims the machine can process materials including Stainless Steel 316L and Inconel 718 directly from metal powder, though independent verification of part density and material properties is not yet available.
Blue diode laser and gantry-based LPBF architecture
To achieve its targeted price point, Metal-Base says it has redesigned the core LPBF architecture. Instead of using the fiber lasers and galvanometer scanning systems common in industrial machines, the Metal 1.0 employs an XY gantry motion system similar to high-end FDM printers. The system is powered by a 60 W, 445 nm blue diode laser.
The company states that the blue laser wavelength is absorbed more efficiently by metals than conventional infrared lasers, allowing full melting at lower power levels while simplifying optics and power requirements. This design enables the printer to operate from a standard wall outlet, with total power consumption below 800 W.
Targeting labs, startups, and education
Metal-Base is positioning the Metal 1.0 as a production-grade system suitable for engineering labs, startups, and educational environments. The machine is described as featuring a fully enclosed build chamber with safety interlocks and active monitoring, distinguishing it from open-frame metal printing systems.
The stated standard build volume is 128 x 100 mm, with an expandable Z-axis up to 150 mm. An optional integration with a nitrogen generator is intended to remove the need for external industrial gas bottles.
The system is reported to run on open-source software, using Klipper firmware and offering compatibility with OrcaSlicer, which would allow full parameter access for research and development, a significant shift from the closed ecosystems of traditional industrial metal printers.
Kickstarter launch planned for Q1 2026
The Metal 1.0 is currently in beta testing. Metal-Base plans to launch a public crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in Q1 2026, with Super Early Bird pricing expected to start at approximately €8,500.
According to the company, the goal is to enable engineers to move directly from plastic prototyping to functional metal parts without the cost and infrastructure associated with six-figure LPBF systems.
Desktop and lab-scale LPBF systems gain momentum
Recent developments point to growing interest in compact and lab-scale Laser Powder Bed Fusion systems, as manufacturers work to reduce system size, cost, and infrastructure requirements. In 2025, amace introduced the STLR-120, a compact LPBF metal 3D printer aimed at research and tooling environments where full-scale industrial machines are impractical. At RAPID + TCT 2025, ADDiTEC also unveiled a new LPBF platform, reflecting broader efforts to extend metal additive manufacturing into smaller labs and development settings.
Alongside hardware innovation, academic research continues to focus on process stability at reduced scales. Engineers a University College London recently identified previously hidden mechanisms behind spatter formation in LPBF, a phenomenon linked to defects and surface quality that remains a challenge for both compact and industrial-scale systems.
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Featured image shows the Metal 1.0 LPBF 3D printer. Image via Metal-Base.
