Recently, I spoke with AJ Perez, the CEO of NVBOTS, manufacturer of “the world’s first fully-automated 3D printer”. Speaking with AJ, I learned about the company’s unique NVPrinter, which uses automatic object removal and a cloud-based 3D printing interface to make the 3D printing process as automatic as possible, thus opening the printer up to networked business- or institution-wide 3D printing. Today, the company has launched its Fundable campaign, where NVBots hopes to raise money, not just to help manufacture their NVPrinters, but to help low-income public middle schools in the Boston area.
As AJ explained in our interview, the NVPrinter is meant for schools, makerspaces, and businesses where many users will utilize one 3D printer managed by an administrator over a network. With the company’s cloud-based management software, users can upload prints to a queue that is watched over by the network’s admin and, due to the company’s proprietary print removal arm, objects can be taken off of the print bed and moved to an adjacent bay so that the NVPrinter can operate on a continuous basis. Not only does this allow institutions to maximize the printing performed by their machines, but it makes for a great tool for classrooms, which is why the company has developed a 3D printing curriculum with 3D printable content which is provided to schools that purchase the NVBots educational package.
Donations to the Fundable project will go towards putting NVPrinters into public middle schools in low-income communities via Citizen Schools, a nonprofit that works to provide extra learning opportunities for students. With money from the campaign, NVBots and Citizen Schools will provide NVPrinters to schools in Boston and Chelsea, MA. The company has already tested their machines in a variety of schools in the area – Newton North High School, North Central Essential Charter School, and the Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship – and feel that the NVPrinter is ready to be brought to an even greater number of people.
Perez reflects his concerns about education in a press release, saying, “In order to truly leverage the power of 3D printing, we must train the next generation of scientists, engineers, designers and inventors on design for 3D printing. By providing the skills and simple fabrication tools, such as the NVPrinter, I believe we will see a radical shift in the innovation cycle. Limited access to capital equipment can restrict the potential of a creative mind. We hope to eliminate this obstacle through the Fundable rewards campaign.”
Steven Rothstein, CEO of Citizen Schools, said of the campaign, “At Citizen Schools, some of our students have already been able to experience the NVPrinter, which has inspired them in ways never thought possible. The fact that NVBOTS is working to provide us with additional 3D Printers is a testament to how passionate they are about helping our students thrive in STEM education.”
In addition to the donations to Citizen Schools, funding the campaign can bring NVPrinters to a school of your choice or your own business. Rentals begin at $2,499 for schools and $5,499 for businesses. Donations will also help NVPrinters to be sold in Staples stores as a part of the Crowd2Shelf Contest, which is currently following 25 different businesses on Fundable to discover the next innovative product to be sold by the office supply chain. Fundable CEO Wil Schroter commented, “We’re excited to see NVBOTS continue on in the Crowd2Shelf Contest. It’s an incredible opportunity for an early stage company to get in front of a top-tier retailer like Staples, and it gives them an incredible potential path for rapid growth.”
NVBots plans to have 25 printers in various locations by the end of 2014 and, with a successful Fundable campaign, the company will only continue to grow. If you’re interested in contributing or accessing the NVPrinter yourself, visit their campaign page here.
