Another new low-cost, DLP 3D printer is making its presence known in the 3D printing community, presenting a high-resolution, desktop 3D printer that relies on XGA and HD projectors to produce detailed prints. The Solus printer, manufactured by Reify, isn’t yet available for purchase, but the company will be heading to Indiegogo in the near future, providing their machine for $1,000.
With a 11×14.5×20 cm (4.3″ x 5.7″ x 7.9″) build volume, Reify boasts that the Solus can print at resolutions of up to 25 microns on the XY axis with a smooth surface quality, due to the components used to build it. These components include a stepper motor with a precision lead screw and a professional-grade, anti-backlash nut. The company has also said that they’ve developed a patent-pending peeling system for removing prints so that the resin tank won’t need to be replaced or re-coated over time.
The Solus’s extendable legs give the printer the ability to make room for a variety of projectors, but it’s been specifically designed to work with XGA (1024 x 768) and HD (1920 x 1080) projectors. The former gives the Solus a build volume of between 5.1 x 3.8 x 20cm (2″ x 1.5″ x 7.9″) and 14.5 x 11 x 20cm (4.3″ x 5.7″ x 7.9″) with XY resolutions between 50 and 140 microns. The latter offers the Solus a build volume of 4.8 x 2.7 x 20cm (1.9″ x 1″ x 7.9″) to 14.5 x 8.2 x 20cm (5.7″ x 3.2″ x 7.9″) with XY resolutions between 25-76 microns. Along with the Solus, Reify has developed a software for generating support structures and for calibrating the resolution of prints and the build area. The software also opens the machine up to a variety of resins by allowing users to customize their settings to work with a given material, including the company’s own resin line.
Once it hits Indiegogo, the Solus will be offered for about $1,000 USD to earl backers. Together with the projector, the machine is pretty affordable, ranging from $1,300 for the Solus with an XGA projector to $1,650 for the printer with an HD projector. And because there’s no need to modify the projector to work with the printer, unlike some other DIY DLP machines, it can still be used for good ol’ fashion power point presentations and the like.
Though this year is seeing a wave of DLP and stereolithography 3D printers hit the scene in the same way that FFF 3D printers did in previous years, the Solus has a pretty good price tag for a modifiable DLP 3D printer. As someone who’s always wanted to replace a TV with a projector as the ultimate flat screen, the fact that a projector can serve a dual purpose with the Solus is pretty appealing. And, for jewelers, electronics manufacturers, and dentists, highly-detailed prints from a DLP machine can be cast in metal. Reify’s founder, Mark Kuhnlein, says that he’s even printed a scaffold for stem cell research with his machine, pictured below.
We’ll let you know as soon as Reify launches its Indiegogo campaign, but, until then, tell us what you think about it in the comments below!
Feature image model designed by Dennis Harroun.
