When Shane last wrote about the Zortrax M200 desktop 3D printer on Kickstarter, the project had yet to fulfill its $100,000 goal. The Zortrax team is pleased to announce that, not only have they exceeded their goal by $79,471, but they were able to ship M200 3D printers out to all 80 of their KS backers. As the company points out, not all hardware projects on the crowdfunding site are able to meet their reward deadlines, so this is actually something to be quite proud of.
In case you missed Shane’s post, the M200 is a desktop FFF machine with a build volume of 8.07″ x 8.07″ x 7.5″ (205 x 205 x 190 mm) and a resolution of about 100 microns for upwards of $1899. Between the completion of the Kickstarter and the shipment of orders, Zortrax was able to upgrade its machines with some new features that may set it apart from other desktop FFF 3D printers. Zotrax claims that it has invented a new technology called Layer Plastic Deposition, which is the use of an extruder that has 3 heating points: “Printing material in the form of a plastic cable is melted in the printer head in three different temperatures matched to the type of material.” They were also able to incorporate auto-calibration into the build platform, which is quickly becoming standard in the marketplace. Zotrax also says that new modifications to the M200 can make a 200 micron print look like a 50 micron print, thanks to the smoothness of their prints. Additionally, the M200 uses a perforated platform to reduce sticking of prints to the print bed.
The immediate future of Zortrax is about customer support. Now that they’ve gotten their units out to all of the backers, the company is developing its community’s forums and providing technical help. They’ve also decided to give their customers a one year warranty to ensure customer satisfaction. Simultaneously, Zortrax will be developing more materials for its 3D printers and plan to expand its share of the market. Focusing on small and medium-sized businesses, the Polish company has a goal of producing 5,000 printers and at least 30,000 spools of filament, which it hopes to accomplish with the, now, 20 person team.
Sounds good to me! There are a lot of similar machines to compete with, so what it might take to differentiate from the crowd is some solid marketing skills, and Zortrax seems to have it. From a clean and sturdy looking machine to a well-designed website, Zortrax looks to be a well put-together company.
