High-precision, unibody 3D printer is dominating Kickstarter with its super low cost

3D printers are arguably one of the most popular projects listed on Kickstarter’s tech section; as I write, there are at least 10 crowdfunding campaigns currently underway out of the 270 or so since Kickstarter’s launch. With that said, not all 3D printer projects are created equal, particularly if the printer costs below $200, a minimal price floor for the bill-of-materials. But sometimes, innovation does step out of the woodwork, and in the case with the Tiko 3D printer, it can offer exactly what it promises: a $200 3D printer made-possible through cost-saving production techniques.

Tiko is a delta 3D printer made from a single frame called the “unibody,” a delta mechanism made from three sets of arms moving in unison, and a compact liqueifier that allows it to print objects far larger than similarly-sized printers. Unlike conventional delta printers, Tiko builds all three rails directly into the chassis rather than fastening them together onto a frame made from three vertical extruded-aluminum beams. 

The effect drastically cuts down on the number of parts needed to manufacture the base (typically the most expensive section to mass produce), while simultaneously creating more accurate and reliable print – plus, it’s virtually impossible to misalign anything so there’s no need to calibrate. “Being made of one piece means no assembly is needed – no fasteners, no alignments, none of that,” reads an excerpt on Tiko’s Kickstarter pages.

The unibody chassis claims to be strong and light weight, and if the campaign’s promotional material is anything to go by, it can support the weight of a grown woman sitting atop a cinder block while also being light enough to pass around one handed.

Tying it all together are a bevy of other features including a large filament tray, large print volume, flexible base, wireless connectivity, and cloud-based software that allows you remotely control the printer from any mobile device. In addition, Tiko’s flexible printer bed lets you to remove prints by simply twisting the bed to pop them off.

Also worth noting is the choice of filament material is entirely yours so long as the spool measure 165mm (6.5 in) in diameter. Meaning, you can experiment with ABS, PLB, and whatever concoction you desire.

With 23 days left to go, Tiko has surpassed its $100,000 campaign goal by nearly 10 times the amount. You can procure yours for $179 from here .

Source: Kickstarter