Fusion3 has launched its F200 Professional printer on Kickstarter. Made within the USA, this printer is optimized for engineering plastics like ASA and Nylon. It affords a most mattress temperature of 140°C, a nozzle temperature of 320°C, and a heated chamber that may attain as much as 70°C. The corporate claims to have optimized airflow throughout the print mattress to scale back warping and enhance floor high quality. The printer options cooling followers mounted on and directed on the nozzle, which may be adjusted from light to highly effective relying on the necessity.
The print head consists of metal tubing and gears and permits for fast nozzle modifications with three interchangeable nozzle sizes. It additionally contains a direct drive extruder, carbon and HEPA filtration, and a magnetic PEI construct plate that can be utilized with different print surfaces. Notably, it’s appropriate with Bambu Labs print surfaces and helps a totally offline workflow. Further options embody spaghetti detection, filament detection, and enter shaping. With a construct quantity of 256 x 256 x 256 mm, linear rails on all axes, metal elements, and a weight of twenty-two kilos, the printer seems to be fairly strong. Priced at $3,299, it looks as if a strong possibility if the corporate delivers on making this a dependable industrial device.
“As proud supporters of American manufacturing, we’re devoted to producing reasonably priced, high-performance printers that surpass the standard requirements of our worldwide rivals. Our all-new F200 exemplifies this dedication,” mentioned Fusion3 CEO Kate Padgett.
The corporate is clearly concentrating on the Professional market, together with machine outlets and different industrial customers. This printer looks as if a strong different to Ultimakers and related methods for enterprise use. The specs make it a beautiful possibility for producing powerful, practical components. There’s no advertising and marketing fluff right here—only a well-engineered printer that many customers would recognize. Options like filters and the power to print nylon and different difficult supplies could be priceless for a variety of customers. Nonetheless, a dry field or related resolution could be significantly helpful when working with nylon.
However I’m undecided why the crew opted for Kickstarter. It’s sometimes the area of flashier corporations that usher in deep Kickstarter experience and generate hype. Fusion3 is thought for making sturdy methods, however not for this type of advertising and marketing flashiness. Kickstarter is usually a graveyard of ill-fated goals, half-baked concepts, and advertising and marketing fluff. Whereas we do often see success tales like Formlabs, within the 3D printing house, it’s not precisely an indicator of high quality.
The trail ahead for Fusion3 appears clear: with a USA-made printer, the corporate ought to give attention to concentrating on the federal government and protection markets. Whereas an important 3D printer for $3,000 is aggressive, it nonetheless may translate to 3 Bambu printers for most individuals. Bambu is dominating the market with its succesful, quick methods, making it powerful for rivals. Nonetheless, domestically produced printers have an actual shot at turning into the default alternative for the U.S. army, which is investing billions in additive manufacturing.
There’s no clear chief in desktop 3D printers for the army, neither is there a ruggedized expeditionary 3D printer that meets army wants. Equally, there’s no dominant system for increased temperature supplies at primary bases, and the medium and enormous format 3D printing markets are nonetheless extensive open. Competing towards Fortus 450s and 900s might be difficult, however these different areas current important alternatives. If the U.S. army’s imaginative and prescient for 3D printing advances even barely, tens of hundreds of printers might be wanted throughout numerous sizes, capabilities, and makes use of. This, to me, is the pure marketplace for Fusion3 and the place they need to focus their efforts.