OLO is currently running a Kickstarter campaign and users can get a copy of the device by donating $99, relatively cheaper compared to other products in the industry.
OLO 3D Inc. was propelled into worldwide recognition when it won the World Maker Faire Editor's Choice Award for their its of the OLO device. The company also invented "daylight resin," which is placed inside the device and uses your smartphone's light to print a 3D model. The use of a smartphone instead of projectors or bulkier equipment efficiently reduces the cost of OLO.
OLO only weighs about 780 grams or about 1.7 pounds and has dimensions of 172 x 115 x 148 millimeters, or about 6.8 x 4.5 x 5.8 inches. Within the device, users can print 3D models with a maximum volume of 400 cm3.
The device consists of three parts, detailed by Techworm as "a reservoir, a special photopolymer resin that you pour into it, and a mechanized lid that contains the build plate and control electronics." The reservoir, Techworm further adds, has a polarized glass at the bottom where your phone's light shines through. The device only uses four AA batteries in place of wires and thus enables users to print models without the need to find an electrical outlet. OLO easily fits into any person's bag and can be used outdoors because of its lightweight design.
OLO uses its own application to render 3D objects users can install on any smartphone device, be it Apple, Android or Windows. Users can even use their favorite 3D modeling programs and pass it through the application for printing, allowing for more flexibility regardless of the model's source of creation.
OLO works by first picking out the model a user wants to be 3D printed on its application. Then the smartphone is placed beneath the reservoir, facing upward, and the user's choice of resin is poured into the reservoir; "daylight resins" come in a variety of colors and materials, labeled clearly, which can be chosen depending on the desired 3D printed model's purpose. The lid is placed on the reservoir, blocking off any light from entering the device, and in a few hours, a 3D model is printed. Printing times depend on the resolution of the phone and can reach up to 32 microns. An example given on their Kickstarter page estimates about 2 hours for an inch if used with an iPhone 6.
