M3D, a 3D printer company that had its debut on Kickstarter today, has already racked up an impressive $448,000 with the promise of delivering a 3D printer for the consumer market.
The company's original crowdfunding goal was $50,000, which it surpassed in a matter of minutes, and it will continue to collect pledges until May 7. More than 1,700 people so far have pledged to the campaign.
"It is the most affordable 3D printer that can be used right out of the box. Perfect for beginners and experts alike, just plug in the printer, download or create models, hit print, and watch your custom creations form right before your eyes," the company said.
As with most Kickstarter projects, the company gives out gifts or product samples for certain pledge amounts. M3D started out with a special offer for the first 500 people to pledge $249, a free Mini, but this quickly sold out. That deal now holds true for those giving $299 or more and there are still more than 1,600 of these slots open.
Those inspired to give $599 or more will receive a printer from the second pre-production run, three spools of filament, their name laser engraved on the device and inclusion in the company's Beta feedback panel. At $899, the company throws in five spools of filament and a unit from the initial pre-production run. For those willing to give even more, M3D has a series of added incentives.
The first production runs are expected to be completed by this August and the early backers will then start to receive their gifts.
M3D's unit is called the Micro. It is small enough to fit on a desktop and comes in several bright colors.
The Micro is small, weighs 2.2 pounds, but despite this is able to produce items with a maximum size capacity of 4.6-inches high. One of the Micros competitors in the 3D market is Makerbot whose Makerbot Mini 3D printer now on pre-order for $1,375. The Mini is only capable of producing items 3.9-inches tall.
The Mini's other features include being compatible with a variety of filament materials, including ABS, PLA and nylon, 50 to 350 micron print layer resolution, 15 micron X and Y axis positioning accuracy and it plugs into a computer via a USB port. It is bundled with M3D's software and supports Windows, Mac and Linux.
