The introduction of a new 3D printer by a Maryland startup has the tech world in a buzz after it garnered some $445,000 through its Kickstarter campaign on its first day. The 3D printer comes fully-assembled and is to sell for less than $300, a move that could see the printers in peoples' homes everyday sooner rather than later.
M3D is coming up on its one year anniversary and the development of the smaller, more versatile 3D printer should push it to the forefront of the new technology. While it is not the first time similar products have been funded on the crowdfunding site, the overall cheap costs of the printer have seen the company gain massive momentum.
It is targeting a wide audience, including it as a teaching and educational tool as well as personal use, with its PLA or ABS filament. The product is set to be mass produced later this year for the American market.
M3D is hopeful that 2014 will be a watershed moment for 3D printers, citing 1977 as a monumental year for personal computer growth and acceptance into everyday society.
Users are able to get onto Kickstarter and pledge their support through donations, with added bonuses for the increase in how much someone gives.
"If M3D is sufficiently successful, the year 2014 could be as important for 3D printing as 1977 was for personal computing," one blogger wrote.
That is a bold sentiment, but one echoed by experts and tech observers here in Silicon Valley, where 3D technology has boomed, but largely remains in the hands of the wealthy. By moving the model into a wider market, M3D could revolutionize how printing functions in personal homes and with the appeal of such printers on the rise, it could very well be the biggest innovation to hit the year thus far.
"I think we are seeing a huge rise in the idea of 3D printing, but until now, it has been out of the reach of too many people," said Patrick Daley, a tech blogger based in Palo Alto. For him, the market is untapped and one that M3D could easily enter with ease if their model proves successful.
"This is huge," he told Tech Times. "We have been waiting for something like this and now it is here. The question will be if they maintain it on their own or a larger company like Google or Apple try to pick it up for themselves."
