3D Systems Previews Third Generation Cube and CubePro

The additive manufacturing (AM) desktop market is becoming a crowded place. You've got MakerBot, RepRap, Formlabs, Afinia, and the dozens, if not hundreds, of smaller companies all vying for a space in your home or office. The majority of the systems offered use the material extrusion process, though a few, like the FORM1, offer alternatives.

3D Systems joined the desktop market with the Cube just a couple years back. Each year has seen a new iteration of the Cube, and this year is off to a quick start with the unveiling of the Cube 3 and the new CubePro at CES. 

The new Cube has a slightly larger build envelope than the original at 6 x 6 x 6 in. (15.25 x 15.25 x 15.25 cm), and is even more futuristic and shiny looking. It is capable of printing with both PLA and ABS plastic to a layer thickness of 75µ. The new system also features dual extruder heads which, according to the company, allow users to mix and match with over 20 different colors.

“Cube 3 makes home 3D printing real and easy,” said Cathy Lewis, chief marketing officer, 3DS. “For the first time it’s affordable and simple to print what you use and wear, print for your home and for those you love, all with over 20 colors in synchronous multi-materials and color combinations, in three dimensions.”

The CubePro is a much different animal than its purely hobbyist brother. It offers a professional build envelope of 10.75 x 10.75 x 9.5 in. (273 x 273 x 241 mm) with the option of up to three extruder heads. The downside to multiple extruder heads is a reduction in build envelope. This holds true for the CubePro with the build envelop shrinking down to 7.33 x 10.75 x 9.5 in. (185 x 273 x 241 mm) for the triple.

Layer thickness begins at 75µ for a single head, goes to 200µ with twin heads, and 300µ with three heads. Like the Cube 3, multiple heads are meant to allow for multiple color choices. Print speed tops out at 15mm³ (0.5625 in.)/second, and customers have the option of printing in either PLA or ABS.

“We are proud to be the first to deliver professional quality prints to the consumer and prosumer, enabling educators, entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts to match their creativity with greater productivity,” said Rajeev Kulkharni, VP, GM, consumer products, 3DS. “The CubePro is the ultimate desktop 3D printer for the lab, workshop and office, compressing development cycles and increasing productivity.”

3D Systems also teased two more 3D printers: the ChefJet and CubeJet. As might be guessed, the ChefJet is meant for gastronomical experimentation, while the CubeJet is a full-color desktop material jetting system. The CubeJet is meant to launch later this year with a price under $5,000.

Below you’ll find videos for the Cube 3 and the CubePro.

Source: 3D Systems