The open-source Nautilus 3D printer is being targeted at industrial users
Hydra Research, a Portland, Oregon based 3D printing start-up, has announced the arrival of its Nautilus 3D printer onto the market.
The open-source, desktop system is being targeted at industrial users and is said to include a number of features from well-known manufacturers such as E3D and Duet3D as well as compatibility with Ultimaker's popular Cura slicing software.
John Kray, Founder and CEO of Hydra Research, which was founded in 2016 as a peer-to-peer print service, said: “As a company, our primary goal is producing world-class hardware on an open source platform. Manufacturers like E3D, Duet3D, and Fillamentum combine these values perfectly.”
The Nautilus’ key feature is a quick-change magnetic Tool Cartridge system with E3D V6 HotEnd which allows users to easily swap between print nozzles and supports a wide range of filaments including abrasive materials such as carbon fibre or glass composites.
Sam Tumilty at 3D printer component manufacturer E3D, commented: “I personally was blown away by the ease and speed you could switch nozzles on the Nautilus. It makes a task which would normally require a level of technical skill to complete properly, achievable by just about anyone. We're looking forward to seeing Nautilus printers out in the wild, and our continued collaboration with Hydra Research.”
The machine, which is being manufactured in-house at Hydra’s Portland facility, offers a build size up to 205 x 205 x 220 mm and uses an extrusion-based printing process with top-loading filament. It is also fully enclosed to allow printing with challenging materials such as ABS, PVC and nylon, while keeping emissions to a minimum. Additional features include a filament sensor, crash detection and power loss recovery. Hydra is also offering individualised support to users with its HydraCare support and consulting packages.
The company says the Nautilus has already undergone a successful pre-order campaign and will now be available to customers in the US via its online store with prices starting at 2,500 USD.
