Phantom 3D printer.
Another week, another 3D printer. Crowd funding sites are the place to rummage through if you want to see what the makers of the world are getting up to or what the next big 3D printing talent has to offer. But with so many campaigns taking over places like Indiegogo and Kickstarter, a good machine needs its unique selling point or ‘worlds first’ label.
Phantom launched on Indiegogo this month with a target of $200,000, claiming to be the ‘Worlds fastest plastic 3D printer’. The printer features two individually working extruders allowing users to print two objects simultaneously or one large print making it two times faster than any other 3D printer on the market.
Phantom features quite a generous print bed measuring 35cm x 35cm x 35cm to accommodate its dual extruders. It also includes a cooled printing camera, which helps increase performance and maximise printing quality and there’s even a simplified process to changing the plastic cartridges too.
Sound good? It certainly does but what is slightly disconcerting is the lack of evidence to prove the machine actually does what it says it does. The Indiegogo page features images of an early prototype and a video explaining the features and a few renders of Phantom. But that's about it.
Phantom prototype.
The company says it has requested a patent for their design and claims that due to "strict rules" they cannot show any working examples of the printing method. This has left possible backers wary of the campaign's credibility and comments on forums about the printer have led the company to reveal their machine will feature a total of seven different axes, again interfering with “strict patenting rules”.
It will be a challenge for the company to get the public to invest in a product that at the minute is living up to it’s name. If the Phantom takes off its mask and shows a working prototype soon that is in fact double the speed of current 3D printers, it might prove to be a success.
