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It squirts, it cuts, it dices. The Tribot by Luminar is trying to be the ultimate machine to take your idea from prototype to product using all the super powers required for each step in the manufacturing process.
The Tribot will retail at $9,950 in early 2015 but Kickstarter backers can back the progress for $7,700 with 8 units going pre-kickstarter (that’s a new thing) for only $5,000. While this may not be the finest resolution 3D printer on the market, the largest CNC milling bed or the type of injection molding rig capable of churning out tens of thousands of injection molded parts with multiple part molds and shut off faces, the ability to make a small run of a simple part in your workshop is something that desktop 3D printers cannot yet achieve.
The Tribot is not being launched by the usual geek/hipster trio that has become the default demographic for launching 3D printers on Kickstarter, the Tribot is being developed by a group of old school engineers and business types with years of experience with machines for making things.
What would you make with the 3DP, CNC and Injection molding combo?
Hi Duann,
Check out this SCARA robot that just came out today on Kickstarter. It 3D prints, mills and does pick and place for under $1800.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/535786699/flxarm-low-cost-precision-robotic-arm?ref=category_newest
Oh nice, I will check it out.
technology is moving so fast, I hope the 3dscan tech can catch up for those of us who SUCK at CAD. The tech is starting to approach my bar to entry as a non-graphic person…
Project went live last night https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/889592677/tribot-3d-print-cnc-mill-auto-mold-machine-in-one
Considering the fact many 3D print jobs take hours, this mill will destroy itself quickly. This is the SEIG mill which is a manual mill outfitted with CNC. It was never designed to take the punishment of 3D printing. The mass of the mill also means it will cost much more in power to print than with a normal 3D printer. The mass of a normal 3D printer head is a few ounces, this thing is on the order of 50 pounds. The lead screws and nuts in this mill will wear out quickly abusing it as a 3D printer.
It also does not produce 2700 lbs of injection force, never mind that this is a force that far exceeds industry standards. Given the surface area of the parts being produced, a pressure of 2.7K PSI would force the mold open. The parts would flash. Commercial-grade injection molders have clamping forces exceeding 20 tons for a reason. Also, in order to inject detailed parts the mold must be heated. Otherwise, the plastic will cool and form plugs.
The software they suggest to use is not for the faint-of-heart. Once someone becomes familiar with all this software they will quickly realize a SEIG mill is the bottom of the barrel.
Lastly, I can buy a decent 3D printer, CNC mill and a desktop plastic injector and have lots of money leftover versus the price they’re asking. This device is also terrible for production – how can you produce when the same machine is employed for all activities?