Maker creates an installation that reacts to his Tourette’s Syndrome

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One Maker built an elaborate installation comprised of plywood, plastic and Arduino that reacts to his Tourette’s Syndrome.

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For many, art can be an excellent way to express themselves. Some would even say their inspiration comes from within. Putting quite the literal spin on that adage is Andrew Frueh, who has used his latest art project to share his Tourette’s Syndrome with the world. With the help of 3D printing and Arduino, the Maker has designed an interactive installation out of plywood and plastic components that reacts to his sudden movements.

Tourette’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary motions and vocalizations called tics, something that Frueh experiences all too often. This is the premise behind his project called Echo of Motion, which explores how human gestures are recorded and translated into actions within a system, and how one’s interaction affects the behavior of that system.

“Digital technology allows us to extend our sense of self beyond the limits of our physical body and to manifest our desires virtually. But as we take position to control the interface, we execute our gestures like a puppet for the enjoyment of the system. And it is our interaction that gives the system meaning. Without our puppet input, the system is alone,” Frueh writes.

The project consists of two parts: a person and a complex mechanical machine comprised of wood dowels, laser-cut plywood, a ball-chain, some gear motors, cables, 3D-printed parts, and various nuts and bolts. The structure is actuated by a control box lying on the floor, which contains an Arduino board and an XBee wireless radio that communicates with a corresponding Arduino-radio combination worn by the individual.

The board adorned to the chest utilizes data from four accelerometers embedded within the person’s clothing — one for each limb. As the participant stands inside the installation, his or her sudden movements are interpreted by the wearable chip and relayed to the device on the floor. This enables the machine to accurately mimic the tics.

Intrigued? Head over to the Maker’s official page here, or watch the impressive project in action below.

SeraMaker is an open-source, Arduino-powered 3D printer

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This open-source 3D printer was inspired by the RepRap Prusa Mendel i2. 

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The brainchild of an Italian Maker “SebaSera94” as part of his a project at the Istituto D’Istruzione Superiore Giacomo Floriani, SeraMaker is a RepRap-inspired 3D printer.

Based on the Prusa Mendal i2, this FDM machine is comprised of six pieces of medium-density fiberboard ranging in thickness from five millimeters for the base to 12 millimeters for the casing. The windows of the printer are fixed from the inside with the exception of the front, which is attached via hinges to allow for opening as well as magnets and a metal plate located behind the handle for closure.

Like with a vast majority of these open-source units, an Arduino Mega (ATmega2560) and RAMPS 1.4 serve as the brains of the operation, while stepper motors are tasked with generating the motion axes with precision. Five motors are embedded inside the device in total: two to actuate the X and Y axes, two for the Z axis and one to drive the filament through the extruder. In terms of firmware, the printer was configured using Marlin.

SeraMaker boasts a 20cm x 20cm bed which uses imprinted copper coil to act as electrical resistance and heat the print surface. Four LED lamps provide lighting for the machine, three of which shine onto the printing plane from various angles while the other illuminates SeraMaker’s name tag.

All of the electronic components, including the ATX power supply and junction box, are housed inside the lower portion of the structure. There also lies the ATmega2560, control motors, a display to access its navigation menu, a relay to separate the power circuit of the heating plate, a card to control LEDs and a small 50mm fan for ventilation.

“To the rear panel are fixed two connectors and as many switches,” SebaSera94 adds. “The USB connector is an extension of the same port of the Arduino board to allow rapid access to a computer while the power supply is connected to the 230V AC via the connector, which is connected in series with the switch for disconnecting general. The remaining sections switch the lighting circuit from the 12V line.”

Other than the structural and mechanical components, the fiberboard and plexiglass housing, each of the machine’s parts can be 3D-printed. Just head over to its Thingiverse page here.

This 3D printer is made of LEGO bricks

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Don’t let its appearance fool you, this LEGO machine will work just as good as any Prusa i3 printer.

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Reminiscing about your earliest years as a Maker will surely conjure up some memories of interlocking multi-colored plastic bricks. Since its debut in 1949, LEGO has remained synonymous with DIY, especially for the younger crowd. As of late, we have been seeing quite the convergence of the 3D printing and toy worlds, ranging from Disney to Mattel, with hopes of delivering customizable items on demand. And who’s to say that it only has to be for child’s play? One Maker has proven just that by devising a fully-functional 3D printer comprised of, well, LEGO pieces.

The brainchild of Gosse Adema, the so-called LEGO 3D Printer is based on the framework of a Prusa i3 printer. Originally conceived as an A4-plotter with stepper motors from an old HP printer, the Maker had decided to upgrade to Nema 17 stepper motors and transform it into a slick X, Y and Z axis machine.

Though a quick online search may reveal a number of LEGO-based 3D gizmos, none of them may be as impressive as this one. Made up of default-sized bricks (four by two studs at 32mm x 16mm x 9.6mm), this innovative contraption is capable of extruding plastic like any other desktop device. The printer boasts a base of 34 x 64 studs (19.2cm x 51.2cm), which determines the exact location of the Y axis, along with a height of 44 blocks (42cm) and a sturdy L-frame that’s 36 blocks tall. This, of course, dictates how high a printed object can be.

Keep in mind, as with any LEGO project, the taller the structure, the more unstable the frame becomes. For support, the Maker ensured that every fifth piece was a technic brick. And unlike the X axis of a Prusa i3 consisting of a separate left and right side connected by two rods, Adema instead implemented one large X axis using long technic bricks for enhanced stability. Beyond that, Nema 17 steppers are attached to the technics using a felt damper/isolator and M3x15 bolts, giving it a robust base.

Adema makes it known that he did not use any Mindstorms product for this build. Whereas most LEGO printers employ servos, this design worked quite nicely with stepper motors. As with any Prusa i3, this device was powered by the incredibly popular combination of an ATmega2560 MCU with a RAMPS 1.4 shield. The motor responsible for driving the entire operation is held in place with technic bricks at the back. In terms of software, the gadget uses Marlin for the ATmega2560, while running Pronterface on his laptop to control the printer.

In his Instructables post, Adema explains in great detail as to how he assembled the frame, completed the X, Y and Z axes, added each of the three endstops, attached the threaded rod and installed the Geeetech MK8 extruder. What’s more, the heat bed is capable of reaching 110° C, while the printhead starts at 170° C. The Maker notes that prior to installing the Marlin software, a few changes to the printer and its configuration were necessary.

“My first print had some problems with the amount of filament but everything worked. The main problem was the difference in filament settings and extruder nozzle. This was caused by the Pronterface settings,” the Maker writes. “This resulted in feeding too few filament. Next error was the default nozzle size is 0.5 mm with a layer height of 0.4 mm. The actual nozzle is 0.3 mm.”

This simply meant that he had to adjust the settings a tad, aside from calibrating some of its parts.

“Although the printer needs to be further calibrated everything is working properly,” Adema concludes. “By ensuring that all axes move smoothly, no steps are skipped by the stepper motors. This was one of the problems during the first print.”

As with any LEGO project, having the ability to modify the gadget after it’s constructed is certainly an advantage. While it may look like a toy at first glance, this 3D printer can actually create some credible 3D models. Sound like a unit you’d love to try? Head over to the Maker’s elaborate tutorial on Instructables here, or watch it in action below!

This suitcase is actually a portable 3D printer

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Focus is a multi-material, ultra-portable 3D printer that fits within a suitcase. 

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When it comes to the utmost portability, nothing says “on the go” more than a piece of luggage, right? Have you ever thought about taking a 3D printer with you when you’re traveling? Probably not, mostly because a vast majority of machines are still relatively bulky. Aside from that, many devices are only capable of printing in a single type of filament — whether that’s plastic or paste-like materials — and require some sort of calibration. Luckily, in an effort to address this list of problems, Dutch startup 3D By Flow has debuted a new project called Focus. 

Essentially, it’s a 3D printer housed in a sleek, hipster-esque suitcase that opens up into a magnificent machine with minimal setup. Weighing in at just 15 pounds, the compact piece can be easily unfolded, warmed up and ready to print in less than 30 seconds. Like other devices on the market today, Makers can either connect the Focus to a PC or simply plug in an SD card with the STL files. What’s more, it doesn’t require any leveling or calibrating before hitting print.

While the portability of the gadget surely enhances its value when more people than ever prefer working on the go, perhaps what makes the FFF 3D printer truly stand out is its magnetic extruder switch. This enables a user to attach various extruder types, making it possible to print with different materials like PLA, ABS, wood, bio-rubber, nylon, bronze, ceramic, silicon as well as edible materials like chocolate.

Focus is also equipped with an extra endstop for accurate height adjustments. What’s more, the team has developed software with extruder recognition capabilities to ensure that despite which filament is employed for a print job, the printer will always be optimized for the intended material type. As for the bottom isolated print bed of this super mobile machine, it is entirely stationary, heated and allows for more accuracy, especially with soft materials such as ceramics.

From the looks of Focus, it would appear that the MIT duo who devised the PopFab a few years back were onto something, and rightfully so. Between traveling to and from hackerspaces, school and Maker Faires, lack of portability can certainly be a pain. Sound like a 3D printer you’d like? Head over to its official Kickstarter campaign, where the team is currently seeking $56,475. Shipment is expected to kick off in December 2015 — just in time for the holidays!

Lewihe Play is a $77 3D printer for Makers

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This new 3D printer from Lewihe is both extremely customizable and affordable.

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As we’ve seen with pretty much all technology, whether that’s PCs, laptops or the conventional printer market, prices tend to drop to a more affordable and reasonable level in time. Think about it, just a couple of years ago, a 3D printer would set you back well over $1,000. Over the past year alone, a number of new machines have entered the market with a price tag of only three figures. Then again, what about two figures?

That may now be a reality thanks to Spanish startup Lewihe, who has unveiled a 3D printer that may be one, if not, the most affordable devices to date. Designed with Makers in mind, the $77 Play is an FDM printer that comes in kit form, allowing users to customize and build their own machine.

In terms of the kit, Play comes without several key parts in order to enable Makers to create their own printer using their preferred components. These include NEMA motors, screws and bearings, hotend, external power supply, as well as controller boards. However, the team does note that a vast majority of their devices are based on the SAV MkI — an AT90USB1286 powered derivative of the Printrboard and Teensylu.

Beyond that, the DIY gadget ships with an iron plate structure, extruder support, print surface and metal shafts, along with files for all of its 3D printable pieces. From there, Makers can mount single or dual extruders, a heated print bed, and pretty much any other one of countless combinations to make the machine their own.

• Printer size: 210mm x 210mm x 250mm
• Build volume: 105mm x 105mm x 130 mm
• Layer resolution: 0.32mm – 0.2mm
• Print speed: Stable at 60mm/seconds (can go higher)
• Filament type: Rigid and elastic materials (1.75mm)
• Software: Cura, Repetier, Pronterface and Octoprint

Interested? Head over to its official page here. Shipment is expected to begin in August 2015.

Bocusini is a plug-and-play food 3D printing system

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This easy-to-use system features a food printing head on a standard 3D printer, cartridges, an intuitive US and a web platform.

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While on the surface it may appear to be something out of a sci-fi flick, the concept of 3D-printed food has begun to generate some major momentum as of late. From the looks of things, a future with on-demand pasta, chocolate and pizza may not be too far off, especially with the wave of new machines like the Foodini, 3D Systems’ CocoJet and XYZPrinting’s Food Printer entering the market. However, even as awesome as many of these devices may be, they will still need to overcome a series of limitations before you can expect to see them in any restaurant or home kitchen. These include having to create an edible project layer-by-layer in a low resolution model similar to what is seen on existing FDM 3D printers, as well as having only a few materials to choose between and demonstrating its convenience factor.

In hopes of solving this conundrum, a Munich-based team of Makers has developed a food printing system that is capable of extruding not just your typical materials, but instead, everything from cookie dough and jelly to vegetable paste and pâtés. Unlike others before it, Bocusini is comprised of a heated food-printing head that mounts to a standard 3D printer, a selection of easy to change cartridges with printable food, an intuitive user interface and an accompanying web platform housing countless designs and recipes.

What’s more, the plug-and-play, multipurpose machine can be used right out of the box, making it a perfect tool for creative chefs, confectioners and in-home cooks alike. To get started, a user simply drags an drops their favorite design from the company’s web platform, or devises their own on a mobile device, then inserts a food cartridge into Bocusini. (These cartridges come in volumes of 60 ml and contain up to 100 grams of the product.) From there, just wait a couple of minutes for the delicious creation to be complete. The entire process can be controlled remotely via Wi-Fi.

In addition to the universal system, Bocusini will also offer a retrofit food printer head kit that will work on several open-source, Atmel based 3D printer models, including the Printrbot Simple Wood and Simple Metal as well as the Ultimaker 2. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a single-use device, this gizmo can be easily attached to an existing 3D printer for a fraction of the cost.

“There is nothing mysterious about food printing – it is just the dosing of a food product like melted chocolate, mashed potatoes or a cookie dough layer by layer onto a plate by a small nozzle – the principle of food printing is nothing more than a very precise automatically controlled pastry bag,” the team writes.

Looking ahead, the Bocusini crew will be making the entire food printing system open source and are in the process of developing two more products as well. Intrigued? The project is has just surpassed its $33,477 goal on Kickstarter with delivery expected to begin early next year.

Electroloom is the world’s first fabric ‘3D printer’

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Doin-knit and doin-knit and doin-knit well! This 3D printer can create your nightly attire moments before heading out. 

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Archaeologists suggest that the art of sewing dates all the way back to the prehistoric era, nearly 25,000 years ago, where those of the last ice age would attach hide, skin, fur and bark to devise clothing and shelter with nothing more than some thread and needles — which at that time were actually made of animal bones, ivory and antler. This form of stitching would go on to evolve, from weaving plant leaves in Africa to natural fibers in the Middle East; however, it wasn’t until the 14th century that the word “sewing” would be used.

Fast forward hundreds of years to the Industrial Revolution, which ultimately shifted the production of textiles from the household to the mills. In the early decades of this era, Thomas Saint patented the world’s first sewing machine in 1790, and by the 1840s, other sewing mechanisms began to appear. With the potential to accelerate and perhaps disrupt an entire movement in the same manner as its predecessors, Electroloom will enable users to create seamless, ready-to-wear garments based on custom 3D fabrics from scratch — all sans sewing.

Nowadays, when it comes to buying clothes, you have one of two options: physically go to a brick-and-mortar store or sit at home and shop online, then wait for your package to arrive. What if there was a better, much more efficient way? Instead of hopping in a car or surfing the web, what if you could simply click a few buttons and have a piece of clothing materialize right before your eyes? As futuristic as this may sound, one Bay Area-based startup and HAX alum is looking to make that a reality — and we’ve even seen it firsthand at Maker Faire outside the Startup Pavilion. (It’s pretty remarkable.)

“Inspired by 3D printers, the Maker Movement, and accessible design, we set out to build a technology that enables people to design and manufacture clothes from scratch. And now, after a year and a half of development, we’re ready to find our first set of alpha testers. Introducing, the Electroloom Developer Kit,” the team writes.

In essence, the Electroloom consists of a clear plastic box that holds a thin metal template of pretty much anything from a tank top to a skirt, a beanie cap or whatever else a wearer may desire. Once ready, a customized hybrid of liquid polyester and cotton is passed through an electrically charged nozzle and spun into nano-fibers, which bind together to form a thin yet strong article of clothing in the shape of the mold that can be flexed, draped, folded, and of course, worn. The machine employs an electrospinning process, which the team dubs “Field Guided Fabrication” or “FGF” for short, to convert the liquid solutions into solid fibers that are deposited onto the 3D mold.

When discussing how the Electroloom differs from more conventionally 3D-printed garments, the group of Makers notes that the latter is typically comprised of intricate connections, like joints, that allow the material to bend and move, effectively creating chain-mail that mimics how fabrics actually move. Their material, however, is said to be flexible and light by nature and is guaranteed to embody the same characteristics as traditional fabrics.

With their crowdfunding campaign wrapping up, the team is already looking into blends that would yield fabrics beyond just a polyester/cotton blend, as well as produce variously colored materials with a single click.

“Most people say it looks like magic. We tend to agree,” the team concludes.

Admittedly, Electroloom is still in its infancy and is seeking the DIY community’s help in making this a mainstream product. Sound like something you’d like to own? Head over to its Kickstarter page, where the project has already surpassed its original $50,000 goal. Those wishing to begin making their own attire may have to wait until March 2016, when the first batch of units is expected to ship.

Makerarm is a complete fabrication system

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This all-in-one personal fabricator can 3D print, laser engrave, mill and more. 

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While the 3D printing world has provided us with some pretty remarkable creations thus far, from robots extruding structures to machines whipping up chocolate treats, one Austin-based startup may be raising the bar even higher. That’s because the Techjango team is about to unveil one of the slickest projects yet. Even better, we’ll be able to get a firsthand look right at Maker Faire Bay Area.

Dubbed Makerarm, the gizmo is exactly what it sounds like: a personal fabrication system packed into a sleek robotic arm that sits on your desktop. The modular device, which boasts a build envelope of 32 inches and an arm reach of 30 inches, is equipped with interchangeable heads for various applications that extend well beyond just 3D printing. These include plotting, engraving with a 500mW laser, milling at incredibly high speeds, PCB assembly for electronics, among several others. Future plans even entail pick-and-place capabilities using suction, electromagnetic or gripper heads.

We first saw Techjango’s proof-of-concept nearly a year ago — you too can see it in this video. And from the looks of the clip, though in very rudimentary form, it would appear to be driven by some sort of Atmel based Arduino.

The Makerarm is being billed with many of the components one would expect from today’s desktop 3D printers, including a 10″ Z-axis. What’s more, it comes with features like auto-leveling (particularly useful as it’s meant to be mounted), Wi-Fi for wirelsss connection, and even expandability through add-on compartments. The impressive gadget is built around the versatile ATmega2560 MCU, tasked with handling the I/Os and motion control.

Safe to say after watching its teaser reel, the Makerarm is surely not what most of the DIY community has been accustomed to with conventional Cartesian or Delta-style machinery. While most of the project remains under wraps, we can’t wait to see it in action — that’s for sure!

Creating a wall-mounted, 3D-printed automatic pet feeder

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Driven by an Arduino, this DIY system will make sure your pup gets one cup of dry food twice a day. 

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Whether it’s due to long work hours, frequent vacations or purely one’s absent-mindedness, it can sometimes be difficult to ensure that dear Fido is fed on time. But thanks to one Maker, it may get a whole heck of a lot easier.

Created by Maker Mark Bissey, the 3D-Printed Automatic Pet Feeder is a wall-mounted device that is capable of dispensing exactly one cup of dry food twice per day. While its feeding times and the number of increments are adjustable, the amount of food is not. Meaning, if you have a smaller pup or a cat that requires only a couple of ounces of food daily, it looks like they may be getting a bit more than the recommended serving size.

Additionally, the Maker decided to implement an early feeding feature for training purposes, which can be activated through its embedded infrared or touch sensor. Bissey notes, “I firmly believe for obedience training dogs should work for their food. So if you catch the timer before it goes off you can make your dog do a trick or two and feed them manually.”

The project is comprised of seven 3D-printed parts, including its housing, a top, internal and bottom funnel, a cylinder and two caps. Meanwhile, enclosed within the system are an Arduino Uno (ATmega328), a stepper motor, a touch and infrared sensor, an SPDT switch, a 10K Ohm resistor, among a few other electronic components.

At the brains of the operation, the Arduino is tasked with checking to see if the opening of the cylinder is upright. The mechanism will continue to turn until it hits a limiting switch, thereby letting the food fall. A four-digit seven-segment display is also employed to reveal an ongoing countdown in between feeding times. When it reaches zero, a stepper motor starts to rotate and the food dispensing process begins. If the early feeding feature is used, the system will take the remaining time and add it to the next feeding cycle. This way, it will never be off schedule.

For those wishing to construct a DIY system of their own, Bissey has provided all of the necessary codes, schematics and a step-by-step breakdown of the build on his Instructables page here.

NEA is bringing stylish and upgradeable 3D printing to the masses

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This sleek, unibody and affordable 3D printer comes in three different sizes. 

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Amid the countless 3D printers that have entered the market in recent years, there are always a handful of startups that truly captivate our attention. Toronto-based NEA is one of those, and rightfully so. In an effort to provide Makers with an FFF 3D printing device that is affordable, accessible and easy-to-use, the team has unveiled a set of sleek, stylish machines in various sizes. After all, additive manufacturing isn’t always a one-size-fits-all sort of thing.

Not only pleasing to the eye, each of the NEA printers — the Pro Mini, the Pro, and the Pro+ — boast an impressive build-volume-to-footprint ratio for their class. Driven by an ATmega2560 MCU, the versatile desktop gadgets combine small incremental stepper motors and custom slider blocks to handle all axis of movement. Meanwhile, their robust cylindrical, unibody metal frame, along with the help of NEA’s proprietary vibration dampening technology, allow Makers to experience incredibly precise print jobs.

While their overall size and print volumes may differ (Pro Mini: 250 in³, Pro: 1,100 in³, Pro+: 2,612 in³), the entire family features a print resolution of 25-300 microns, customizable LED lighting, a 150mm/second print speed, a dual-fan cooling, and a Wi-Fi module for wireless connectivity.

Most printers waste space by moving their print heads up, down and around an immobile print bed. With efficiency in mind, NEA’s print bed actually moves back and forth along the Y axis, while its head moves left and right as it climbs upwards on the Z axis. Meaning, no more wasted space around the outside of the print bed. The machines all come loaded with a self-leveling bed, non-proprietary filament ranging from PLA to nylon to a metalized plastic hybrid, and open source Repetier software. However, NEA is also compatible with other programs, including Cura, Autodesk Spark and Simplify3d.

“With each iteration of our prototype stages, NEA 3D printers have improved overall print quality. Early on, we were excited just to get something printed, but since then our focus has been on reaching the perfect balance between accuracy, speed, reliability and repeatability,” the team writes. “Maintaining a standard of quality can only be achieved by acquiring and designing the most precise components with the entire printer in mind.”

As we’ve seen with other Maker projects, modularity is becoming increasingly more important by the day. With technologies like 3D printing constantly evolving, having to keep up with latest advancements can time-consuming, let alone costly. Instead, NEA has been designed to be entirely interchangeable with a range of upgrades in the works, including multi-color, multi-head, and even full-color printing.

“Expect us to tackle higher print speeds and multi-mediums as well. Gone are the days of buying a brand new printer every time a new feature comes along. Your investment in NEA won’t leave you behind,” the startup urges.

Each NEA is equipped with a detachable head, a removable head cover, a drop-and-lock shelf, a sub-assembled unibody, as well as an easy-access core drawer for viewing, cleaning and upgrading its components. Should any mechanical or electrical component on a NEA break or malfunction — which is bound to happen, of course — simply pop it off and snap in a new module.

What’s more, the team has introduced a custom filament cartridge. The so-called “Cool Spool” automatically lifts, providing users with an additional two inches in the Z-axis once the drop-and-lock shelf reaches its vertical limit.

As an added bonus to its campaign, NEA has revealed that for every Pro and Pro+ printer that is pre-ordered via Indiegogo, the startup will donate $25 to $30 to the e-NABLE Foundation that supports volunteers using 3D printing to make life-changing prosthetics for children.

Interested? Head over to its official Indiegogo page, where the team has exceeded its initial goal of $75,000 in less than 24 hours. Delivery is slated to begin in October 2015.