Former MakerBot COO creates the world’s first $500 3D printer

The Solidoodle is a significant step towards making 3D printing accessible to the average consumer

At first glance Sam Cervantes and his latest invention may seem questionable, but after spending some time talking with him I’m sure what he’s showing off is legit. Cervantes and his team are working on the first $500 3D printer, a device known as the Solidoodle. At the risk of sounding cliche, what you’re witnessing in the video is truly game-changing; the Solidoodle is a significant step towards making 3D printing accessible to the average consumer.

By now you have heard all about 3D printing and have had the opportunity to drool over the possibilities. Most likely the only thing that has been keeping you from purchasing one for your own home is the price tag, which before the announcement of the Solidoodle would be in the neighborhood of $2000 when all is said and done. Sure, it’s the same price as a high-end MacBook Pro, but it’s a considerable chunk of change for what essentially is at this point a toy for grown-up geeks.

During his time in the industry, Cervantes took a look at this fact and decided it was one of the last barriers to break through to allow the technology to move forward through crowd-sourced innovation. He decided that he could design a low-cost 3D printer for the masses and help to get a device in as many people’s hands as possible, and with that came the birth of the Solidoodle. Striking out on his own, using his personal bank account, Cervantes formed his new company and gathered a team of six like-minded engineers to begin prototyping his vision.

While many people know Cervantes as the former COO of MakerBot, his expertise in engineering and manufacturing processes runs much deeper. He previously worked at GE as an aerospace engineer designing the engine for the 747 and was employed by two different 3D printing companies, so he has the experience to lead a project with the goal of smashing through the cost barrier that exists for an infant technology. By applying his knowledge of making quality parts for the lowest cost possible, Cervantes and his team were quickly able to assemble their first working prototypes that led to the Solidoodle.

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via Geek - Ray Waltersᔥ

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