Low-cost Metal Additive Manufacturing from Aurora Labs

It seems like most people have finally realized the market is saturated for home additive manufacturing g (AM) systems that work on the Fused Deposition Modeling process (FDM). The new hotness is shilling more advanced 3D printing processes, such as selective laser sintering, or metal printers. The problem is that these systems are far more expensive than FDM clones, and are thus harder to sell.

Nevertheless, Australian startup Aurora Labs is willing to take its chances with the Kickstarter launch of its S1 metal 3D printer. For the introductory price of A$4,499 (just under $4,000 US), you or your small business can buy a metal AM system. Even with the steeper investment cost, Aurora Labs might just make its goal of A$100,000. Just a day in and it’s already approaching the halfway mark.

Some of the Aurora Labs team with the S1 metal 3D printer. Courtesy of Aurora Labs.

Technical specs for the system are somewhat scarce, but it has been revealed that the S1 has a build envelope of 150 x 150 x 200mm (5.9 x 5.9 x 7.87 in.), and uses two powder feeders. The S1 is meant to be a prosumer or small business metal AM system. Additional (more expensive) systems, the S2 and S2+, add a third powder feeder or increase the build envelope, respectively. The larger envelope of the S2+ measures 180 x 180 x 500mm (7 x 7 x 19.68 in.).

The process used by Aurora Labs AM systems is direct metal laser sintering, and, according to the company, the systems are capable of working with a large number of different metal powders. The list includes 316 Stainless Steel, 420 stainless steel, Iconell 625, Iconell 718, Hastelloy C, brass, bronze, and mild steel.

Aurora Labs has a very positive view for the future of metal AM. From the Kickstarter page:

“With a machine like this the average home owner or workshop can print out parts for cars, tools, rocket motors for parts that would previously require full engineering. This allows people to make things of incredibly high technological complexity in a very simple way. We see a time in the near future where every engineering workshop has a couple of these and most homes have one as well. With this machine people can build a 10,000 pound (4,500 kg) thrust rocket motor – for about the price of a plasma TV ($500-$1,000) in materials.”

Below you’ll find Aurora Labs’ Kickstarter video.

Source: Kickstarter