3D printers have no doubt become more versatile and accessible than ever. Still, there are very few who actually seem to use a 3D printer.
But this is likely going to change soon as a San Francisco-based startup is releasing a 3D printer for your smartphone that will cost just $99.
The device, known as OLO, is being launched through a Kickstarter campaign.
Here are some of its features:
- It will make use of the light from the touch screen to process your plastic creations.
- It is very simple and compact, measuring 6.8 x 4.5 x 5.8 in (17.2 x 11.5 x 14.8 cm). One can easily carry it in a backpack.
- It is very light and weighs only 1.7 lbs (780 gms).
- It consists of just three plastic pieces, one chip, and one motor…all operated by four AA batteries.
- OLO has a mechanized lid, a reservoir, and a bottle of colored photopolymer resin to build your own objects.
- Build plate and control electronics are tightly arranged under the mechanized lid.
- It is described as a ‘virtually noiseless mechanism,’
- OLO works with smartphones of almost any size or brand.
How It Works:
Choose the design from an existing 3D design platform and load a schematic of your object into the OLO mobile app. The printer makes use of photopolymer resin which hardens under the white light of the screen. Emitted light reacts with the resin and sets it stiff. The printer then slowly moves upward as each new layer is created.
Check out the following video to see how the printer works:
