Announcement · 3D printing
Studio 3e8 Mesa 1: metal 3D printer with built-in sintering furnace from $3,500 on Kickstarter
The Mesa 1 prints steel or copper from powder cartridges straight into a crucible and then sinters the part in its built-in furnace. Kickstarter starts on 1 December.
Printing metal on your desk, without a laser and without a separate furnace: that is the promise of the Mesa 1 from start-up Studio 3e8 in Somerville near Boston. The Kickstarter campaign starts on 1 December, with an early-bird price of $3,500.
How the Mesa 1 works
- The company’s own slicer splits the model into two materials: metal for the part and a scaffold powder that holds the shape during the process. Support structures as in plastic printing are therefore not needed.
- The printer deposits both powders layer by layer from sealed cartridges, directly into a crucible.
- The crucible sits in a built-in sintering furnace. Once printing is finished, the furnace automatically sinters the part into dense metal.
- Materials: carbon steel and copper, according to the product page
What is still missing
There is no information yet on build volume, resolution, print time, cartridge prices, delivery date or the later regular price. According to Makers101, datasheets are due in the coming weeks. Important for Europe: Studio 3e8 specifies a standard 120 V outlet, i.e. US mains. The company has not said whether there will be a 230 V version.