Found a 3D printer on Kickstarter with 15 x 15 x15 build volume for

3D Printing
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1

Found a 3D printer on Kickstarter with 15 x 15 x15 build volume for $299! (No, that wasn’t a typo.)

Can someone tell me if this is BS or not though? The creator claims that he’s just generous with his profit margins, but after reading comments on the forums and the articles about this printer. I’m starting to notice a few things are amiss:

-hasn’t uploaded video of the Cobblebot in action yet (says he will though)
-Facebook link leads to nowhere
-no link to an online store (then again, it’s only been 3 days)
-various technical disparities (warping, feeding filament sideways, etc.)

What do you think?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cobblebot/cobblebot-3d-printer

2

no heatbed = no ABS = waste of space

3

I backed it, then started getting a bad feeling about it, so I cancelled by pledge. Also note that shipping is not included and not specified.
Might end up being fine. Heck, if he delivers, the Mega/RAMPS, LCD, hot end, and steppers might be worth $300. Then again, he might quote $200 shipping and hold your reward hostage.

4

That’s nearly what you’d spend on quality bearing surfaces. Not to mention hot end, motors, brain, build plate.

5

@Mike_Miller That’s what worries me. I don’t think this guy can pull it off, cost-wise.
Since I have a PrintrBot Simple running, a RigidBot shipping soon, and spare steppers, rods, bearings, and extrusion, I couldn’t see taking the chance.

6

Any person that doesn’t take the time to do all the prework and create videos and picture for their customers and say we have a busy schedule it my suggestion to run towards the hills . I have notice a lot of persons don’t use commonsense when pledging on kickstarter .

7

I’m guessing everything will be sourced overseas. Cheapest of the cheap. Shipping Calibrated? Will it be delivered on an airbed?

8

Its more than fully funded! “There’s a fool born every minute” clearly didn’t take into account the internet and rise in global population!

9

Shipping from Texas and Hong Kong.

10

@Mike_Miller - the number of suckers born per minute doubles every 18 months.

11

@Phillip_Burgess (W.C.) Fields’ Law.

12

Hmm… I think I’ll just wait until August 6 or so and see if they can offer more proof. If not, I’ll pull out.

@Chapman_Baetzel There’s a $1,000,000 stretch goal for heated beds, but I’m not sure if they’ll reach it or not.

@Bernie_Koestlmaier_C The first $299, $499, and $999 options say they come calibrated.

13

I challenge any printer of that design to remain calibrated after shipping from HK.

14

@Bernie_Koestlmaier_C OK, I see what you mean now…

15

I’m in for now (one of the first 100) but keeping a watching brief. The Facebook link is broken but he is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremiah.clifft

He’s just uploaded a short vid of a prototype printing a calibration cube (see the latest update).

Re. shipping, non-us backers would have to be insanely trusting to commit to backing this without knowing the approx. shipping cost. Cobblebot promise to nail down the shopping costs before the funding deadline – time will tell.

As I said – keeping a watching brief – you’re not committed in any way on KickStarter until the fat lady sings.