nano3Dprint launches 3D printer for advanced consumer market

nano3Dprint has launched its MatDep Pro 3D multi-material and electronics printer – for innovators, engineers, entrepreneurs, tech leaders, and advanced at-home designers. The company has made 50 units available to select consumers, via application.

With the largest build volume of all nano3Dprint’s systems (14.17 x 9.84 x 7.87 inches or 360 x 250 x 200mm), the MatDep (materials disposition) Pro is capable of creating electronics with dynamic or active properties, including conductivity, magnetism, or responsiveness to stimuli, as well as devices with locally tailored composition, structure, and properties. Materials can be used on various substrates to create electrical connections between components or to form patterns of electrodes, wires, or traces and embed them within FDM designs.

The MatDep Pro’s fused deposition modeling (FDM) extruder and materials dispensing system adds conductive and functional inks/pastes into a 3D design, in a single pass. Users can print plastics (FDM materials like ABS and PLA) using the extruder while introducing advanced, highly conductive inks (gold, silver, etc.) and versatile pastes (silicone, polymers, etc.).

The extruder and materials dispensing system move independently – resulting in more precise and accurate prints. According to Ramsey Stevens, CEO of nano3Dprint, the MatDep Pro minimizes the amount of cross-contamination, which is critical to avoid a short in the conductive path. “The independent motion of the print heads prevents cross-contamination and offers better print quality, speed, and reliability,” he said.

The MatDep Pro features an industrial linear guide, which yields stable and precise movement control; a flexible magnetic build mat for easy removal of finished prints; and nozzle cleaning stations for both the FDM extruder and the materials dispensing system. Further, the printer’s housing is made of steel – providing structural rigidity, less vibration, and more precise print head movement.

“A major benefit of 3D printing with functional materials is creating electronics that can conform to different shapes and surfaces. This opens up new possibilities in wearable technology, smart textiles, biomedical devices, or conformal supercapacitors, for example. Users can design and produce their own electronics on-demand, without the need for expensive and specialized equipment or facilities,” added Stevens.

The printer sells for $8,800 and requires a $500 refundable deposit.