Given that the average breadbox is 12 inches wide by 6 inches high and deep, we can safely say that the GMax 3D printer, a Kickstarted large format printer can print one. The printer, which is available for a pledge of $1,000 for an entry-level model or $1,200 for a nicer model with LCD screen.
The GMax is a fairly basic additive printer with a few tricks up its sleeve. It has a 16″ x 16″ x 9″ build envelope and 75 micron layer height – on par with other 3D printers out there. The best thing is that the creator, Gordon LaPlante, is building these things in Brooklyn using his own, smaller RepRap printer to print the pieces of this model.
LaPlante is looking for $50,000 total before he begins production of the units.
The printer is obviously more a labor of love than a mass produced, slick production. However, the large build envelope makes it far more interesting to interior designers, creators of wearables, and engineers. Heck, you put print a pair of shoes inside this thing.
At less than $1,500, this handmade beast is fairly affordable, especially considering its artisanal, Brooklyn-born pedigree. It’s actually kind of funny – we’re now in the era of hipster-quality 3D printers.