Snapmaker Platform

[nidlaX]

http://www.snapmaker.com/

This is a 3D printer that can switch out the print head for other modules such as a laser for engraving or a router for CNC routing. The concept sounds good, but the price sounds too good to be true.

[Kean]

"Starting at $199" probably means a few early bird pledges with only the minimal product options.
It would be an up sell from there, as there is no way they can viably sell them at that price with the specified components.
It does look pretty good, although not rigid enough for CNC routing except in soft materials at slow speed.

[Nusa]

The laser module and the cnc module are called add-ons, which means they aren't part of that price. I'm not particularly impressed by the pictures of either one, in the functional sense...they look like the bare minimum to do the lightest of tasks.

The price itself isn't that exceptional, even if weren't promotional. Similar cartesian printers for under $200 have been out there for a while now. For instance, Monoprice has https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15365 for $199.99 shipped (for USA buyers, anyway), that's gotten decent reviews. Monoprice is always running various short-term discounts, so if you are patient, you can get get 20% off that price.

[nidlaX]

"Starting at $199" probably means a few early bird pledges with only the minimal product options.

I'm referring to the rumored MSRP of $449, although I'm not super familiar with their material costs. The rumored cost of the modules is $75, which I think is reasonable. I'm concerned about the accuracy and repeatability of their CNC rig.

[donotdespisethesnake]

http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/10/14881310/snapmaker-modular-3d-printer-a-cnc-machine-laser-cutter-kickstarter

It looks like a good quality build, my concern is can they deliver quality for the price. As long as you realise the CNC engraving is very light duty only, it could be useful. There are some design ideas in there I might borrow

"All in one" machines always have a lot of compromises, and you might quickly find you need a bigger print volume, a faster laser engraver, or a heavy duty CNC.

As always, it comes down to execution. It looks like they have some decent engineering skills. Do they have the manufacturing and commercial skills? I think I would be cautiously optimistic. Hopefully, the campaign is not stupidly oversubscribed, and make the rookie mistakes a lot of other campaigns do.

[FrankT]

The price seems too good to be true to me too.

I cant find a single linear stage for that price, let alone 3; plus power, plus control.

[donotdespisethesnake]

Just for reference, and I keep forgetting, there was a similar Kickstarter for a 3D printer, now shipping at https://us.kodama3d.com/collections/trinus/products/trinus-3d-printer. It seems they have a decent product but the main issues for backers are shipping (arriving broken). Trinus is 3D printer only.