A1 Technologies Breaks Down 3D Technology and Pricing Barriers with the BfB 3000 3D Printer

Oct. 5, 2010 - PRLog -- A1 Technologies is making 3D design and 3D printing accessible to all.  This accessibility is the result of breakthrough low pricing, ease-of-use, speed of learning and openness of product design across the company’s broad portfolio of advanced 3D products. There has never been a better time to exploit 3D design and 3D printing and A1 Technologies is particularly well positioned to assist both organisations and individuals that have previously found this discipline too difficult or too cost-prohibitive. Working within its remit of democratizing all 3D digital technologies for design and manufacturing, A1 Technologies is delighted to announce the availability of a new 3D printer, the BfB 3000.  This company is fully committed to its philosophy of making low cost 3D digital technologies accessible to a much wider audience than ever before thanks to an integrated range of compelling products, at ultra-low prices, backed up by a wealth of experience and knowledge in this technology area.

The BfB 3000 is the first fully assembled 3D printer on the market at a price point below £2,000. Beyond this incredible, affordable price, however, users will find an extremely capable and elegant additive machine with a large print area that will fit right into any design office, classroom, manufacturing or home environment. Capabilities of the machine include a minimum layer thickness of 0.1mm (100 microns) with built-in features to allow for simple and cost-effective upgrades of the machine, such as configured electronics that allow a single head machine to be easily upgraded to a two- or three-head machine.

Further advantages of the BfB 3000 system are that it exhibits a highly rigid, durable frame that offers excellent mechanical stiffness; increased z axis speed and accuracy; improved ultra-compact extruders; and controlled and precise material delivery.

Moreover, the BfB 3000 is complemented by the Netfabb BFB Engine, software specifically written for this machine, to easily fix and then convert any STL files ready for direct printing.

The BfB 3000 is a development of the RapMan kit, and has all the features and facilities of that product, such as being able to extrude a number of different polymers, including ABS and PCL.  PCL (Poly Lactic Acid) is a biopolymer and is thus biodegradable. The BfB 3000 is available with multiple heads so that complex parts can now be printed either in multiple colours or with support material for overhangs etc.

Designed and engineered to be accurate, robust and yet simple the BfB 3000 3D printer fits extremely well into A1 Technologies’ integrated portfolio of  low-cost 3D products for the product development life-cycle. Affordable to run, as well as to buy outright, the BfB 3000 can be used for rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing applications across a wide range of sectors.

A1 Technologies continues to bring effective 3D design and manufacturing technologies to a broad spectrum of people that have never experienced them before, including promoting them into schools and academic institutions, to begin the learning process early. By offering a full suite of ultra low-cost 3D design and 3D manufacturing products, the company is able to offer a holistic solution to a full range of design and product development activities. It is also important to understand that A1 does not just sell products off-the-shelf  — the company has vast knowledge, experience and understanding of 3D digital technologies and this is a vital element of what the company can offer new and existing clients.

The BfB 3000 is manufactured by Bits from Bytes (BfB).

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About A1 Technologies

Established in 2009, A1 Technologies supplies highly affordable, entry-level 3D digital technologies to educational and industrial organisations across the world. The company has extensive experience of advanced 3D digital technologies for many disciplines including design, engineering and manufacturing together with a philosophy of integrating these technologies to provide a complete solution. The company fervently believes in promoting 3D digital technologies at the earliest opportunity — specifically into school curriculums to encourage understanding and uptake by future engineers. With a demonstrable remit of democratizing 3D technology across the board, A1 Technologies is working with a wide range of clients in many different industry sectors.