The Micro Hits $3 Million With Most Pre-Orders for a 3D Printer in History

BETHESDA, Maryland, April 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

12 days to go on the hit 3D printing Kickstarter campaign 

The Micro, the first truly affordable 3D Printer, has hit the $3 million mark, with over 10,000 backers and more pre-orders than any 3D printer in history. Starting at the consumer-friendly price of $299, The Micro is fast racing to be one of the most successful Kickstarters of all time, with over 10 days left of the campaign:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/m3d/the-micro-the-first-truly-consumer-3d-printer

The Micro 3D printer hit the $1 million mark in just 25 hours - faster than the Pebble watch, which took 28 hours to reach the same milestone - and reached its initial goal of $30,000 in just 11 minutes. The Micro is currently over funded by 6000%, meaning that the project has overtaken crowdfunding successes such as Oculus Rift, which hit 974% of funding.

Michael Armani, Founder at M3D, explains: "We are thrilled to have hit the $3 million mark, and it means that The Micro will become a reality for the everyday consumer and bring 3D printing to the masses. A massive thank you to everyone who has supported us in making this project where it is today".

Whether running a business or printing for fun and useful everyday objects, The Micro can be used to create anything from custom jewellery, cookie cutters, everyday objects around the house, and even real engineering and artistic prototypes. To start 3D printing you simply plug in the printer, download or create models, and hit print; making it ideal for both the everyday user and the more tech-savvy 3D printing enthusiast. The Micro comes ready to use out of the box, meaning that there's no setup or complicated instructions to follow - all in an accessible, compact and portable size that can rest on any table-top.

David Jones, Founder at M3D, explains: "We've managed to keep the cost of The Micro low by ensuring that it's space and power efficient, using as much power as a tablet would use. We're excited to be a part of the 3D printing revolution, and hope that The Micro will play its part in revolutionizing the way we build, innovate and create".

Navigating the 3D printer software and looking through the designs is as enjoyable as playing a game, meaning that the process of 3D printing from start to finish is an easy and smooth experience. Search and browse countless objects online, organize 3D models you've downloaded into an easy to view library, and makes your ideas become a reality. The cost of The Micro is kept low by ensuring that it's space and power efficient, lightweight, and designed for volume manufacturing.

Specs: 

- The Micro Supports many different materials: ABS, PLA, nylon, chameleon, as well as M3D's micro filament spools or standard 1.75 mm filament spools available on the market.

- Compatible with Mac and PC and Linux through a direct USB-connection. Advanced users can use the expert settings, as well as other software such as open-source slicers.  

- Micro Motion Technology is a sensor and feedback system built into the print head, providing auto-leveling and auto-calibration. This means that every time you run the printer it works well, even after thousands of hours of use.

- The Micro 3D Printer can print objects as tall as 4.6 inches or 116 mm.

- 50-350 micron layer resolution, 15 micron X and Y positioning accuracy.  

- Dimensions: Print height: 116mm (4.6"). Base Print Area: 109mm x 113mm. Print Area Above 74mm: 91mm x 84mm.

- Removable ABS-bonding Print Bed.

- Printer Dimensions: 185mm³ / Printer weight: 1kg (2.2 lbs).  

You can still pre-order The Micro on their Kickstarter page until the end of their campaign on May 7. The Micro is designed for assembly and production in the USA.

Editor's notes: 

High-resolution screenshots, logos and headshots can be found here.

For more information, please visit The Micro's website here and M3D's website here.

About M3D:

M3D is a tech startup based right outside the nation's capital in Bethesda, Maryland. Founders Michael Armani, bioengineer Ph.D. and co-founder David Jones, with a degree in computer science, lead the team. As passionate entrepreneurs with over a decade of experience in materials science, product manufacturing, software, and robotics, they joined forced with a vision to redefine the world of desktop 3D printing. They wanted to make 3D printers with great consideration for simplicity and the full user experience. With a laundry list of innovations they wanted to make, the two entrepreneurs got to work, building the first 3D printer that could be widely adopted by the consumer market.

SOURCE themicro3d.com