Dutch start-up Printr has introduced a new 3D printing accessory designed to create a seamless and productive print process - effectively turning your 3D printer into a plug and play device.
The Element, headed for Kickstarter in a matter of weeks, is a USB dongle that will complement the cloud-based online 3D printing platform Formide, a project announced by Printr back in October.
Boldly declaring that the days of frustratingly long hours trying to print the simplest of designs are over, Printr says the Element is set to be the most user-friendly 3D printing accessory on the market.
Built with simplicity in mind, the device connects the computer and 3D printer together via WIFI to give the user the freedom to create 3D models, generate 3D printable code and stream designs straight to the printer through the Formide.com platform.
There is also an app that enables users to select and remodel ready-to-use templates or create designs from scratch. What’s more the app comes with file repair technology built in to ensure that all designs are completely printable – minimising the risk of those pesky faulty prints.
Other features include a cloud based slicer, easy and intuitive modelling technology and remote controlling and monitoring.
Users without a 3D printer can also benefit from the app model by sending their designs to print via one of Printr's partners.
Printr have already built up quite a substantial network of partners in the RepRap community building software for the likes of fellow Dutch startup Nectar3D who launched at TCT at the end of last year with a 3D printer based on software powered by Printr.
The Element will go live on Kickstarter in the next fortnight with the opportunity for early bird backers to grab themselves a device first. It will be interesting to see which 3D printer manufacturers get on board with this piece of kit so perhaps the plug in can be used with some of the major desktop brands.
