FOCUS portable 3D printer ByFlow

Another product is coming out of a FabLab: a multimaterial portable 3Dprinter with the name FOCUS, designed by Floris Hoff from FabLab Maastricht.

His company ByFlow is in the final stage of developing it.

With this printer you can use 3 intelligent extruders: filament, paste and granulate. The printer recognizes the extruder and adapts the software automatically. No hours work and risks anymore to change the extruder. Future developments as a DLP extruder or 3Dscan module can be adapted with one click (magnetic) and a software update.

Exchangeable extruders

The filament extruder makes it possible to print with ABS, PLA, nylon, laywood etc and very special: with biorubber. As strong as the tyre of a car but very flexible. Made from rapeseed, the small yellow flowers.

The paste extruder prints very accurate with all pastes which can go through a small needle, like ceramic and porcelain. Moreover, it can print with silicons, even medical silicons for facial prosthetics.  And of course with food, what a surprise to offer your friends and family 3Dprinted food (like caviar) at a party. Watch the video’s about the Pop Up Restaurant in London where people could enjoy the first 3Dprinted menu of the world. Or print something in chocolate (ByFlow is partner of the biggest company of the world in chocolate).

Last but not least: the granulate extruder will soon hit the market. It can print with granulate plastics, 10 times faster and 10 times cheaper and with a very wide range of materials. It saves a lot of transport and energy which is normally needed to make the filament. Even recycled plastic is possible, keep the material types and colors apart, put them in the kitchen grinder and print again and again. No expensive filabot needed to make filament.

Portable, foldable and compact

The 3Dprinter is easy to transport and doesn’t need calibration because the printing platform is not moving. That’s also why you can print delicate materials ceramic or chocolate with it.

There are pics and a video on its Kickstarterpage
Though it was not funded, it is a nice example of what a small team at a FabLab can develop.