First consumer 3D printer unveiled

DIGITAL Wax Systems (DWS), a leading manufacturer of 3D printers for industrial, dental and biomedical, and jewelry industries, has unveiled the XFAB®—the first affordable, high-end 3D printer for the consumer market. It will be available for worldwide purchase in the first quarter of 2015.

XFAB boasts of the most accurate laser technology similar to that utilized by industrial high-end printers, but in an affordable and compact design for desktop use.

XFAB is especially suited for designers, inventors and engineers who want to quickly create high-quality 3D printed items with no wasted materials.

Unlike most high-end printers, XFAB is affordable for everyday consumer use. Suggested retail price is $5,000 in the North American market.

It also utilizes laser stereolithography instead of traditional fused deposition modeling, enabling more precise finished products and a wider choice of materials that can be used, including acrylate resin, ABS, polypropylene, rigid opaque, transparent, rubber, ceramic and castable wax.

The XFAB features intelligent cartridges that limit liquid leaks and allow quick material change. The material solidifies in a quantity proportional to the object being manufactured without any additional waste. Material left in the cartridge can be used for subsequent projects.

The 3D printer also comes with a user-friendly editing software that helps users create and execute designs even with little training.