Micronics made a splash a couple weeks ago with a Kickstarter for “desktop SLS 3d printing.” The two-person company has now been acquired by Formlabs.
The prosumer SLS product is cancelled. Kickstarter backers get a $1000 credit for a Formlabs printer and an “open material license” that allows them to use 3rd party materials on FormLabs printers, which are locked to 1st party materials by default.
Overall feels like FormLabs killed a potential competitor in the cradle for cheap. Would have much rather seen Micronics raise capital directly.
An "open material license" costs $2-4k. Basically the same price as Micronics printer. It's unfortunate we won't have a hobby level SLS printer in the near future.
The prosumer SLS product is cancelled. Kickstarter backers get a $1000 credit for a Formlabs printer and an “open material license” that allows them to use 3rd party materials on FormLabs printers, which are locked to 1st party materials by default.
Overall feels like FormLabs killed a potential competitor in the cradle for cheap. Would have much rather seen Micronics raise capital directly.