$49 3D Printer - The 101Hero on Kickstarter

This is the lowest cost 3D Printer ever on Kickstarter - and it's already funded well above its goal. But is it even possible to produce a 3D Printer for under $100? Let's check it out!

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[TheTruthIsHarsh]

Angus, I must commend you. I don't usually leave comments, but I feel it's necessary to state that you are, by far, the best 3D reviewer I have found on YouTube™. Your no-nonsense approach and lack of idle chatter is quite refreshing. While trying to learn all I can about 3D printers, I have come across hundreds of videos and, so far, all of your reviews are easy to understand, informative and honest. You omit all the annoying habits (i.e. poor camera work, boring commentary and confusing technical jargon) that I have seen from too many of the other YouTube™ "celebrities". Thank you -- I look forward to watching [and learning from] your many other videos.

[kazolar]

Chuck uses the mini to print ABS all the time. With such a small build volume you will not have an issue with ABS warping.
Having built a very large delta, the cone build volume is rather inaccurate the cone behavior only starts at the very top of the build. Here is an example. My build volume is 490mm diameter, 675mm height, 675 mm is where the cylinder ends, after that it tapers, to the total max height of 740, so I simply don't count the extra 65mm, as you can see it's less than 10% of build height. It's not a gradual cone from the bottom it only starts 90% up the cylinder. Math is fun :)

[RansomMakes]

Awesome review of this Kickstarter, I do recall tweeting this printer to you a few days ago, too. Thanks for sharing this, Angus. Might have to back this little printer myself.

[ChaosCoreTech]

Very good video. I like the series as well. It's nice to help give people looking into these printers a resource from someone more experienced. Keep up the great work. :)

[ostrichbean]

They actually managed to start shipping in october. Impressive.

[norbertdavis]

Angus,

Just watched the video and backed the project myself! I too opted for the designer version (USB & SD Card) and unfortunately had to go for the $79 level pledge (+$25 shipping) as the lower cost designer version was sold out but still a great deal in my opinion.

I got this for my boys (12 & 17) who can use it for "playing" around with instead of using my 3D printer (which is always OK) but allows them to learn and get their "hands dirty" and learn. Perhaps my 17-yo will be able to print out some things for his high school CADD class next year.

Thanks for the tip on this, even at $104 US total it should be a great tool for learning and printing out that small part if another thing is printing on the Monoprice Maker Select (Wanhao Duplicator i3 clone).

Regards,

Norbert

[davidprice]

Good video and summary, thanks Angus.

I've also taken a punt on this printer almost for the same reasons. I run workshops in schools and libraries to introduce people to 3D printing and design, to encourage more people to create than consume. In that context anything which brings the capability to a price that many people can afford is welcome.

I agree with your assessment of the towers and steppers though as a builder of 3D printers I am interested in the extruder and the electronics. I imagine the evolution of low cost printer pens also plays a part in it's design.

[NPrescott]

I really appreciate this video Angus! I saw this project on Kickstarter and was really interested in it. Now that I've seen your opinion on it and you are supporting it, I think tomorrow I will pledge toward it and hope it pans out! Thanks again...awesome videos! I always wait for them to pop up and I watch them immediately haha :D

[Turtle_]

Ok Angus, you suckered me into backing it as well! I agree that the print quality will probably be on the lower side, but for $104 USD shipped, it's worth taking the gamble. Plus I've always wanted a delta printer to pay with. I'm also going to assume that the 3D printing community may even make some upgrades for this, when / if it ships, kind of like they did for the QUBD TwoUp printer I initially started with. Thanks for another great video! 👍🏻

[SouthernNerds]

Great video and good job doing the research on this project. The Southern Nerds are backing it as well and we really pumped on this project. We are looking forward to see how the 101 Hero turns out. If the 101 Hero can get this right there is no reason that public schools all over the world would not be capable of buying a printer(s) for classrooms (which would be the ultimate success story for the 3D Printing industry). Heck, if this works out we are even considering donating a few to our local school system so that hopefully they will give some educational value to our next generation.

[wmblemania]

Very good video Angus. As much as I like the competition and the innovation, I do think there is a "too cheap" line to cross. Or rather, a functionality/price line. And this thing gets very close to it. BTW, I'd be VERY interested to see you build the Cherry!

[MisterMoto]

actially Angus, depending on the arm length and a few other factors your build volume changes. for example my delta mini can print a coffee can 170mm circle and 238mm high with no tapering. With most deltas you bed is larger so you dont have to print cone shape or taper off. My bed is a 200mm circle with a 170mm diameter and 238mm high. now if i changed my arm length i can go wider but loose height or go higher but loose width. Hopefully it will ship cause that looks pretty sweet.

[phaedrusalt]

Minor disagreement with you here, Angus: I'm a newb to 3d printing, but I funded this printer because it'll let me get my feet wet with very little cost, and seems credible as a kickstarter. I don't care that the build volume is small or that the build quality is less than perfect, because I can treat it (Assuming it shows up!) as a throwaway. Anyway, love your channel! Keep up the great work!

[CJPrinting]

Excellent work on these videos on KickStarter 3D printers! This one intrigues me more than any other printer!

[spikekent]

Great video as always Angus,
This looks like it could be the ideal printer for people to 'get their feet wet' and to see if it's something they enjoy, without splashing out hundreds of $/£.
It was exactly why I brought my DaVinci early last year, but that was a gamble of £500. At the 101Hero price point, it is much less of a gamble and for that reason alone it could bring a lot more people into the fold.
I hope it pans out for them ... and for you of course :-)

[PanorethDPrinting]

Sweet. I can't believe you actually backed a kickstarter campaign. I always thiught you where the kickstarter hater, lol. I really like this series. You should do these more often. When is the rigidbot 2 review coming out?

[sttrife]

I saw this was mentioned before in the comments, but I'll repeat: the printing area of a delta printer is not a cone, it's a cylinder with a smaller cone on top. Perhaps only the last few centimeters of the build volume is a cone, so you make it sound worse than it is. Other than then, great video! would love to see the review as soon as you get one :)

[Teach_EM]

Lol, ive just finished building the cherry printer like a couple of weeks ago, i got impatient with the motors and switched to nema 17s. The geared stepper motors have a ton of play, so backlash is inevitable. None the less, the cherry printer is an amazing idea and i literally would never have gotten into 3D printing if it werent for it. It brings 3D printing to a much larger market because a lot of people are not willing to spend a lot of 3D printing.

[sneekylinux]

I might back this, will think on it overnight but it does look interesting for tiny parts.

[KennethScharf]

There already is a 3d printer called the 'toyrap' that uses the same motors. From what I've heard, those motors need to be run hot to work in printer service, and they don't last long. One mod to the toyrap was to add cooling fans by each motor to increase their life.