Not another 3D printer company?!?! Yes that's right, my two friends and I have quit our day jobs and jumped head first into forming our own indie 3D printer company. We have been working for several months towards our goal and will be doing the big reveal at the San Mateo Makerfaire! Before I go any further I want to say upfront that we are 100% for contributing to the community as a whole. We want to be as Open-Source as possible with our ideas. We will be releasing dimensioned drawings in .PDF format as soon as they are finalized, so everyone, even those without expensive design software can read the files. Also we will have COMPLETE drawings that are not missing details, material specs or the like. What we create internally will be available externally, in full. As soon as we are able to we will be hiring someone to answer the phones. We experienced major frustration when we initially sourced all the components for our two Mendels, what we would have given to talk to someone on the phone for just a minute! It would have made ordering and setup that much more pleasent. Every product we sell will be available as individual components. I hope that being able to buy a single part of an extruder or other part will help spur innovation. Also if you already have some of the parts, there is no need to buy them a second time. People that purchase a full printer from us will also receive a permanent discount for all parts, for replacement or upgrade (as well as filament). We figure that you have already invested in us and we want to thank you for that. We hope that our first product to be released, will help lower the overall price of all the 3D printers available by offering an extremely high quality extruder at a price point lower than everything else on the market. We want to get 3D printers into as many people's hands as possible and we can't think of a better way to do it than by reducing the cost without sacrificing quality. We have made up a small production batch (8) of the extruders and I will be taking pictures of them alongside their inspirations (Makerbot MK7 and Makergear Plastruder) very shortly. Essentially what we did is take Makerbot's open-source design and improve reliability by replacing the hobbed gear with a 20 tooth spur gear (ala Makergear) with a groove machined into it which centers the filament along the axis of movement; this majorly cuts down on any slipping or stripping. We also changed the 'plunger' to allow for varying tolerances of filament by spring loading it (with adjustable tension). The extruder is also ready to go for dual-extrusion for those that want to experiment, you would just need to get two of them instead of one! All the parts of the extruder are CNC machined in house at our mini machine shop. Here is the kicker...we will be offering the COMPLETE extruder without motor (we figure a lot of people will already have a NEMA 17 laying around) for $34.00 USD; complete extruders with motors will be $49.00 USD (or possibly a bit less depending on what kind of deal we can get on the motors in bulk). We need your help to make this a reality. We are hoping to get a Kickstarter campaign (or IndieGoGo) approved and going shortly, we just have to finalize (and cleanup!) all the drawings and take some pretty pictures! Thank you for taking the time to read this, I am really excited about hearing your feedback. -Chelsea https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,126064#msg-126064 Sun, 06 Sep 2026 22:43:00 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,160382#msg-160382 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,160382#msg-160382 -------------------------------------------------------
> Still surprised there are no videos. You guys have
> a prototype, right? Can we get at least one video
> of it moving, doing something? How much effort
> does it take to just fire it up and shoot a short
> video of the thing printing? It doesn't have to be
> fancy...
>
> Surely you guys have some sample prints from
> testing. You did test the device right? Why not
> put up some pictures of those?
>
> Truly this lack of info boggles the mind.

There is no lack of info. Did you try google? Or look at the qu-bd website, blog, kickstarter blog, etc? Many links of videos and pics. Here's a vid:[www.youtube.com], and a sample print is as far away as 5 posts before this one.....

Why the scepticism? There is no lack of info, in fact they put together extensive documentation with an assembly guide here: [www.qu-bd.com] and support the product with a blog and forum.]]> Dad911 General Fri, 12 Oct 2012 23:23:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,160170#msg-160170 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,160170#msg-160170
Surely you guys have some sample prints from testing. You did test the device right? Why not put up some pictures of those?

Truly this lack of info boggles the mind.]]> destroyer2012 General Fri, 12 Oct 2012 02:18:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,160046#msg-160046 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,160046#msg-160046 not mean you can use the trademarks freely. (And that makes sense) I am sure if you use their open source stuff, you can state what designs you use.]]> Jasper1984 General Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:51:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,157263#msg-157263 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,157263#msg-157263 Dad911 General Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:31:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,157250#msg-157250 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,157250#msg-157250
just spent an hour or so assembling the extruders. had to give up as i think its near impossible to get the mounted nice without the use of 2 spanners. which ill have to get another set tommrow.

wish there was a way to tightly put the feed bolt into the heater block seems to keep coming lose when tightening other bolts etc]]> Enlightx General Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:29:57 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,157245#msg-157245 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,157245#msg-157245 pfinucan General Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:10:52 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,156751#msg-156751 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,156751#msg-156751 Any reports on their performance? Back in June - July there were some requests for a video showing one printing. Has anyone received the extruder and printed with it successfully?]]> dzach General Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:33:01 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144894#msg-144894 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144894#msg-144894 > That's awesome. So you already got those items
> for that price? How is the quality?

Estimated delivery on kickstarter is August, it's still July......

I signed up in the last few days, and they were pledged 1400% ( 14 times their goal) so I know I'm at the back of the line. These guys must be working 24/7, with 1300 extruders to ship, I'll be patient.]]> Dad911 General Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:34:04 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144881#msg-144881 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144881#msg-144881
Cut these guys some slack, its not easy to get everything going at the same time specially if your product became uber popular. Its good to know that their priority is getting products to peoples doors as fast as humanly possible.]]> royco General Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:50:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144878#msg-144878 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144878#msg-144878
We are using the machines to make the extruder parts for our campaign and beyond. We are still using ballscrews for our Rapid Prototyping Mill, they are just different than what we were originally planning on.

At $1699.00 we are price competitive with other assembled 3D printers, especially when you consider the much larger build volume and milling capability.

We didn't want the structure to be made from anything that corrodes in open air. The 12L14 rods are coated in lubricant so they do not readily corrode. The per part cost for stainless vs. carbon steel is not huge; the machining of the material is the big cost. Once you factor in that the carbon steel piece has to be painted or powdercoated, the difference is negligable, plus we don't have to worry about the paint or powdercoat chipping etc.

Our prototype was at the Makerfaire in San Mateo, there are pictures available of it from third parties on the web. Additionally the dual extruders in assembled and broken down form were at the Makerfaire as well. People picked them up, handled them etc. Here is a link to an independent blog that has some pictures of the machine QU-BD at the Maker Faire

We were not necessarily trying to create a revolutionary extruder. We improved an existing open source design; our goal was to reduce the cost by a huge amount.

As we have mentioned before, design changes that may individually cost more may reduce the assembly time or reduce the part count, in turn reducing the cost.

Every part for the extruder including the changes that we made are on our website and were posted in our Kickstarter campaign.

I saw in the 'gallery' pages that the default text was there, whoops we missed that. We are not web developers and have been learning how to do all this stuff on our own. We don't have a team of people to edit and correct our site, we have been working on other things. Thanks for pointing that out I will try and get it corrected today.

I was the one in the videos, Nathan and Courtney were at the Makerfaire show. David is the machinist and has been working at the shop. Here we are on the Arkansas Secretary of State website Arkansas Secretary of State. Our machine shop is under Optimal Manufacturing, Inc., for non-3D printer /mill related projects and has been in business since 2001.

We are not aware of any other CNC machine currently available that can move at 300+mm/s, has equal to or more rigidity than ours, a 12+"x12+"x12+" build area, can use a real spindle (not a Dremel motor) and is currently selling anywhere near our price. Please send over a link.]]> Chelsea - QU-BD General Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:23:24 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144877#msg-144877 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144877#msg-144877 -------------------------------------------------------
> I backed it. So far I have received timely
> updates, great communications, and in one of the
> emails, Chelsea even provided a list of 'extra'
> items that will be included, like Kapton tape &
> insulation. I get emails about once a week, since
> I backed it.
>
> 2 hot-ends, 2 extruders, 2 steppers, with
> shipping, for $98. Paid about the same for a
> single J-head, hobbed bolt, stepper, and Greg's
> printed parts. IMHO this is a no-brainer, thank
> you Chelsea!
>
> To the doubters, they had a goal of $5000, but
> orders of $73,000..... I'm sure they are working
> 24/7 to assemble, package, order materials, etc.

That's awesome. So you already got those items for that price? How is the quality?]]> a_shorething General Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:20:47 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144875#msg-144875 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144875#msg-144875
2 hot-ends, 2 extruders, 2 steppers, with shipping, for $98. Paid about the same for a single J-head, hobbed bolt, stepper, and Greg's printed parts. IMHO this is a no-brainer, thank you Chelsea!

To the doubters, they had a goal of $5000, but orders of $73,000..... I'm sure they are working 24/7 to assemble, package, order materials, etc.]]> Dad911 General Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:14:05 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144869#msg-144869 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144869#msg-144869
Seriously? No pics or video. Come on QU-BD. Give us something...]]> a_shorething General Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:53:07 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144860#msg-144860 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144860#msg-144860 -------------------------------------------------------
> Until then, this is nothing more than the long con
> at it's finest.

I've been biting my tongue on this, but do you know what I think? People like you who are calling "scam" are ignorant dickheads.

Sorry to the people at QU-BD who are subject to crap like this, but just ignore the dickheads.]]> bobc General Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:06:10 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144797#msg-144797 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,144797#msg-144797
One, the general lack of actual knowledge of CNC machines and what they are. As stated before, CNC milling machines are very much different than a 3d printer in ideology....Mainly the former being subtractive and the latter being additive.

I find it odd that you're using machines that go for 50, 000$ or more each second hand to machine brass parts, and ballscrews that you've decided to not even going to bother with.

I find it odd that you've been saying your machine will be competitive but costs over 4 times the price of other actual competitive machines (unless when you mean 3d printer market, you mean exclusively makerbot, and ulti)

I find it odd you're using 304 stainless steel, instead of cheaper, cast or hardend steel like every other manufacturer out there.

Even if this is going for the desktop cnc route, cast steel or hardend steel is considerably cheaper than 304 stainless.

On top of that, a person can buy a capable desktop mill for under 300 euros NEW, and mod to a small CNC mill for under another 300 euros. So your machine is more than double the price. Made with rather exotic materials, that arn't as rigid as a 300 euro machine.

I find it odd that although you've been working on this thing for months there isn't one bit of proof that any one single prototype has ever been built. The only existing thing this far is a 3d model...that you dropped?

I find it odd that the only thing that has ever been photographed, is a single modded mk7 dual extruder, that wasn't even used at it's own presentation, though that may be makerfairs problem rather than yours.

I find that the only thing you've made as a whole is something someone else made. (though, it's open source, I find it not very compelling to any of your arguments you're doing something new.)

I find it odd that every time you bring up anything about anything with this machine, the design ends up changing a month later. (And the things being changed are more expensive than the previous parts) And there are still no pictures of prototypes or current gen tech.

I find it odd that this will apparently be open source, yet not one thing has been released to the public to even look at. What's worse about that, the one thing you did (sorta) create on your own, is open source, and you haven't released the mods you did to that!

I find it odd that your website is still using the "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet" basic filler text of it's theme. (although, I suppose you could be just lazy...)





You know what I think this is?

A very elaborate scam. I think you're using a fresh market of generally ignorant (note, not stupid) people to steal money.

I think you're doing this very clever by spending a small investment into making everything look real. You have a nice front, but as far as anyone can tell, nothing is going on behind the scenes, and what's worse, you give literally no photo evidence except for some random pictures of expensive cnc machines that could be used for actual machining, instead of a pet project. I can't find your company registered anywhere in Arkansas and there is a huge possibility your machine shop and base location just belongs to some guy.

For a team of 4 people, we've only seen one face.


Nothing about this thing smells right.

Incase That this a real investment by your team to bring yet another expensive cnc into the market. Lets see some pictures or videos of something. Even shitty iphone videos of something of your prototypes are fine. Nobody here is going to sqirm because you're showing us shitty quality pictures and/or videos.

If you do. I'll take back everything I said.

Until then, this is nothing more than the long con at it's finest.]]> Schweppes General Thu, 26 Jul 2012 05:49:52 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137374#msg-137374 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137374#msg-137374
I can take a picture and post it of the machine however the mechanics of it have changed quite a bit from the Maker Faire so you will have to use your imagination a bit until the first production machine rolls down the line. I'll take one tomorrow.

Hopefully I should have a new video up by the end of the week on the extruder!

Thanks again for all your support!

-Chelsea]]> Chelsea - QU-BD General Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:36:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137363#msg-137363 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137363#msg-137363
Jacqueline
www.singularitymachine.com/blog]]> JLudlow General Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:32:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137334#msg-137334 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137334#msg-137334 destroyer2012 General Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:55:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137326#msg-137326 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137326#msg-137326
I believe the robot will work. The design is straightforward, and the parts all look nice. The samples they had with them look good. I backed a dual extruder on KS.

Also -- the Prntrbot people are delivering kits. A friend just got his and assembled it. Prntrbot does all it claims to do, and it's a good robot. Sure, it took a little longer to deliver than people wanted -- but that's common to all projects. Remember, KS is about projects, not products. You use KS to encourage those projects to complete. And what a project! They designed new electronics as well as a new robot. That's pretty awesome. So it took a little longer than they thought. That's expected and normal in projects. The backers got an amazing robot at an amazing price, brought down the price of these robots for everyone, and helped some people realize their dreams.]]> Imran General Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:04:44 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137302#msg-137302 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137302#msg-137302 Karl_Williams General Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:56:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137274#msg-137274 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137274#msg-137274
Quote

Kind of suprised this many people are backing the project without any demonstration of the product working.

This was the same for the PrintrBot. People trust a lot in what these vendors claim.]]> Traumflug General Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:06:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137166#msg-137166 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,137166#msg-137166 dzach General Sun, 10 Jun 2012 14:57:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136996#msg-136996 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136996#msg-136996 zipfactor General Sat, 09 Jun 2012 09:36:32 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136788#msg-136788 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136788#msg-136788
Additionally a couple of the components could be modifed to make it work with a 3mm filament, although I would have to check with David or Nathan to see exactly what would have to be done.

-Chelsea]]> Chelsea - QU-BD General Fri, 08 Jun 2012 02:13:27 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136786#msg-136786 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136786#msg-136786
Good luck with this. I see you have already gotten quite a few backers.

Quick question tough. You only currently supply 1.75mm extruders. Are you able to support 3mm filament at all? I know it needs more torque, so perhaps this extruder design won't support it.

TIA
Craig]]> CraigRK General Fri, 08 Jun 2012 01:56:20 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136774#msg-136774 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136774#msg-136774
-Chelsea]]> Chelsea - QU-BD General Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:22:54 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136767#msg-136767 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136767#msg-136767 thomsk General Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:11:54 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136749#msg-136749 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136749#msg-136749
[www.kickstarter.com]

Would it be appropriate to post another thread to keep the extruder conversation and Rapid Prototyping Mill separate? I don't want to spam the forum though.

You guys (and gals) can finally put a face with the name...I'm the one in the Kickstarter video!

-Chelsea]]> Chelsea - QU-BD General Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:04:51 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136368#msg-136368 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136368#msg-136368
If you can do it, I'll be ordering one. I have my doubts, but unless you're promising an over-unity power generator, I'll never say it's impossible.]]> sansbury General Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:11:50 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136183#msg-136183 Re: Not another 3D printer company?!?! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,126064,136183#msg-136183
We have production CNC equipment and tooling in our shop and so the cost is a lessened because not only are the parts not purchased through retail or even wholesale channels, they are produced in house. It also helps that our warehouse is ugly and the rent is cheap!

The prototype screw was machined from ground and hardened rod stock and then polished. The screws that we are using for production are not the same as the prototype screw for that exact reason that you stated. Those were the 'printer mode' screws. We were originally intending the screws to be swappable when you want to change from milling to printing but we figured out a way around that, with variable gearing. The production screws are hardened, ground and polished.

While I can't do a direct comparison of rigidity to a CNC Taig or Sherline mill as I don't have access to one at our shop, because our frame is boxed in instead of being a 'c' frame, it does lend itself to being very rigid. Also the weight of our RPM that was posted earlier in the thread is the weight without any of the mill accessories attached, it was in 'printer mode'. Adding the spindle, table and the associated other parts shoves the weight past the 100lb mark so it does have some mass to it or at the very least more than the above mentioned desktop mills.

We designed the RPM as a desktop mill and then we figured out how to make it fast enough to 3D print, not the other way around.

When we finally get some videos up I think you will be pleasently surprised!

-Chelsea]]> Chelsea - QU-BD General Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:38:35 -0400