Botobjects color printer - hoax? http://solidsmack.com/fabrication/botobjects-announce-worlds-first-full-color-3d-printer-for-the-desktop/ Anyone else think this is a hoax? Seems to me that some art student did a rendering of what he thought a color 3D FFF printer should look like, copied the look of the Form-1, and didn't know that the orange cover was to prevent the SLA resin from curing. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,205940#msg-205940 Tue, 12 May 2026 03:36:16 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,358101#msg-358101 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,358101#msg-358101
http://youtu.be/X86mo6BSQlg]]> Gyrobot Developers Tue, 20 May 2014 15:48:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,337973#msg-337973 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,337973#msg-337973
The cartridges are .2kg each and were neatly stored under the printer with a small bowden style extruder on each, and it has 5 on the right side, C M Y K W. On the left side, it used PVA. It seemed like the whole head toggled a bit to prevent ooze from contaminating the print from the other extruder.

It was the most impressive (consumer) printer in the show other than the big industrial printers.

AG]]> avongil Developers Thu, 10 Apr 2014 13:17:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,336107#msg-336107 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,336107#msg-336107 brent Developers Sun, 06 Apr 2014 19:50:29 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,335498#msg-335498 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,335498#msg-335498
Thanks!]]> Eistee Developers Sat, 05 Apr 2014 10:26:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,330838#msg-330838 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,330838#msg-330838 scad file and stl file


link here
]]> ifala Developers Thu, 27 Mar 2014 11:59:58 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,241177#msg-241177 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,241177#msg-241177 I pretty much discarded the idea because I thought that the plug from the melted plastic would be a pain to push in again...
but seeing it work makes me want to try it out, too.
Really nice idea because you save costs and weight with only 1 hot end!
Extruding filament with widely different melting temperatures could be a little bit tricky, though.]]> uGen Developers Fri, 30 Aug 2013 06:24:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,241129#msg-241129 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,241129#msg-241129 look this, I think is the same "technology" of botObject......
I use only 2 motor (2 color), but you can add also how many color you want...

I want test this project in 4 color with similar Bowden extruder , but I need an eletronic that support 4 extruder stepper ..

what do you think about?]]> ifala Developers Fri, 30 Aug 2013 01:56:32 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228343#msg-228343 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228343#msg-228343
$3000+ is a lot to throw at an unproven printer, and paying extra to get a non-ugly color is nuts. These 3d printer companies seem to be following the 2d printer model - charge ridiculous prices for filament cartridges.]]> bobc Developers Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:08:49 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228197#msg-228197 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228197#msg-228197
Mystery - tactical way to get some net buzz going on :)]]> DeuxVis Developers Fri, 19 Jul 2013 06:33:14 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228026#msg-228026 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228026#msg-228026 -------------------------------------------------------
> If they heat up PLA more than we usually do, maybe
> they can pull off thinner layers with higher
> speeds - I rarely print with PLA, though, so I
> leave thorough analysis to more experienced users,
> but speeds this high sound a little bit suspicious
> when you look at e.g. Ultimaker prints taking
> nearly a whole day at this resolution.

The thinner you print the faster you have to go. There is a minimum flow you need to maintain to prevent the PLA from burning or heat creeping up it too far. Also note that vase is small, I would guess it is about 30mm across the base so the time it takes in the video (minus the sped up parts) in not unreal.

Also after seeing this video I am a little less sceptical as I see now that it has a single head not dual so my previous comments about size restraints do not apply the same.]]> Sublime Developers Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:06:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228014#msg-228014 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228014#msg-228014
If they heat up PLA more than we usually do, maybe they can pull off thinner layers with higher speeds - I rarely print with PLA, though, so I leave thorough analysis to more experienced users, but speeds this high sound a little bit suspicious when you look at e.g. Ultimaker prints taking nearly a whole day at this resolution.

RichRap has already demonstrated filament joining to create color graduations. If they calculate input filament length necessary for a certain extrusion distance, an automatic filament joiner fed by the 5 cartridges might be the solution for how they mix filament colors. For sharp transitions, purging the nozzle into a waste container might be used.

So far, they didn't disappoint by not delivering any results, but remain a little bit suspicious in the speed/resolution claim and shrouded in mystery in the filament color mixing area.

Maybe some of us including me are overly sensitized by all the scam attempts that luckily were shot down pretty quickly most of the time, but until they show off more than little snippets and bits, I remain skeptical.
(My previous post may be worded a little bit too harshly at the end; I think they are a company with a real product, but am doubtful about their claimed superiority.)]]> uGen Developers Thu, 18 Jul 2013 11:49:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228002#msg-228002 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,228002#msg-228002
Now, it seems real, the transitions seem to be short and they seem to be going very closed source.
I'm wondering if it is actually true mixing (doubtful) or simply filament changing (does a good/average job). Time will tell, it's clearly not a scam though.

Nice resolution though.]]> yydoctt Developers Thu, 18 Jul 2013 11:01:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,227972#msg-227972 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,227972#msg-227972 video of their(?) printer printing now. Basically, you can't see much besides the fully enclosed head printing a vase, so it could be anything.
I remain very skeptical as the video doesn't include sound - it might have been sped up, with the sound removed to hide the higher pitch.
Some of the shadows in the background after the last cut are also moving quite fast. Not sure if it's just someone walking past or an artifact of video editing.
The only way to convince me is to show a wider view of the printer with some (moving) background for reference.

It would be fantastic if they indeed pull off what they claim, but all this secrecy and bits of not really informative information further doubts whether they are for real.]]> uGen Developers Thu, 18 Jul 2013 08:53:57 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,221848#msg-221848 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,221848#msg-221848 Maxx Mayhem Developers Wed, 26 Jun 2013 18:19:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211761#msg-211761 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211761#msg-211761 rsilvers Developers Fri, 24 May 2013 12:12:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211635#msg-211635 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211635#msg-211635 -------------------------------------------------------
> The child is a live photo. I had him hold his
> hands out. Then I over layed the render.

So your "rendered" image is actually a fake :)]]> bobc Developers Fri, 24 May 2013 04:09:54 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211625#msg-211625 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211625#msg-211625 rsilvers Developers Fri, 24 May 2013 03:44:42 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211606#msg-211606 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211606#msg-211606 rhmorrison Developers Fri, 24 May 2013 02:33:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211584#msg-211584 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211584#msg-211584
But now I think it's a flat out scam. They have shown no real images of prints OR a product. All they have are 2D renders of their printer that look kind of 3D-ish, and some obviously fake pictures of "output" from their fake product.]]> crispy1 Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 23:27:09 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211576#msg-211576 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211576#msg-211576
They are all obvious renders. Does this look real to you? I rendered it in Solidworks and entered a rendering contest with it six years and three months ago:


]]> rsilvers Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 21:37:58 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211494#msg-211494 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211494#msg-211494 Sublime Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 15:04:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211491#msg-211491 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211491#msg-211491
It is perhaps unfortunate that photo-realistic renderings are now so close to a professional photo that it is almost impossible to tell the difference. Although in some ways the "is it a hoax?" meme feeds quite nicely into a marketing teaser campaign. It creates buzz, which is all they are interested in until they can start shipping volume. It's the way Apple play the game, but of course Apple have a track record of delivering products.

It will be interesting to see if players like Makerbot have anything up their sleeve.]]> bobc Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 14:53:11 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211488#msg-211488 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211488#msg-211488 Dual head, supposedly one for support material the other for the 5 color mixing...

Still looks fake to me but if they can really build it to their specifications at the price listed they will do very well indeed.]]> rhmorrison Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 14:50:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211483#msg-211483 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211483#msg-211483 this will give you full color some how, but thigh control of the color and mixing? i don't think so]]> Gerard Choinka Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 14:39:33 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211459#msg-211459 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211459#msg-211459 -------------------------------------------------------
> They posted some images of the prints,
>
> [botobjects.com]


Renders, which will likely increase suspicion]]> yydoctt Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 13:49:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211366#msg-211366 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211366#msg-211366
[botobjects.com]]]> Gerard Choinka Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 09:03:54 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211352#msg-211352 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,211352#msg-211352
Again, I wonder why there is no youtube teaser of this "awesome" technology.]]> 3ntrlab Developers Thu, 23 May 2013 08:46:09 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,206096#msg-206096 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,206096#msg-206096 -------------------------------------------------------
> > There is nothing radically new in there
>
> That is how you make a believable fake story. It
> has to be somewhat plausible.

It's believable, therefore its a fake ?? Sounds like Catch 22 :)

> Let's place our bets. I bet hoax. I am very good
> at identifying fake stories.

Yes, so am I. I can usually spot a scam pretty easily, I've had many years practice. It's an idle boast but I would even say I was an expert at assessing projects.

I will take the bet. :)

The project may well end up delayed or perform lower than expectations, but I see none of the usual signs of the scam or hoax. They are really not making any claims that are too good to be true, like claiming to print bomb-proof shelters for the Army :)

The odd thing I find is that a lot of people are quick to call scam on obviously genuine projects, we've had several cases here. It's good to be skeptical but some people seem to be paranoid.]]> bobc Developers Mon, 06 May 2013 18:00:52 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,206030#msg-206030 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,206030#msg-206030
I suspect they could do something like RichRap's experiments in color printing. They will probably have trouble sharply transitioning between colors. Though I guess they could just extrude until they get the right color.


Only thing that makes me suspicious is the case(where do you open it?) and the fact that it's mass produced.]]> Gene Hacker Developers Mon, 06 May 2013 14:20:58 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,205984#msg-205984 Re: Botobjects color printer - hoax? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,205940,205984#msg-205984
That is how you make a believable fake story. It has to be somewhat plausible.


Let's place our bets. I bet hoax. I am very good at identifying fake stories. Real photos of the machine and parts made from it no later than July 30th (they claim they will have a Summer release party in NY) or else it is fake. You will see - if it is not revealed as a hoax (they may call it a "joke" because that sounds less illegal), then they will have some excuse about how they have to keep it a secret longer due to the patent process.]]> rsilvers Developers Mon, 06 May 2013 11:51:14 -0400