Modix, a manufacturer of large and medium format material extrusion systems, is ready to unveil its latest 3D printer, the Modix Core-Meter, at the upcoming Formnext 2023. The Core Meter is incredibly affordable at $6,900 and still offers a significant build volume of 1,000 x 1,000 x 1,000 mm. Typically, printers with such large build volumes come with a high price tag, often exceeding $50,000. However, this extremely affordable price introduces a new paradigm. For the cost of an Ultimaker and less than many professional systems, the ability to print huge objects is now a reality.
I believe this will attract many industrial companies that may have previously considered 3D printing too costly for their larger part sizes. Think, for example, of industries such as the molding, casting and rail industries, in which large parts are processed for us. These companies are very cost-conscious and look for reliable machines – workhorses like the 3NTR and Filament Innovations systems. Previously, the market for high-temperature 3D printing was rather inaccessible until Intamsys released a system priced at around $6,000 that significantly opened up the market. These companies made it possible to achieve high repeatability and high throughput, but the cost of printing large parts remained a barrier. Given Modix’s larger size, the purchase could become a spur-of-the-moment decision for many companies.
The printer works with a Core XY mechanism, is equipped with Duet and has a high-flow hot end and an extruder from Phaetus, namely Rapida and APUS. Optional additions include housing, air filtration and filament drying, which can be purchased separately. Modix 3D printers have always been heralded as workhorses; They are robust, not sensitive. They are essentially flat-packed and require assembly, resulting in shipping cost savings for both Modix and its customers.
“Modix is taking a significant step forward by diversifying our product portfolio.” “We will soon offer a total of seven different models, meeting a broader range of customer needs,” said Shachar Gafni, CEO of Modix.
“We firmly believe that the Core family has the ability to open up an untapped market segment and offer high-quality large 3D printers to a wider audience.” We look forward to showcasing our new offerings at our expanded booth at Formnext present and look forward to reconnecting with industry partners and colleagues at this momentous event,” said CCO John van El.
Recently, the medium format market has become quite saturated and despite the modest size of the segment, numerous large material extrusion systems have been launched. I believe that medium format in particular has a wide range of applications. It accommodates formwork, large molds, castings, outdoor advertising, home components, automotive aftermarket components, plumbing, room dividers, furniture, specialty vehicle components and more. One application, special vehicles, is an area that is particularly close to my heart.
While the future seems promising, the current scenario seems a bit bleak. Current medium format systems are large, expensive and only offer limited build volumes. On the other hand, larger systems such as CEAD’s are tailored to much larger parts of 2 m and larger, but come at a high cost. Is there an optimal solution for a low-cost 3D printer with a build volume of 1 million? I’m confident, especially given the low cost per print on this machine. It allows for slow printing for greater accuracy and the option to purchase multiple units is always there. This pricing could be the catalyst to spur growth in this segment.
In scenarios such as outdoor advertising and molds where a single component could cost $5,000 or $10,000, the business case for this machine becomes extremely compelling. This undertaking by Modix is bold and could potentially open up a wealth of exciting new applications.
