Note: Normally I would approach such announcements with journalistic stoicism, but I’m just having too much fun with this new product from Elegoo.
Today, November 4, 2023, Elegoo, maker of excellent, if usually quite tame, 3D printer, is launching a Kickstarter for a printer that is, frankly, outrageous. It’s called the OrangeStorm Giga (the biggest Kaiju name ever) and is a printer with a build area of 800 x 800 x 1,000 mm or 2.6 x 2.6 x 3.2 feet. Although Elegoo has announced that it will be aimed at the commercial market, there are many reasons for small businesses and even hobbyists to jump on board if they can.
The sheer size of the Giga is tempting. With an 800mm square plate, you could print a full-size chest piece for an Iron Man outfit or make prototypes for any number of projects in one pass. With a build area of 1 meter, you can create giant vases for your home or life-size busts and artwork for your walls.
You can also add more printheads (maximum four total) that allow you to print multiple models at the same time in different colors, making it a great way to mass produce models for your small business. These printheads can currently only be used for cloning models, not for making multiple color prints, and the standard model currently only has one head.
The Giga has a maximum print speed of 300mm/s, but Elegoo recommends 150mm/s, which is plenty fast if you want to print objects as large as you can imagine. If you were to use the multi-head version, you would print four models at 150mm/s, which would increase your output by 400%.
This Kaiju 3D printer also features a segmented heat bed – parts of which can be heated independently to different temperatures – so you can save money and electricity by heating only the section you need. If you are printing smaller parts, you can print in a quadrant and only that quadrant will be heated.
The OrangeStorm Giga is available to support via Kickstarter starting November 4, 2023, and although the retail price will be several thousand dollars, the earliest early bird price is $1,250, putting it within the reach of a small business owner or even a hobbyist making money has left. However, remember that this is a Kickstarter and therefore it is not a sure thing.
I love it when companies step out of their comfort zone and reach behind the scenes. Elegoo makes solid, reliable and affordable 3D printers that work well and are great for beginners. Now Kaiju does it too. I love it and will follow it with interest.