Snapmaker is an upcoming Kickstarter project with a lofty goal: to be the holy trinity for at-home makers to transform between a 3D printer, a CNC carver, and a laser engraver using detachable modules. The idea seems almost clear in retrospect. Three-axis motors are required for all three devices to work: why not combine them into one?
But not only is Snapmaker standing out for its modular design, it is also impressively inexpensive. On Kickstarter, the default Snapmaker costs $299, which includes only the 3D printer. The laser engraver and CNC modules then cost $75 each, making the whole package cost $449, which would be a pretty decent price, let alone all three, for only one of these devices.
Snapmaker also says that with a “all-metal” construction and 3.2-inch colour touchscreen, it provides a reasonably high-quality printer for the price. The 3D printing module will print objects up to 125 x 125 x 125mm in size at a resolution of 50-300 microns when it comes to real requirements. The laser module provides a 500mW beam when it comes to engraving, which can work with wood, bamboo, leather, plastic, cloth, and paper. And at speeds of between 2,000 and 7,000 RPM, the CNC module can carve wood, acrylic, and PCB.
These are obviously some pretty big pledges to be made especially at the relatively low price point at which Snapmaker sells. And the pressure is on Snapmaker to prove that they can actually deliver, as a first time crowdfunded project from a young company that has yet to ship a product before. And although the company has posted videos on YouTube showing the different modules in motion, it is likely that the whole thing is too good to be true at the price Snapmaker is offering.
