November Update: Eager Enthusiast & Batch 1 Printers Are Now Shipping!

Posted By: M3D LLC - View: public

Nov 8, 2018 - 12:50 PM

Dear Backers,


As some of you are starting to receive and complete the final checkout, verifying your shipping addresses and choice of add-ons, we were able to compile a list of the most popular questions which will be addressed in this update.


Outline:


Checkout Invitations

 

First thing first, all backers with Eager Enthusiast and Batch 1 orders should have received emails prompting them to finalize their order. If you backed one of those tiers and have not received the email invitation (such as if our automated email notification wound up on your spam folder or was deleted by accident), here is how you can finalize your order:

Please note: Checkout invitations are being sent out in batches and not everyone receives them at the same time, so we appreciate your patience in awaiting the invitation email. If you have not received a checkout invitation yet, we will continue sending them out to other backer tiers later this month as earlier orders get fulfilled.


Shipping

 

We are now shipping Eager Enthusiast and Batch 1 Crane 3D printers. The main factors that affect your place in the queue are batch number, order date, checkout date, and preferences selected during checkout. We are unable to provide individual shipping times beyond estimated shipping start dates from the previous update, but we are working on getting everyone their printers the soonest we can. Shipping has started according to the timeline provided in the previous update (please note that months denote the start of shipping only, actual shipping times are a range and will continue throughout the coming months).


Here is how you can check if your order is shipping soon:

Due to a high volume of orders, the average wait time between checkout and shipping currently varies between 2-8 weeks for Batch 1 and Eager Enthusiast backers. Other batches are not shipping yet and we will update you here when they are ready. Please be patient and make sure that your information (such as shipping address and add-ons) is up-to-date and accurate at all times.


Hardware and Software


The hardware, as well as software/firmware and configuration of all three Crane models (Bowden, Dual and Quad) has been finalized and will remain the same going forward.


As more and more backers receive their printers, we will make pre-sliced G-codes available, which will contain:




One of the Crane Quad test prints has already been implemented to use our signature color skirt to showcase your printer’s capability.


We've also included utility functions specific to loading/unloading filament on the Cranes. Our documentation has been vastly updated and customers will also be able to submit their own print profiles from various slicers.


As some of you may have heard, M3D is finalizing a partnership with Voxelizer, a 3D printing software that we found to work best with the QuadFusion extruder and Crane Quad 3D printer. This has allowed us to do color prints with very simple and straightforward methods, and we wanted to make it accessible to our users. We were able to make an arrangement so that all M3D users will receive a free 2-month software license. We are in talks regarding the possibility of increasing the free trial to 3 months, but that is currently not a guarantee.


The most recent version of the Voxelizer can be found at:

http://update.voxelizer.com/versions/experimental/latest


You can use the following form to register your interest in using the Beta version of Voxelizer: https://voxelizer.com/compatibility. The Voxelizer team will be sending the invitations to people who express interest through the form.


You will be asked to create a Voxelizer account and install the software, as well as agree to their terms of use (please note: these are different from M3D). We urge everyone to wait until you receive your 3D printer to activate a free 2-month license.


The software is still beta, so you may experience some difficulties. While access to this beta license is free, it is important to note that the final software will need to be purchased. To provide users more options not requiring the purchase of new software, we'll be making some final updates to a free community-created post-processing Cura plugin that can handle color similar to Voxelizer.


User Prints As you receive your 3D printers, we highly encourage everyone to share what you create by posting photos to Discord, Instagram, or even sending them to us at hello@printm3d.com. With Cranes, and especially Quads, being such a new 3D printer series and concept, we look forward to building an active community of users and appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. (And we’re always happy to share your work and give you a shoutout on our social media, so please do not hesitate posting your creations!) As we receive your photos, we will be building a gallery of user prints on our website.





Documentation and Guides Together with your Crane 3D printer, you should receive a card with these important notices:

WARRANTY: Standard manufacturer warranty has been applied to your 3D printer automatically. Extended warranty options are available at store.printm3d.com.

MODIFICATIONS: While you are free to modify your machine, any modifications or attempted repairs that cause damage to your printer will void the warranty. POWER: Please check your power supply voltage to make sure it's correct! USER MANUAL: Please view the guides on crane.printm3d.com for any questions you may have about getting started with your new 3D printer. Crane Gitbooks have been significantly updated over the past few weeks. One of the most important sections that we recommend paying attention to is Changelog. It covers updates to the configuration, firmware, dwc version, and really anything relative to Crane software. This is where we will put any reported problems and solutions. As always, thank you for your support and have a great holiday season! Best regards, The M3D Team

September Shipping Update

Posted By: M3D LLC - View: public

Sep 18, 2018 - 2:27 PM

Hi everyone,


Hope you all had a great summer! As we are all getting ready to enjoy the onset of Autumn and everything that comes with it, we are also getting ready to ship out your Cranes! Read on for more updates.


Assembly Line & Manufacturing Status


We have finished setting up our assembly line and begun assembling the first Cranes! We have all the parts for the first batches of the Cranes, and will begin with Bowden’s then move on to Duals & Quads. See below for some pictures of our assembly line and manufacturing process.




We do not want to have a beta launch, so we are working towards making sure we have the proper user flow and instruction guides to ensure all of our users begin with a solid foundation of aggregate knowledge. Our number one goal is that when your Crane lands you have the ability to select a gcode file, hit print, and get an immediate impressive success, so you have confidence in the printer and can then work with us to get out your dream prints, knowing the machine is fully capable. This is especially important for Crane Quad users, since it is a new technology with unique properties, technical guides must be followed for success.


We want to ensure that you have a smooth and positive user experience, so we are dedicating a lot of time to creating  a really robust and thorough collection of user guides. You will be able to access them here: https://crane.printm3d.com/.  


Resolved Challenges & Product Changes


Based on initial testing and feedback, we have made a few changes to our quad printhead: we made small hardware tweaks with the fan, and made the fan holders stronger and angled them inward for more symmetrical fan cooling over the print. Above all, we also noticed an issue where fan blades were breaking and getting in the way of changing your nozzle, so we moved the fan from the front to the back in order to correct this.



Left - The updated front side of the QuadFusion head. Right - The updated back side of the QuadFusion head, the fan is internally ducted.


Recent Prints & Timelapses


We have been very busy testing the Cranes to put  together a process for color 3D printing, and are very excited by the results! See below for some of our most recent prints.


You may find the files and credits for these prints here: thing:2421704, thing:31722, thing:1045223, thing:2362220, thing:2429838, & https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-miniature-lookout-tower-54889



The Bowden has been printing beautifully so far, here are our most recent Bowden prints:


thing:763622



Credit for this file goes to: @filamentfrenzy


As well as our most recent Quad prints:


You can find this castle print here: https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-tower-of-cascades-59808



thing:2362220



thing:2429838


In these timelapses, you can see the Crane Quad demonstrating some of its unique features: In the fish timelapse, the print head switches from one color filament to another, and in the frog timelapse, the QuadFusion is mixing different CMYK filaments together to create new colors!


Checkouts and Shipping Timeline


We will be sending out a final checkout email to all of you soon where you will be able to verify your shipping address, pay for shipping, and add accessories or add-ons (such as glass beds and filament) to your order. You will also have the ability to upgrade your printer if you originally pre-ordered one version but now want to change it, or to add a second printer to your order.


Upon receiving our email invitation to final checkouts, please login to your FitForLaunch account  (link to https://fitforlaunch.com/login), go to “My Contributions,” and “Complete Order.” Checkout invitations will be sent out in batches and  not everyone will receive them at the same time, so we appreciate your patience in awaiting the invitation.


We are gearing up to begin shipping out the first Bowdens in the next two weeks, and Duals and Quads will begin shortly after that. Here is our estimated timeline for when we will begin shipping each batch:

We already have the parts for the first batch of Bowdens Duals & Quads, and the second batch of Bowdens. Parts for Bowden batch 3 and Dual batch 2 are on their way to us. Parts for Quad batch 2 and Dual batch 3 should ship out to us in October, parts for Bowden batch 4 should ship out to us in November, and parts for Quad batch 3 and Dual batch 4 should ship out to us in December. We estimate to begin shipping Bowden batch 1 in September, to begin shipping Bowden batch 2, Dual batch 1 and Quad batch 1 in October, to begin shipping Bowden batch 3 and Dual batch 2 in November, and to begin shipping Dual batch 3 and Quad batch 2 in December. We wanted to wait before providing an estimated timeline for deliveries after December. If you do not see your batch on this timeline it should ship out in January or February of 2019. We apologize for not updating you on the shipping timeline sooner. As a small company with limited resources we chose to dedicate all possible manpower to focusing on product quality, putting many hours of testing and refinement into each unit so that you have the best quality at the best price. Product affordability and accessibility has always been one of M3D’s main goals, so far no competitor has been able to match or beat us on that despite having more resources and bigger R&D budgets - so we thank you once again for your patience in awaiting the delivery and putting your faith in the Crane 3D printer!


Thank you again for backing this project and for taking the time to read this update. Keep an eye out for the checkout email which will be coming your way soon, and stay updated in our discord channel!


Best,

The M3D Team





Crane Time Lapse

Posted By: M3D LLC - View: public

Jul 17, 2018 - 7:08 PM

Hello Everyone, 


We would like to share a time lapse of the Crane Quad. Enjoy!



Shop Talk

Posted By: M3D LLC - View: public

May 8, 2018 - 1:31 PM

Don't fret it you missed the Facebook Live last week, you can check it out here: 



We'll be holding more of these live Q&A sessions throughout the campaign. If you're not already subscribed, be sure to join our email list and get a heads up on everything going on with us and this campaign (scroll to the bottom of this page). Talk soon!

What An Exciting Couple of Weeks!

Posted By: M3D LLC - View: public

May 7, 2018 - 4:13 PM

The Crane debuted last week and was met with a lot of excitement and curiosity. Many realize the potential of the Crane. Whether it’s a high quality, base Crane Bowden with a reputable Duet control board for an incredible price point, a Crane Dual with added features or access to the future of 3D printing with the Crane Quad, the Crane series of 3D printers is opening up a lot of conversation and investigation into the greater capabilities of 3D printing, especially at this sub-$1K price point. 




One such example are the possibilities around a 3D printer such as the Crane Quad. We all know by now that the QuadFusion extruder head can mix filament together to create color. The prints on the launch page illustrate the ability to create colors on the fly and create gradient prints. Which, that alone and and of itself is a novel perspective for 3D printing. Since the introduction of the Crane Quad, we have been asked if it can achieve the more difficult tasks to print multiple colors on a single layer, as well as the ability to do spot color. Our response to questions like these is a resounding YES. Through model slicing, this is absolutely possible. We recently started a project which applies and mixes several colors on one layer. It’s in an early stage and is something we’re really excited to prove is possible and will be refining further. Exciting stuff, right?


 


Other questions arose about color with respect to filaments, what can be achieved through four-filament mixing 3D printing and switching between colors, for example. To answer these questions, check out the 3DPrint.com article from earlier this year, or the recent Q&A Session. (and as always, for any questions you may have, come chat with us on Discord.) 


NEW! For the Crane 3D Printer Series: Community Referral Program 

With our lowest tier closing out soon, we’ve prepared another way to get a Crane 3D printer for a great deal. In the words of the Beatles, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” The new batch is called the Referral Batch because people who pre-order through that specific Batch will have a chance to get credit applied to their account after a friend pre-orders a Crane through their link. When this happens, everyone wins as Referrers and Friends will each split the Reward ranging from $50-$100 (dependent on printer type) between them! Whether the link is sent for the Bowden, Dual or Quad, the original Account Holder can earn FitForLaunch store credit valued at $25, $35 or $50 per friend, respectively, to be used on filament, add-ons, or even an entirely new Crane printer!


Access your link and start sharing: 


That's all for now. It's awesome to think we've gotten this far in a matter of weeks and want to thank everyone for their support and interest so far!