3D Printing

QU-BD One Up: A 3D printer for under US$200

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QU-BD's One Up 3D printer can print with a minimu layer height of 50 microns
QU-BD's One Up 3D printer can print with a minimu layer height of 50 microns
The One UP 3D printer from QU-BD
The One UP and Two printers come in kit form with the frame laser cut from MDF
A sample 50 micron print at 100 mm/s
A sample print at 60 mm/s / 0.1mm layer height in Fandango PLA
An owl feet closeup sample print at 60mm/s / 0.1mm layer height in Fandango PLA
View gallery - 6 images

The home 3D printing revolution has picked up pace in recent times with printers such as the MakiBox and Buccaneer making 3D printing increasingly more affordable. Although not as cheap as the homemade LEGObot, the QU-BD One Up is claiming the title of the world's cheapest production-ready 3D printer with a price tag of under US$200.

Already manufacturing and supplying parts for more than 20 3D printer companies, such as DeltaMaker, the folks at QU-BD took the next obvious step and decided to produce their own 3D printers. Joining the company's existing Revolution, Revolution XL and RPM Rapid Prototyping Mill are the One Up and Two Up units that boast a build area of 100 x 100 x 125 mm and 175 x 175 x 125 mm, respectively.

Both come in kit form and are open source. Designed as no frills alternatives to the company's metal-framed offerings, the One Up and Two Up feature a laser cut Melamine coated MDF (medium density fiberboard) frame and Arduino-based electronics.

A sample 50 micron print at 100 mm/s

Both print 1.75 mm PLA filament with a minimum layer height of 50 microns at a maximum speed of 100 mm/s. QU-BD includes a small amount of PLA filament with both printers, and is also offering a heated bed upgrade to add support for ABS as an optional extra. Both printers are identical, save for 75 mm longer smooth rods on the X and Y axis of the Two Up that give it a slightly larger build area.

Both the One Up and Two Up are available for pre-order on the QU-BD website for $199 and $279, respectively, with deliveries are due to begin in March next year. The printers are also the subject of a Kickstarter campaign that still has a few days to run but has far exceeded the initial $9,000 goal, providing some indication of the continuing growth in popularity of desktop 3D printers.

The company's Kickstarter video pitch can be viewed below.

Source: QU-BD

View gallery - 6 images
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7 comments
Ryan Gibbons
Cant wait till high quality,versatile, 3d printers go for £150...
Guy DeWardener
Looking forward to this... Have a dinosaur RapMan and a sweet Ultimaker. Would love to vet these as candidates for potential CAD and hands-on classes our high school (I'm a school board member)!
coresnake
It's cool that the prices are going down but let's not kid ourselves - the quality and speed are still just as crap as they were 5 years ago. You simply can't make anything useful with these TOYS.
Gregg Eshelman
Putting up a bunch of pics of 0.1mm layer printed objects doesn't help show off a printer's capabilities.
Take the time to run off several objects at the highest resolution it's capable of. This outfit has shown but one simple cylinder like that.
warren52nz
We all know where this is going once the marketing gurus get hold of it. Printers $199, plastic refill cartridges $500. We've learned the lesson from inkjet printers haven't we?
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is cool since it costs so little yet can do so much.
David Bell
Sure would be nice to hear about these Kickstarter items *before* they are either completed or all the best priced buy-ins are done!
@warren52nz: There are plenty of commercial and DIY filament extruders out there now, so you can recycle plastic scraps into your own filament, Can't do that with ink cartridges!! (Or razor blades - the original "free appliance" refill...)
Dave