3-D printers are awesome. That much is certain. Everyone who is an aficionado of the latest in technology has been enamored with the notion of being able to bring 3-D images to life. So far, however, mainstream 3-D printing has hit a significant snag - 3-D printers, even the entry-level models, are extremely expensive.
Well, that time will soon come to an end. Olo, a rather unassuming, simple device that has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign, has put out a very interesting pitch. According to the company, the Olo device has the capability to turn any smartphone into a full-fledged 3-D printer.
That's right. In the company's Kickstarter campaign, the firm states that the Olo device was designed specifically to be used with any mainstream smartphone. Printing is done through the Olo app, which is set to be released across the iOS, Android and Windows Mobile platforms. What is probably the most fascinating aspect of the device, however, is its price. Priced at just $99, Olo is one heck of a steal.
If the firm's Kickstarter campaign is any indication, the support for the device is overwhelming. The campaign's goal of $80,000 has already been surpassed, with the total pledges from 8,864 backers amounting to more than $1.2 million. If that does not show interest, we don't know what does.
Olo definitely has the potential to be a revolutionary device. Using small bottles of photopolymer, the device would be able to print images that are displayed in the Olo smartphone app. Printing is done using white light from a smartphone's display, pinpointing the light source to harden the photopolymer resin.
Surprisingly, the Olo 3-D printer has a pretty good resolution, with the firm stating that it could reach a resolution of up to 32 microns. Designs for the 3-D prints could be imported from 3-D software such as Autodesk 123D Catch, as well as other mainstream 3-D software for desktop computers.
The Olo device is pretty light, weighing in at 1.7 lbs. It is pretty portable, too, and is powered by four conventional AA batteries. During operation, the Olo device is also fully silent, thanks in part to the device's extremely simple construction.
If the product does make it to mainstream markets, the practice of 3-D printing could possibly change forever.
