Charlotte Craff, Author at re:3D | Life-Sized Affordable 3D Printing

Engineering Updates June 2023

a 3d model of a touchscreen case seen from the inside.

Hello, Giga Friends! Happy summer from Texas! It’s been an amazing few months since we released Gigabot 4, Terabot 4 and GigabotX 2 at the start of the year. We’ve reconnected with many long-time Gigabot owners seeking upgrades, taking advantage of our free parts for older machines (don’t know about those? Get on our mailing list!) or purchasing new printers to add to their Gigabot family. We’ve also met many new owners doing fascinating projects with 3D printing as we continue to roll out our most advanced Gigabots, yet.

The re:3D team has grown quite a bit, and on the engineering side, new teammates have taken on the task of putting fresh eyes on our parts and firmware to continue to iterate and improve our newest version, especially taking into account the feedback you have shared with us as beta testers and new owners. As such, we’re excited to share some updates with you on the progress of a few projects. As an open source company, we’re happy to report where we are in development of new tools and features for your 3D printers, stress testing and implementing them on Gigabot as they mature.

Touchscreen Case

Simplify3D v5

Klipper Software

Touchscreen Case – Project Leads: Sami Hill and Alejandro Leal

With the release of the new versions of the 3D printers came the exciting addition of the full color, front mounted touchscreen, and it’s been a huge improvement for user interface over the previous VIKI controller. This is a work in progress update, and this case will be released as soon as it is fully tested. We’ve identified three main areas in which we’re iterating for an even better user experience:

Case Durability and Rigidity
Cable Connection to the Touchscreen
USB Drive Connection Point

Case Durability and Rigidity
We want this case to protect your touchscreen from bumps and falls as well as stay rigid when the touchscreen pivots on the mounting arm. As such we’ve thickened the case and bezel, putting more protective material around the sensitive electronic parts.

Cable Connection to the Touchscreen
Inside the thickened case, there is new cable routing to make sure cable bends don’t exceed their minimum bend radius, and we have added a cable sleeve at the entry point to minimize abrasion on the cables as the case moves.

USB Drive Connection Point
One of your common pieces of feedback is that the USB drive slot on the touchscreen is sometimes misaligned with the case. We’ve added internal bracing to that slot so the cable stays put and cleanly receives USB drives to load files onto the 3D printer.

Simplify3D v5 – Project Lead: Jordan Smith

The release of Simplify3D v5, our preferred slicing software, came with some great new features we’ve been testing on Gigabot. We’ve been most especially excited by the new infill and support patterns allowing quicker, cleaner support removal and morphing infill for stronger internal structures and better top layer finishes. Simplify3D v5 also added support for Klipper commands, which we’re excited to explore. Alongside the new software release we now have fully tested Simplify3D v5 FFF profiles available for your Gigabot 4 3D printers.

Klipper Software – Project Lead: Mitchell Mashburn

We have been diligently progressing on a new software update, v0.4.0 for Klipper stack, expected to be released soon. This update, based on your feedback, aims to offer a more optimized and up-to-date software experience for Gigabot owners. As part of this update, we have upgraded various components, including the Klipper firmware, Moonraker API, and Mainsail front-end interface. Detailed changelogs for each component are available via the links below.

While we conduct further testing before the release, we invite Gigabot owners running Klipper to participate in our alpha/beta testing program and gain early access to software to help us identify issues (apply here: https://forms.gle/2xe5Na3SHxK7Vqjx7).

Version 0.4.0 Upgrades Include:

Klipper (firmware): 0.10.0 -> 0.11.0 — See full changelog here: https://www.klipper3d.org/Releases.html

Improved error handling for the max31856 temperature sensor
New modules added, notably exclude_object which allows skipping an object on a multi-part print
Various bug fixes

Moonraker (API): 0.7.1 -> 0.8.0 — See full changelog here: https://moonraker.readthedocs.io/en/latest/changelog/

Data structure change
Improved update manager
Improved metadata parsing for Simplify3D V5.
Various bug fixes

Mainsail (front-end interface): 2.3.0-Beta -> 2.5.1 — See full changelog here: https://github.com/mainsail-crew/mainsail/releases

Option to change date & time format in settings
Add jobs to queue in batches
Send PAUSE at a specific layer change
Various bug fixes

Additional Changes & Features:

Webcam/timelapse integration
Simplify3D v5 thumbnails
Support for SD card looping to run continuous prints/gcode – M808 command
Removed screensaver on touchscreen
New and improved scripts to automate software upgrades and maintenance.
System dependencies upgrade
Image compression upgrade. (now not limited to balena etcher 1.5.15)
Update and version control improvements
Path changes.
Various bug fixes
Minor UI changes – macro placement, panels, etc
Updated README

We are committed to continuously improving Klipper and have several exciting features on our watch list, including automatic bed leveling, remote monitoring, control, and support, among others.

Have any questions or comments about these updates? We encourage you to add comments on our forum, or shoot us an email at info@re3d.org. Thanks, and happy printing!

Charlotte craff

Blog Post Author

New Year, New Printers! Meet Gigabot 4, Terabot 4, GigabotX 2 & TerabotX 2

A green plated circuit board with many electrical components.

Introducing the Next Evolution of re:3D 3D Printers Featuring Klipper Firmware and ArchiMajor Control Boards

When deciding what changes to make on the next version of your Gigabot and Terabot 3D printers, your needs came first. The Gigabot family of customers has always inspired us to push this technology forward because it’s what you do with it that motivates us. Whether you’re teaching the next generation of change makers or innovating in advanced manufacturing, your feedback determines where we put our R&D focus.

The biggest visual change you’ll see on all versions of re:3D 3D printers is the front mounted 10” full color LCD touchscreen. The touchscreen includes temperature, and motion controls, temperature history graph and preset macros. The menu options add file management, gcode editing, command line input, and print history analytics and tracking. Also included is a webcam viewer for remote monitoring and an integrated USB port for loading gcode files directly on to your printer.

This touchscreen software is just one component of our new Klipper open-source software stack. We’ve transitioned from Marlin firmware to Klipper because it enables high precision stepper movement, smooth pressure advance and input shaping, and also an API server that enables opportunity for custom development. The Klipper web application runs the touchscreen from a Raspberry Pi and enables you to access the printer from your local network on desktop or mobile browsers with all the same control options you’re able to perform directly at the printer.

In order to successfully integrate this exciting new software stack, we’ve overhauled our electrical system starting with the control board. We partnered with US based manufacturer Ultimachine to design a custom 32bit ArchiMajor control board for your Gigabot. The advanced board features eight integrated stepper motor drivers, three heater outputs, five thermocouple inputs, four controllable fans and eight endstops. These provide flexibility to extend the functionality of your Gigabot, for example, adding an additional thermocouple or part cooling which is under development at re:3D. The new control board and the Raspberry Pi are now inside a 16” electrical enclosure with an integrated power switch, power filter and more durable flex rated cabling. Not only does this board increase your 3D printer’s processing power, but it allows us to better control our supply chain and electronics quality with a strong US manufacturer as our partner.

View the press release about this partnership.

Raspberry Pi 4 Inside Electrical Enclosure

Platform-Wide Features

Stress tested in the re:3D factory, the new tube-style thermocouple is a more durable, consistent and accurate temperature reader for your Gigabot. We’ve added this improvement with a ½” thick aluminum bed plate, that is precision-blanchard ground flat and parallel to less than 0.005”. The bed is heated by a full-size silicone rubber heating pad, which allows the printing of high-temperature industrial materials. A robust cable carrier and cables rated for 1 million cycles of flexing protects all moving wires. Additionally, all unenclosed printers come standard with full side panels to protect electronics and cabling

FFF Filament 3D Printer Features

In the transition from Gigabot 3+ to Gigabot 4 we’ve pushed out some changes early as technology improvements have increased reliability and longevity for your printer. Many of these updates center around the extrusion system: The all metal extruder body, 20 Series Hot Ends for 0.8 nozzles and Terabot 4, tube style thermocouples and heater cartridges are all standard, combining to make the most robust, industrial extruder system ever on your Gigabot.

To keep Gigabot affordable you may still purchase a regular 600 mm cubed Gigabot 4 as a kit which ships in flatpack boxes, and the full enclosure is an optional add-on for pre-built Gigabot 4 and Gigabot 4 XLT sized 3D printers. Terabot 4, as before, comes with the enclosure standard. One change we’ve integrated as standard is the side panels on your Gigabot cover the full side on the left and right to provide better protection for the motors and electronic components.

As with the changes we made during Gigabot 3+’s lifespan, This is just the beginning. Gigabot 4 will continue to iterate and grow and change to meet your needs as the technology evolves. Plans are already in the works for a filament dry box, bed probing and even more robust build plate and frame improvements. Stay tuned!

20 Series Hot End for 0.8mm Nozzles and Terabot 4

FGF Pellet and Granule 3D Printer Features

Since releasing the beta version of Gigabot X in 2018, re:3D invested significant R&D resources from community support to produce a more agile, advanced and capable fused granular fabrication 3D printer.

GigabotX 2 features a feeding and extrusion system precision engineered for processing pelletized and granular thermoplastics. Material is manually fed into the 24 hour capacity hopper which rides on an independent hopper gantry system, to allow a full and smooth range of motion and consistent feeding into the extruder.

Print material flows from the hopper into the extruder via either the gravity fed feed throat or the optional active feeding system, or crammer, which includes a motorized auger that pushes material into the extruder with a user controllable feed rate.

The GigabotX 2 extruder is powered by a 425 ozf*in NEMA 23 motor with planetary gear box to provide increased torque for flowing materials. The extruder is a solid steel ⅝” screw with 16:1 L/D ratio designed with our partners specifically for consistent throughput for thermoplastics. Three independently controllable heaters are mounted on the extruder barrel allowing for extrusion temperatures up to 270°C. Interchangeable nozzles between 0.4mm and 2.85mm in diameter can be used to control resolution and extrusion width.

GigabotX 2 is the culmination of our mission to enable more users to 3D print directly from novel and waste plastics, but we’re not stopping here. Research is currently underway to integrate a granulator, dryer and automatic feeding system with GigabotX 2 to make machine operation even more efficient and user friendly and enable anyone anywhere any time to be the problem solvers for their community.

Charlotte craff

Blog Post Author

ArchiMajor gigabot gigabot 4 Gigabot X gigabotX gigabotx 2 klipper R&D ultimachine

re:3D installing Terabot and Terabot X at the Autodesk Technology Center in Boston, MA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

re:3D installing Terabot and Terabot X at the Autodesk Technology Center in Boston, MA

Boston, MA – re:3D, Inc. is delivering large-format filament, pellet and granule based 3D printing to the Autodesk Technology Center in Boston. A Texas and Puerto Rico based manufacturer, re:3D’s printers are beta units of Terabot 4, a filament extrusion 3D printer with a build volume of 915 x 915 x 1000mm (36” x 36”x 39.5”) and Terabot X 2, a pellet and granule extrusion 3D printer with a build volume of 892 x 908 x 830mm (35” x 35.75” x 32.75”). The 3D printers are available for residents of the Autodesk Technology Centers Outsight Network for large format 3D printing using both virgin and recycled or reground thermoplastics. Visitors to the Technology Center can view the Terabot 4 in action now after a successful installation over the last week. The Terabot X 2 installation is forthcoming.

As part of Autodesk Research, the Technology Centers catalyze new possibilities for making through the power of connection. They bring together a global network of innovation leaders, data-enabled fabrication workshops, curated experiences, and forward-thinking ideas to empower innovators in achieving the new possible, together.

The Outsight Network is Autodesk Research’s global innovation network. It includes resident teams from industry, academic, and entrepreneurial sectors who are passionate about accelerating and researching design and make processes. Teams in the network are connected with industry experts, the diverse and vibrant Technology Centers community, resources, and if applicable, have access to advanced fabrication machinery and training.

“We are thrilled to share this technology with Autodesk and its partners at the Boston Technology Center,” says re:3D Co-founder and Catalyst, Samantha Snabes. “Enabling 3D printing from waste plastics at scale has the capacity to make real-world impact and empower local communities. We’re excited the cutting-edge designers at Autodesk Technology Centers will be researching and innovating using re:3D 3D printers, putting sustainable 3D printing to great use.”

To learn more about how Terabot and all the 3D printers in re:3D’s portfolio are built, re:3D is offering live, monthly virtual tours of its Houston, TX factory. The next opportunity is Monday, September 19, at 10:00am CT. Attendees can register at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3d-printer-factory-tour-virtual-edition-tickets-123094640383

About re:3D
re:3D, Inc. consists of a group of explorers committed to decimating the cost & scale barriers to industrial 3D printing. Having pioneered the world’s first and most affordable, human-scale industrial 3D printer, re:3D likewise is creating large scale, affordable 3D printers printing from pellets, regrind, and flake plastic waste. Beyond creating 3D printers for customers in over 50 countries, re:3D offers 3D printing contract services, consulting, design and education services. For more information on re:3D, visit www.re3d.org.

About Autodesk
Autodesk is changing how the world is designed and made. Our technology spans architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media and entertainment, empowering innovators everywhere to solve challenges big and small. From greener buildings to smarter products to more mesmerizing blockbusters, Autodesk software helps our customers to design and make a better world for all. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.

Charlotte craff

Blog Post Author

Gigabot Engineering Updates – April 2022

Hi Gigabot family! It’s been a few months since we posted an engineering update, but re:3D’s engineers have been far from idle. We’ve made some further improvements to the new Metal Body Extruders and created an entirely new hot end to keep pushing the Gigabot to produce better and better results and improve your user experience. See below for details on what has changed. Current Gigabot^®, Gigabot^®X, Exabot^® and Terabot^® owners can order these as replacement parts that are upgradable from previous versions.

New Parts

Gigabot^® 3+, Terabot^®, Exabot^®

20 Series Hot Ends – Replacing the Mondo Hot End, the re:3D 20 Series Hot End was created by our engineers and machinists to increase the max flow rate of polymer deposition. With a greater flow rate, parts can print faster, reducing production time and cost. The 20 Series Hot End achieves this with a 20mm long heater block wrapped in Nomex® insulation. It comes standard with an A2 hardened steel nozzle for printing with abrasive materials like carbon-filled polymers. You can select either 0.4mm or 0.8mm nozzle size for your application.
20 Series Fan Mounts – Fan mounts specific for the new 20 Series Hot End, these direct airflow to your prints for cooling.
Terabot only: Bed Frame Stands – an accessory for Terabot to aid in resetting the bed leveling.

Fit and Strength Part Adjustments

The below parts have had geometry changes or other additions to make them stronger or fit more precisely.

Gigabot^® 3+, Terabot^®, Exabot^®

Metal Body Extruders- transitioned the new Metal Body Extruders from an aluminum frame and plastic inset to a complete aluminum piece.
Light Strip Cover – redesigned to fit new LED light strip with on/off switch

Gigabot^® X

Gigabot X Extruder Cover – fit and tolerance adjustments. more secure mounting
Motor Spacer – added wire management clips for all connections to the extruder
End Rail Caps – covering the ends of the aluminum extrusion on the X cross rail.

a long skinny black cover for a led light strip — LED Light Cover

Firmware

Gigabot^® X 4.2.4.2 Reg

This release is GBX 4.2.4 with some bug fixes discovered after the release of GBX 4.2.4. The fixes are:

Updating the GBX Regular build volume in the X, Y, and Z dimensions
Updating the GBX XLT build volume in the X, Y, and Z dimensions
Adjusting the minimum temperature for the heat sink fan from 18C to 60C

Check out additional update on our Forum. Want to chat with an engineer to share feedback on your Gigabot & re:3D design priorities? Email info@re3d.org.

Happy Printing!

~Your Gigabot Engineering Team

engineering gigabot Gigabot X Gigabox Enclosure R&D

How To Make a 3D Printed Concrete Stamp

A section of concrete stamped with the phrase "Macklin Manor. Est 1989"

Pressed into the concrete outside the newly remodeled Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio is a distinctive embossment, “Macklin Manor, Est: 1989.” The notation was added to honor the church’s long-serving pastor, Reverend Lewis Macklin II, a much-beloved community leader in Youngstown. What isn’t obvious about that marker however, is that the concrete stamp that made it was 3D printed.

Concrete stamping has been around since the 1950s, and the earliest stamps were made of sheet metal or even wood. Modern concrete stamps are made from molded polyurethane and have patterns that can make concrete look like brick, tile, or stone. Custom stamps are traditionally used to add company logos, building numbers, etc., but the lead time to create one is upwards of one to two months. What do you do if you need a concrete stamp and only have a few days before the cement trucks arrive? You call someone with a really big 3D printer, and in Youngstown, for Holy Trinity Church, that person was Pam Szmara.

We recently spoke to Pam Szmara with Pamton 3D Printing about the Macklin Manor project, and she shared this how-to, modified from Formlabs instructions, for how you can make your own custom concrete stamp.

Here's Pamton 3D's advice:

We recently completed a project that required us to design and 3D print a stamp capable of personalizing a concrete stone at Macklin Manor in Youngstown, Ohio. We enjoyed the project and are excited to have the capability to make small or large personalized concrete stamps for our clients’ residential and commercial projects.

So, how do you do it? How can you use additive manufacturing technology to help you personalize or preserve the history of your buildings, projects, or events?

Here’s a quick rundown of the process.

1. Draw your stamp digitally using a vector file format. You can use a software program like Adobe Illustrator or a free program like Inkscape to do this. When you have the design complete, save it as a Scalable Vector Graphic (.SVG) file, which can be imported into a CAD software to make the 3D model. Alternatively, sketch the drawing directly in the CAD software.

– The final design must be mirrored so that the stamp itself is the reverse of what will appear on a stamped surface.
– Use large, widely-spaced lettering and thick details so that the features read well in concrete.

2. Convert the vector design into a 3D model. Using 3D modeling software like Fusion 360, Onshape or Tinkercad, convert your two-dimensional .SVG file from a curve to a mesh. Then, extrude the mesh to make a 3d shape.

3. Add a backing plate. Add a rectangular backing plate to the shape. This will give you a flat, sturdy surface to stand on as you press the design into the concrete. We recommend the design fill up 80% of the rectangle.

"...it will take half a day or more to print your stamp, so crack open a beer and relax."

Pam Szmara

4. Optional: Add a stamp handle. A handle will help you easier position and remove the concrete stamp, however it will make your stamp require support material when you print it, so this is why it’s optional. The handle should be a C-shape attached to the opposite side of the backing plate from your design. Make the handle thick and robust, so it won’t snap when it has to resist the suction of the concrete.

5. Export the file as an .STL file and slice your print. For the Macklin Manor project, we used a good quality PETG to print the stamp. You can also use a TPU filament like Ninjaflex Cheetah, to make the stamp flexible, but that does have a higher material cost. Whatever you go with, position the STL to print with the handles down, and the design facing up. Slicing at a standard resolution (0.3mm layer height or similar) is perfect for a concrete stamp.

6. Start the presses. It’s go time. Print your stamp on a large format 3D printer, like the re:3D Gigabot 3+ we use at Pamton 3D. Depending on the size of your stamp, it will take half a day or more to print your stamp, so crack open a beer and relax.

7. Start stamping. Now’s the time you’ve been waiting for. When pressing it into concrete, stand on the stamp if necessary, and if you mess up, pull it out, hose it off, and try again! You can use your new concrete stamp for whatever you want. You’ll be able to make your mark on all kinds of business or personal projects.

Not wanting to make it yourself? Next time you need a custom stamp for your concrete project, we’re ready to help. Get in touch with Pamton 3D for a free quote or to talk about your 3D printing needs (but maybe give us a bit more than a couple days’ notice!)

Not in Ohio like Pamton 3D? re:3D Design and Contract printing services ship worldwide, and we’re always available to provide you 3D printers, 3D prints or 3D models to meet your needs.

Charlotte craff

Blog Post Author

3d printing concrete concrete stamp customer story Education ninjaflex PETG tpu

re:3D Receives CTA Company of the Year Award

November 11, 2021 – re:3D Co-founders Samantha Snabes and Matthew Fiedler were honored to accept the CTA Company of the Year Award in a ceremony held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.

The following is a repost of an article written by Cindi Stevens which can originally be seen on CTA’s website here.

CTA Names Seven Industry Leaders to the 2020 CT Hall of Fame, will also Honor Three Innovation Entrepreneurs

The Consumer Technology Association® (CTA) announced the new class of honorees into its 2020 Consumer Technology (CT) Hall of Fame created in 2000. The program celebrates technology leaders who advance innovation and develop, create, market and promote the technologies, products and services that improve consumers’ lives.

“We are thrilled to honor these industry luminaries,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “We honor the entrepreneurial spirit of these leaders who inspire us by taking a great idea and transforming it into a unique product or service to enhance consumers’ lives, and those who promote these new technologies in the marketplace.”

The 2020 CT Hall of Fame class includes:

Vinton Gray “Vint” Cerf, along with Robert Elliot “Bob” Kahn – dubbed as the “Fathers of the Internet,” – led the development of TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), the fundamental communications protocols that enable data to be transmitted over the internet.

Frank Conrad, a radio engineering and broadcast pioneer, designed the first factory-produced consumer electronics product, the RA-DA radio, in November 1920, which inaugurated the consumer electronics business.

Peter Fannon played a key role in the development of HDTV as president of the Advanced Television Test Center, then spent 20 years promoting the consumer technology industry as VP of corporate and government affairs for Panasonic.

Kazuo “Kaz” Hirai led the effort that made Sony PlayStation the dominant video game console platform, then, as president, CEO and chairperson of Sony, led the resurgence of the company in the 2010s by bringing together its electronics and entertainment divisions.

Jim Meyer, an RCA/Thomson product management executive, played a central role in the launch of direct-to-home satellite TV, and as CEO led SiriusXM to be U.S.’s largest audio entertainment company, including music streamer Pandora and podcasting pioneer Stitcher.

Robin Raskin, an industry journalist, was a columnist for USA Today online, editor of PC Magazine, started FamilyPC Magazine, was one of the founding contributors of Yahoo! Tech and has written six books. She also is the founder of Living in Digital Times, that produced tech conference tracks at CES.

In addition to these seven honorees, for the second year, the program will also recognize CTA’s Innovation Entrepreneur Award winners – a top executive leading a company with revenues under $30 million, an exceptional small business and a startup that demonstrates innovation in the consumer technology industry. The honorees are:

Executive of the Year: Vicki Mayo
Mayo founded TouchPoints in 2016, using its patent-pending BLAST (bi-lateral alternating stimulation-tactile technology), which alters the body’s “fight or flight” response caused by stress. When she was 20 and in college, she adopted two boys and today mentors’ young women at the Boys and Girls Club.

Company of the Year: re:3D, Inc.
After traveling with Engineers Without Borders-Johnson Space Center and while still working for NASA in 2013, Samantha Snabes founded re:3D, Inc. The company manufactures Gigabot, an affordable industrial 3D printer that can directly print from plastic waste, allowing anyone worldwide to access their own personal 3D factory.

Startup of the Year: Nuro
Nuro was founded by Dave Ferguson and Jiajun Zhu in 2016, using their expertise in self-driving vehicle technology. Focused on delivery rather than carrying passengers, Nuro is building a new class of safe self-driving vehicles, built for goods delivery across multiple verticals and has partnered with CVS, Domino’s, Kroger and Walmart.

The honorees for the CT Hall of Fame and the Innovation Entrepreneur Awards were selected by two separate panels of media and industry professionals, who judged nominations submitted by manufacturers, retailers and industry journalists. The annual awards dinner, originally slated for November 12 in New York City, is postponed until 2021 due to restrictions with COVID-19. Complete inductee bios will appear in CTA’s It Is Innovation (i3) magazine, as well as online at CTA.tech/i3.

For more information, visit CTA.tech/events.

Charlotte craff

Blog Post Author

award company of the year consumer technology association cta ctatech

Introducing a New Kind of Paddle Board

A man sitting on a paddle board back to the camera. He is rowing with paddles attached to a track.

In 2014, Guy Chaifetz of West Palm Beach, FL had an idea: what if you combined the versatility of a rowing machine, with the full body workout from cross-country skiing, all while being able to enjoy ocean breezes outdoors on your paddle board. He’d been exploring this product idea for the last seven years, forging through multiple design iterations, overcoming investment hurdles and production stalls until recently, when he successfully launched the Supski Paddle System.

The Supski System attaches to a standard or inflatable paddle board and uses a sliding rail mounted with a modular pole and paddle. The versatile design allows the user to row their paddle board in a variety of positions, modifying their stance as needed to isolate muscle groups and achieve a full body workout. While producing his final prototype, Guy reached out to the re:3D Contract Printing team to 3D print a part he was finding too difficult and expensive to manufacture elsewhere: the Quad Rail Track.

Using the extra large bed of our Terabot 3D printer, re:3D manufactured the 64” rails in a series of 23 hour prints with white ABS filament.

It’s been a long journey for Guy Chaifetz, whose professional background is in video editing and production. He debuted an earlier prototype at Surf Expo in 2015, but despite the positive response from attendees and beta testers, manufacturing hurdles held him back from releasing his product until now.
Guy believes that with the success of the Supski launch, he’ll be able to share it in paraplegic communities to increase accessibility to paddle boarding. Additionally, a future add on includes a sliding chair for regular rowers. Guy hopes to host annual Supski paddle board races, and his ultimate goal would be to have the Supski be part of the Paralympic and Olympic Games.

Want a Supski of your own? Click here to find out how to order.

re:3D salutes Guy Chaifetz for his persistence and tenacity in bringing his dreams to market. If you have an idea you want to transform into reality, our Design and Contract Printing team are here to help you.

Happy Printing!

Charlotte craff

Blog Post Author

3d printing abs contract printing paddle board supski

Gigabot Engineering Updates – September 2021

An aluminum dual extrusion extruder for a 3d printer

re:3D engineers have spent the last few months making some exciting changes to our product lines. re:3D 3D printers are shipping with some great new enhancements. Current Gigabot^®, Gigabot^®X, Exabot^® and Terabot^® owners can order these as replacement parts that are upgradable from previous versions.