A 3D printer for everyone. With this slogan, a Uruguayan youth group created a printer that can be assembled by the user and posing as the cheapest in South America.
"We work under the philosophy 'maker', which is the ability to be independent and make everything, you," said Alejandro Lozdziejski, one of the partners of Sur3D, composed of six young people who are defined as "a group of engineers, designers and dreamers ".
"Courage is not alone in using the printer but also learn how it works to evolve the knowledge. Our goal is to bring 3D printing to all households and schools to make knowledge evolve and build up what we have built. Evolve it, make adjustments to make it better, "he added.
At a cost of $ 600 and released in July this year, the Smartrap allows to print pieces of 13x13x13 centimeters and points to an educational use, especially for children to become familiar with the technology.
"We are doing workshops in schools and colleges, to bring digital technology to all manufacturing, democratizing technology," said Lozdziejski.
In the coming days plan to launch a second model, at a slightly higher cost.
It is a modification of the Prusa I3 named Monica and prints up to 21x21x21 cm; according to its creators achieves higher quality and is aimed at an adult audience, for home or professional use.
"You can print anything covered for example. Forks plastic cup, kitchen utensils. O pieces to make a clone of the printer," Bruno explains his Demuro. "The idea is to encourage people to make the clone".
The Smartrap is a modification of a French open source model, also characterized by its simplicity.
Computer engineer, was studying Lozdziejski on 3D printing in California when he met a Frenchman who was developing a model of self-replicating machine. They contacted, then worked together and followed each by hand, in their own models, counted.
On his return to Uruguay was founded by Walter Guard and Santiago Reinoso Sur3D, which then Demuro, Rodrigo Amarelle and Jan Szolno joined.
"This is the beginning," says Lozdziejski, who believes that this is a "revolution."
"Many people buy these machines for speculation or because it is fashionable, but when you start to see the uses not you think to consume but produce. If something breaks in your house, Looking produce. Such is the paradigm shift that seems more interesting, changing consumer society creators, "he said.
"Later we will replace all products that are imported, we will have access to means of production to produce them in the comfort of our homes. And that certainly is a revolution because it reduces the costs of energy, transport, logistics the distribution, "he predicted.
The same machine can print 70% of the parts that compose it, so it can be easily cloned, they say.
"For a long time this technology was a unique niche of very expensive machines, but when Pat opened the horizon became widespread in a very short time," said his Demuro part, explaining that it is also better business enabling thousands the clone people Printer-for which they sell parts replicantes- not sell few models "closed".
"All the pieces are 100% open, we give support. Believe that wealth is our understanding," he said.
Sur3D has orders in the region, especially in countries like Bolivia and Colombia, but due to shipping costs, which drive up the producers have not yet managed to export models.
