’It’s more than just a box!’

Rapide One is the first true desktop 3D Printer to offer professional rapid prototyping with stunning design and functionality at an affordable price.

What is Rapide One?

Rapide One is an affordable professional desktop 3D Printer. What makes Rapide One unique is it has been built from the ground up with the goal of creating a fully functional desktop 3D printer, which fits the gap in the market between high-end 3D printers and the hobbyist 3D printers currently available.

Rapide One is fully enclosed; we enclosed Rapide One to ensure a constant temperature throughout the build and to make the printer office, school and home safe. There are two large Plexiglas viewing panels, which allow easy viewing during the build. The constant temperature reduces the cracking and shrinking issues open 3D Printers have and it increases the build success rate substantially.

Rapide One has a full cartridge system built into the top of the printer to reduce over all size and to make usage simple and easy with zero mess, which is common with external, mounted spools. You can choose to use a cartridge or just load material into the top of the machine without a cartridge. The cartridge system allows users to change color and material type for each print easily and quickly.

Unlike all the other current desktop 3D Printers Rapide One is designed to be plug and play. Due to our unique enclosed housing and cartridge system you just set the print up, click start and walk away. When the build is complete you simply return and remove. This opens up endless possibilities for ‘bot queues’ and ‘print shops’ because the requirement to supervise each build is no longer required.

Rapide One is ideal for office, school or home use. It is as quiet as it is efficient as it is safe. There are no over powering fumes, no constant rattle and being enclosed no way for anyone to interrupt the build by placing objects or hands into the printer when in operation.

Rapide One is the answer to the current dilemma facing those wanting to utilize the benefits of a 3D Printer without all the negatives of fumes, noise and safety. Rapide One is ‘more than just a box’ it is a complete solution and the next generation in desktop 3D Printing.

Rapide One will have a RRP of $2499 when it is released mid 2014. We are offering our Indiegogo contributors the opportunity to get the first Rapide One’s produced for $1499 (a saving of $1000). By being a part of our campaign you will not only be receiving Rapide One at a substantial saving but also providing valuable feedback for enhancements, future models and development of our brand.

Rapide One has been featured in:

Why We Developed Rapide One

Our motivation; there are no low-cost Desktop 3D printers that meet the quality standards of the professional designer or that offer a safe, quiet and an office friendly design.

Our goal; to provide a high quality Desktop 3D printer that is not only affordable but has the power and resolution of a professional 3D Printer without the high price tag right on your desktop.

Our design; we looked at all current Desktop 3D printers on the market and realized that they just don’t offer the ability to make the beautiful designs a reality or meet the high demands required for rapid prototyping.

With Rapide One, we think we have created a Desktop 3D Printer that is easy-to-use whilst still rivaling the output of high-end printers at a fraction of the cost.

Rapide One is every thing a high quality affordable Professional Desktop 3D printer should be and it’s not UGLY!.

Rapide One is about to change the way people see 3D Printers.

In our research we found that there was a big gap in the market between the low-end 3D printers and professional-quality 3D printers. An entry level professional 3D printer is ridiculously expensive, is complex to use and requires you buy an expensive software package to operate it which then involves upwards of 1 year to master.

As a result of this research we decided to design a 3D printer that not only fills this gap but one that is the solution to the problem. We believe Rapide One ticks all the right boxes and we are now ready to move this vision into full production.

Quality Desktop 3D Printer Comparison Chart

High Resolution Printing Belongs on Your Desktop.

Over the past 18 months we have worked tirelessly to design and develop Rapide One. With your help, we are ready to take the final step and put Rapide One into full production. By supporting our campaign, you will not only be one of the first to get one of our amazing 3D printer’s but you will also assist us to usher in a new era of 3D printing - an era in which your creative output is no longer limited by price or dauntingly complex machines.

Design

Rapide One’s design is Innovative, Dynamic and Fresh. A fusion of technology and design built to seamlessly integrate with your surroundings.

We have gone to extraordinary lengths to design the complete 3D printing experience for you from the ground up. Rapide One has been engineered to produce quality high-resolution parts with ease. From its unique fully enclosed housing to a simple to use cartridge system for material Rapide One ticks all the boxes of the most discerning designer and maker.

We didn’t invent the 3D Printer but we believe we have moved the benchmark for what a 3D Printer should be and in the process made professional quality 3D printing a reality for many.

Hardware

Our extensive research, design, and experimentation, has allowed us to work out how to create a Professional 3D printer at a much lower cost, making this dynamic technology available to everyone.

The results are simply amazing. Rapide One can print layers as thin as 100 microns with features as small as 200 microns in a build volume of 170 x 170 x 170mm. This means you can print complex geometries with the exquisite details and beautiful surface finish that will make your prototypes and creations stand out with little or no finishing required.

Rapide One gives you the ability to precisely generate prototypes and rapidly print them. This means your creations will be in your hands much faster and at a fraction of the current costs.

Software

Great hardware is only the start. We understand how important being able to use Rapide One with any platform will be. Rapide One is compatible with all open source software applications including Repiter and Replicator G.

A key advantage of the open source software is it is constantly being upgraded and enhanced, its free and easy to use. This means with Rapide One you are not locked into using our software, you do not have ongoing costs in terms of maintenance for that software and you are free to choose the software you are most comfortable using.

But, we didn’t stop there, we created Rapide One to work just as perfectly with both PC & Mac so everyone has the opportunity to create not just a select few.

Materials

When Rapide One is released, it will come with filament (material) developed in our own factory especially for Rapide One.

You will also be able to purchase additional material from our full range of ABS, PLA and PVA in a wide range of colors. However, unlike many manufacturers of 3D Printers we do not require you use Rapide One exclusively with our filament, you are free to use what ever filament you want in Rapide One but it will perform at its best with our filament.

Why We Need You

Without your help we would need to sell Rapide One through our existing supply channels. This means:

• Rapide One will be sold at considerably higher price,
• Rapide One will enter the market much later,
• Rapide One will have less features, and
• Rapide One will have no customization possibilities.

Backing us now, you will be ensuring the development team can complete our goal, and help us realize the full potential of this amazing technology and at the same time getting your very own 3D Printer at a substantial saving on the RRP cost in the future.

What's in it for you?

As a backer of our project you will be one of the first to get a new Rapide One on your desktop and by being a part of our project in its infancy you will receive your very own Rapide One with the knowledge that you were a part of something big that created something that will take the 3D Printer market forward again.

What Rewards Will I Get?

As a token of our appreciation of your support you will receive your very own Rapide One from our first full production run’s (based on when you make your contribution to our campaign) and the satisfaction of knowing you were there when we needed you most.

Where Are We Now?

We have completed the development phase, have negotiated a new factory and are ready to launch full production. The chassis, components and industrial design are already complete, we are now testing the software with prototypes in our office and at the factory. We just need to compete the tooling and molds for the housing and we are set for full production.

Where Will Your Funding Go?

We have invested a substantial amount in the development phase of this project. Your funding is the critical link to the completion of our project and will be used to realize our dream of the world's first 3D Printer that has been designed with you in mind and one that is not just a concept but a reality.

Use of Funds

We have working prototypes and our new factory is being readied to go into full production once we have the funds to complete the tooling and molds.

Our new production facility has over 3200m2 dedicated floor space which will give us the capability to produce Rapide One at a rate of 500 – 1000 per month which is a substantial leap in production capability compared to the majority of 3D Printers on the market. We need your help to take the next step.

Funding Milestones:

The first $20,000 raised through the campaign will be used to purchase the additional tooling with the final $80,000 used to make the molds we require for the housing and some internal sections. This phase of production requires we produce a minimum of 1000 housings and this is a substantial investment.

Your Contribution

We have put a lot of time, funding and effort into our project but like many things in life not everything can be completed by just a few.

You and your contribution will enable us to reach our goal. You will be a part of a world first in enabling us to complete production of arguably the most beautiful 3D Printer in the market which has been designed and built to enhance your home, work space or workshop.

Why Trust Rapide 3D

Rapide 3D has more than a decade of experience in the design and development of advanced technology. We have worked with technological integration and development with our partners in China and around the world and are now at the cutting edge of 3D Printing technology and design.

We have completed 30+ projects for our international partners on time and on budget. We now want to take it one step further by developing our own 3D Printer range.

Moving our business exclusively to 3D Printer technology and its production means we will be able to offer a 3D Printer range that is functional, flexible and beautiful at an affordable price.

Today, it is rare to be able to design a product, which can totally change how we see or use a technology, but Rapide One does just that by changing how you perceive what 3D Printing is and will be in the future.

We Are Ready For Full Production With Your Support.

We have engineered Rapide One to be mass-produced efficiently using a full CNC chassis, which simplifies the currently complex issue of manufacture that other 3D printer manufacturers encounter.

We have produced 3 generations of prototypes, tested a wide range of materials (ABS, PLA, PVA) using different formulations to find the best match for Rapide One and started producing our own filament.

We have now commenced the set up for full-scale manufacturing to get your Rapide One delivered to you as soon as possible. This is the most critical component of realizing our dream and we will need a lot of support to do the job right. That’s why we’ve turned to Indiegogo to get the production lines up and running!

If you decide to become one of our foundation contributors, you will get a large discount and be one of the first to have our product on your desktop. But more importantly, you’ll play a huge part in starting this revolution in 3D printing and rapid prototyping by providing your feedback to help us with upgrades and enhancements so we can all do amazing things with Rapide One.

Our Exciting Range of Perks:

Risks and Challenges

Like many Indiegogo projects, we have faced several key risks and challenges in getting Rapide One as far as we have. The primary risks for us included:

Engineering

To achieve the level of simplicity in user experience that we have, we had to design and engineer a very complex machine. We have taken two key steps to ensure our engineering success.

We have brought together a team of engineers and designers who are amazingly talented.

We have tested Rapide One with an obsession for perfection.

In the last year, we have built 3 generations of prototypes, a production run of alpha machines and now have a run of beta machines that are getting put through their paces in our factory.

This is giving us an amazing amount of data for ongoing research and development.

Supply Chain and Logistics

Many Indiegogo campaigns encounter problems when taking their prototypes to production. This includes issues finding suppliers and engineering products for mass-production. Smooth execution is absolutely essential to overcoming such risks.

We have eliminated 95% of these issues by having our own factory where we will produce the printer. Our internal construction is CNC Aircraft Grade Aluminum which means we can rapidly produce Rapide One in quantities ranging from 1 to 1000 simply and most importantly cost effectively because we own the factory. As a result we will be able to meet all our promises on time and on budget.

Every thing is now in place, we only require the resources to commence production.

The Rapide 3D Team

Finding the right people is a challenge for any endeavor. Successfully developing a 3D printer to the standards we have requires a team of talented, passionate, and motivated designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

We have formed an awesome team, but we will have to bring in more talent in to realize our dream. We are actively looking for new team members to join Rapide 3D so we can hit the ground running!

If you think you have what it takes to not only be a part of our team but bring inspiration and dedication email us your resume. hello@rapide-3d.com

Specifications

FAQ’S

Who is Rapide 3D?

Rapide One is a dedicated team of Australian designers and engineers who believe in bringing the best technology to the world sooner rather than later. We have offices in Perth, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou and our own production facility where the design and development of Rapide One will be headquartered in Shenzhen, China.

What is Rapide One?

Rapide One is the future of 3D Printing. It is as affordable as it is quite and sleek as it is functional. Rapide One brings together advanced design and technology that will put Rapid Prototyping in the hands of many faster and cheaper than possible before.

What makes this campaign unique?

We are the designers, we are the manufacturers and most importantly we are the people in the factory. No other 3D Printer campaign has been run by people who can honestly say, I designed, built and packed your printer with my own hands, which is what we will do.

How Does Rapide One Work?

Rapide One is essentially a rapid prototyping 3D Printer which uses FDM technology to produce 3D print designs from any .stl file. Rapide One can print using either a Mac or PC. We have even included an SD Slot so you can print straight from an SD Card.

Where Will Rapide One Be Produced?

Rapide One will be produced in our own production facility in Shenzhen, China. We will take possession on the 15.12.2013 and this will facility will become the new home of Rapide 3D. We will do all development and the production of Rapide 3D Printers, Scanners and other cool products used in 3D design and production there. We will also produce our own custom filament to match the Rapide 3D range of printers.

Why Trust Rapide 3D

Rapide 3D has more than a decade of experience with design and development of advanced technology. We have worked with technological integration and development with our partners in China and around the world and are at the cutting edge of 3D Printing technology and design.

We have completed 30+ projects for our international partners on time and on budget. We now want to take it one step further by developing our own 3D Printer.

We have the ability to offer a 3D Printer’s that are functional, flexible and beautiful at an affordable price.

The key advantage of contributing to this campaign is you are dealing direct with the manufacturer of the product. We have designed Rapide One and we will build Rapide One in our own factory. There are no 3rd Parties involved which means we can offer Rapide One at substantial savings to our foundation contributors.

When Will My Rapide One Arrive?

We are already working hard to plan our supply chain and manufacturing operations to make sure you get your Rapide One as soon as possible.

We feel comfortable targeting February - March 2014 for our first full-production shipments to our foundation contributors (Early Birds), and April 2014 for other contributors.

At this stage we have a target production of 250 units for the first month and 500 units per month there after.

How Big Is Radipe One?

Rapide One is 532 x 449 x 345mm when closed. When the cover is opened, you need about 300mm clearance at the top. Rapide One weighs 17.5kg

What Is The Retail Price of Rapide One?

We have set our retail price at $2499 for Rapide One with single extruder. Our Indiegogo supporters are definitely receiving special treatment for believing in what we do!

How Much Will The Print Material (filament) Cost?

We estimate ongoing filament prices will be $29USD per kilo, but Indiegogo supporters who buy a Rapide One print package will be guaranteed 1 kg spools of either ABS or PLA at $25USD for the life of their printer. This is compared to high quality materials currently available through other manufacturers for around $100 per kilo.

How Many Parts Can I Print With 1kg of Material?

Depending on your printing output and part size, 1kg of material can go a long way. Our head, for example, which is 120mm high and has a circumference of 260mm uses 249gms. You could theoretically print 4 heads with 1kg of material!

What Are The Material Properties of The Filament?

Our materials are made from bio materials which is good fro the environment and good for you. We have worked tireless to develop consistent quality with the key focus on strength and durability.

Does Our Filament Need to Be Handled Carefully?

Our filament is safe to handle and will not produce any dangerous fumes when printing.

Can You Use Third Party Materials / Filament With Rapide One?

We've engineered our material (filaments) to work with the Rapide One. It's a huge part of the technical work that has gone into this project to ensure your prints have a much higher success rate than with other printers.

The filament properties are closely linked with the Rapide One design. However, you are welcome to use any filament you choose with Rapide One bearing in mind we will not be able to offer support for third party filaments due to variations in properties which we are sure you can understand.

How Does The Material Tray and Cartridge System Work?

With the Rapide One, you simply load up to 500gms of material / filament into the holding tray or what is necessary for your prints. The top cover conceals the filament inside the machine.

Our cartridge system allows for the easy removal and change over of filament. This is very convenient if you intend to print in different material types and or colors on a regular basis. You simply lift the top of Rapide One and place the cartridge in. Our cartridges come with 250gms of filament / material and are stackable so you can easily store and access the materials you require.

Can You Design With The Software? What Operating Systems Will Support The Software?

Rapide 3D firmware has been designed to work with all open source 3D printing software. We will provide the links to this software with each machine. This will allow users to take advantage of easy and intuitive tools for designs from any 3D CAD package and allow you to simply set up and start the print process.

Rapide will print standard .STL files. We have worked hard in the development phase to have Rapide 3D work effortlessly with this software which is available for all major operating systems. As a result Rapide One will work seamlessly with both Mac and PC, which has always a key priority of our development.

Can You Explain The Resolution Metrics (feature size, layer thickness, X/Y resolution etc.)?

3D print manufacturers often use layer thickness to define “resolution”, although any one metric provides an incomplete analysis of printer capabilities. Rapide One can create layers as thin as 100 microns, which is generally finer than other desktop machines.

Another metric, the minimum feature size is 300 microns, which is limited by the diameter of the print head spot. Minimum feature size refers to the smallest possible bumps and ridges on a part.

Rapide One’s print head, however, has extremely precise movement capabilities in the X/Y plane. For example, the spot is 300 microns, but it can be moved as little as a few microns at a time, allowing for the impressive surface finish.

What Is The Build Speed? Will The Printer and Parts Last?

Our build speed is comparable to other high resolution printers. It varies depending on the type of print. A typical printing rate is around 30mm of height per hour. However, we are designing Rapide One to be a serious workhorse.

Rapide One has less moving parts than most high resolution printers, and we have been running the prototypes in our office pretty much all day, every day during months of development.

Will Rapide 3D Offer a Warranty or Support?

Rapide One will come with a 1 year limited warranty out of the box. At this stage support will be a big priority and we hope with the help of our contributors to offer 24/7 online support with remote access capabilities.

However, this will be dependent on reaching our funding goal for this feature as it will be costly to offer this level of support. We know it’s very important and are working on it as a high priority. We’ll guarantee that you receive a working printer, and are planning to take extra special care of those of you who have supported us from the beginning.

Do You Have Plans To Make a Bigger Printer?

At this stage we are working to get Rapide One into the market. We have designed Rapide One to be scalable and to incorporate a dual extruder in the future. We also have a very exciting vision for the future, which will include a printer that can print both sugar and chocolate!

Why Isn’t Shipping Included?

Shipping prices vary by location and country. It’s simpler (and cheaper for you) to handle this separately. After the Indiegogo is over and we are ready to start shipping, you will receive link to our website and where you can enter your shipping details to pay the appropriate amount.

Shipping costs vary by location and carrier selected, but if you live in the US (for example) it will probably be somewhere around $150USD.

You will also have the option of hard shell box for your Rapide One if you intend to move it about regularly or store off the desk. Standard packing for shipping will be double boxing for delivery purposes.

How Much Does International Shipping Cost?

International shipping costs are based on the shipping provider selected and time to deliver. Prices vary by country and what taxes and other regulations your government has. If you order a Rapide One package through Indiegogo we ask that you assume responsibility for all these charges.

After our Indiegogo project ends, you will be asked to log into our website select your shipping method and pay the appropriate shipping charges.

I Have More Questions. Who Do I Ask?

email us at hello@rapide-3d.com