Successful Shipping
We are excited to announce that we have successfully shipped all printers from inventory! It has been quite a journey with long days to get to this point. All printers that were purchased in our pre-order campaign just under 1 year ago, as well as all the printers purchased this year (non-back order) have been shipped to their owners. It has been great hearing feedback from our very first users, which will help us create even better products in the future.
More Inventory
Today, we have received quotes from suppliers to replenish our inventory with another 40 units. However, it will take 60-90 days to receive all of those components. This means that when we order this batch of printers, that is all that will be available for the remainder of 2020.
Looking into 2021, Chinese New Year always causes some delay in our ability to receive more inventory. This means our third batch of printers is not likely to be ready to ship until March 2021.
The big takeaway here is this – if you want a Powerbelt3D Zero before the end of this year, your best bet is to order now. Once these 40 units are sold, it is unlikely any will be available until March 2021.
As an added bonus, anyone who orders a Powerbelt3D before October 9 will receive a replacement conveyor belt and a multi-size nozzle pack for free!
Changes set for second batch of printers
We have received so much feedback since we shipped the first units. We’ve considered the good, the bad, and in-between and are taking everything into consideration. The Zero is our first product, and we expected some hiccups like all first products experience. There are two key changes in the next batch of printers that are for sale now.
We are compiling a list of the most common questions and feedback and are planning to address them in the near future.
1. 32-bit Electronics.
When the Zero was being developed, Marlin 2.0 was in Beta. We opted at that time to continue development using an 8-bit control board, and a version of firmware that was well-established. Fast-forward to today, Marlin 2.0 with 32-bit processor support has been used by many different companies successfully and we are comfortable using it with new units.
And for the love of transparency, our supplier discontinued the 8-bit boards that we used for the first batch of printers. We don’t have much of a choice but to embrace the 32-bit control board future. The upgraded control board and firmware will give more reliable motion planning to the printers.
2. Modified XY motor mounts
The motor mounts for the X and Y-axis motors were designed to be very compact – a little too compact. When installed, the mounting screws became inaccessible, hidden behind the motor itself. This created an unpleasant assembly experience for the user, and an awkward-looking (yet-functional) motor installation.
We plan to offer the new motor mounts, as well as a handful of other small, planned hardware upgrades to anyone who purchased a Zero in our first batch. This will come as a kit at a to-be-determined date, likely in early 2021.
Final Thoughts
We are thrilled, and a bit relieved, to close the first chapter of our story as a company by fulfilling what we promised to pre-order customers last year. We look forward to the next chapter, and a future where we can empower people with technology and help them make the world a better place. If you have been on the fence about adding a conveyor belt 3D printer to your office or workshop, now is the best time to make the leap and receive one before the end of the year.