former Googler, programmer and entrepreneur, Dan Shapiro, is building a new type of 3D printer. Which actually isn’t a printer at all; it’s a laser cutting machine calledGlowforge.
Shapiro’s new Seattle-based startup is aiming to bring its first ‘laser 3D printer’ (as they are confusingly calling the device) to market by the end of this year — with a sub-$2,500 price-tag. Which is to say cheaper (and smaller) than the high end laser cutting machines you might be able to rent time on at a maker space workshop. But more expensive and capable than the lower resolution competition (here he points to the Cricet Explore desktop cutting machines, made by Utah-based Provo Craft & Novelty, which start at around $200).
Glowforge is being designed to be a lot more capable than the Crichet. Shapiro says it will be able to cut wood, fabrics, leather, paper, linoleum, food and some plastics (such as acrylic). It will also be able to engrave (but not cut) glass and metal.
…
The Glowforge team has convinced a group of investors — including some luminaries from the 3D printer space — that they are onto something. Today it’s announcing a $9 million Series A funding round, led by Foundry Group’s Brad Feld, with participation from True Ventures’ Tony Conrad, MakerBot co-founder Bre Pettis, Jenny Lawton (former MakerBot CEO) and Max Temkin (Cards Against Humanity), among others.
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, or even use Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for MakeCode, CircuitPython, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell with Google Hangouts On-Air is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
