Feb 11, 2016 | By Alec
While going to the supermarket can be really boring, at least the ALDI has one big redeeming factor: the aisle with random, competitively priced goods. From gardening tools to gloves and even low cost electronics, you might just find something you’ve been wanting for ages. Starting next week, however, Australian ALDI customers can find some of the most remarkable products ALDI has ever offered: a budget 3D printer, a 3D printing pen and filaments.
Now we’ve never had a yearning to 3D print something while shopping for groceries, but for those Australian customers who do, these 3D printers will go on sale on 17 February as an ALDI Special Buy. And it wouldn’t be ALDI if the products weren’t competitively priced, so these 3D printers can be found right in the bottom market segment in terms of prices. Called the Cocoon Create 3D printer, it is set to be sold for $499 AUD per set (or about $350 USD). The 3D printing pen, with PLA filament included, will be sold for $79 AUD per set (or about $56 USD). A bargain, right? Both are manufactured by Cocoon Create, a completely new 3D printer manufacturer that is actually part of Winplus, an Australian electronics developer.
So what do you get for that kind of money? For starters, you get a single 10 m spool of filament (30 m for the 3D printing pen), while the 3D printer also comes with CURA software. The Cocoon Create 3D printer features a small build volume of 200 x 200 x 180mm and can 3D print at a max temperature 260°C and supports PLA, ABS, PVA and HIPS filaments. Finally, it can take 3D print commands via USB or SD card and it features an adjustable 3D printing speed of 10-70 mm per second. In short, it is exactly what you could expect to get for that kind of money, but that’s not a bad thing at all.
As for the second product, the 3D printing pen, little is known about it – except that it features an adjustable heat setting, is compatible with 1.75 mm ABS and PLA filaments, and has a 0.7 mm diameter nozzle. But for just $56, it definitely looks like a fun toy. Additional spools of PLA filament will also be available at ALDI (for $35 AUD each).
But instead of critically reviewing these products – which are clearly not revolutionary – there is a very important message in this unusual move by ALDI. If even supermarkets start seeing 3D printers are commercially viable goods, 3D printers are definitely reaching bigger audiences and interesting more people. And don’t be surprised if other non-technical retailers follow ALDI’s example. Could this be the step that brings 3D printers into every home?
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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