TOP.E Aims to Boost 3D Print Quality, Reduce Waste with the Five-Axis R1 FFF Printer
Heading to crowdfunding soon, the R1 can tilt its print bed by up to 17° to print bigger unsupported overhangs than its rivals.
Hong Kong-based fused filament fabrication (FFF, also known as FDM) specialist TOP.E is preparing to launch a crowdfunding campaign for a 3D printer it claims can cut material waste by up to 60% and enable support-free printing of overhangs up to 62°: the five-axis R1.
"Orchestrated by our proprietary slicing software," the company claims of its creation, "three independent Z-axes dynamically tilt the heated bed on demand, breaking free from the constraints of traditional flat-layer printing. 17° max bed tilt angle, 62° max support-free overhang (theoretical reference based on the common 45° rule in three-axis printing. Actual support requirements vary with printing conditions and model geometry."
By tilting the print bed, which is supported by three Z-axis pillars rather than the usual two or four, TOP.E claims that material wastage — both for supports, required for printing overhanging sections beyond a certain angle, and in swapping materials for multi-material and multi-color printing — can be reduced by up to 60%. The same approach can also deliver higher-quality prints, the company says, by adjusting layer lines to follow curvature and by printing more of particular colors or materials at once.
"Shift[ing] the angle of the layer lines […] effectively reduces the staircase effect on steep overhangs," TOP.E says, "delivering noticeably smoother finishes where traditional printers struggle most. The slicing software [also] analyzes color regions on the model, such as fins, eyes, or accents, and prints these separately using the five-axis system. This reduces filament switching, minimizes purge waste, and improves color clarity."
As you might expect, adding in the complexity of a tilting bed means the printer sits towards the upper end of the price spectrum for hobbyist-centric devices: the R1 will sell, the company says, for $1,699, including an integrated four-spool multi-material system and dual monitoring cameras. An upcoming crowdfunding campaign will see that reduced to $999 for "super early bird" backers, while those willing to pay a $30 deposit directly to the company via its official website can drop the price still further to $899.
More information is available on the TOP.E website, while interested parties can sign up to be notified when the crowdfunding campaign goes live on Kickstarter; note, however, that the company lacks a proven track record, much of its imagery is renders rather than photographs, and successful funding does not mean you are guaranteed to receive your printer in the event of development troubles or other unexpected problems.