Kappa, the first 3D printer to use a straight line mechanism

This very affordable new 3D printer, Kappa, uses a linear mechanism and is currently pre-orderable for just $245.

Ionic3DP, the company behind Kappa, have just launched their Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 to market the first 3D printer to feature a linear mechanism. So far this appears to be going well, as a result wooing several investors.

Kappa is the result of a year and a half of development at the National University of Singapore. The company behind it, Ionic3DP, say the 3D printer is based on Scott-Russel’s ‘linear motion mechanism’. This system often used in the automotive and robotics industries, and is a technology that guarantees high-quality and precision.

The Kappa is based on movement of Scott-Russel

Kappa: A simpler way

The Kappa has two long and one short arm, holding the print head on top of a vertical aluminium chassis. The movement of these long and short arms therefore corresponds to the X and Y axis. The heat generated by the motors and the extruder is spread throughout the frame of the 3D printer , acting as a kind of heat sink that allows the machines more resistance whilst printing. The electronics are located in the chassis: therefore there are no wires, connectors or cables to interfere with printing.