Can This Open-Source, Sub-$10K SLS Printer Bring Polymer Powder Tech to the Masses?
SLS4All’s Inova MK1 is cheap, hackable, and ready for classrooms, labs, and workshops. The question now is: Will users take the leap?
Announced late last year by Mukarov, Czech Republic-based company SLS4All, and now slated for availability in October, the Inova MK1 is the lowest priced SLS 3D printer on the market, and you can even build one yourself.
The Inova MK1’s open-source design brings new and rare transparency to the world of SLS by providing full access to design files, schematics, and firmware. The printer gives users — from researchers and educators to advanced hobbyists — an opportunity to more deeply understand, customize, and experiment with the technology.
Available as an affordable kit ($6,990, excluding tax), the MK1 can be built using locally sourced parts, lowering costs and enabling in-house modifications. Unlike most commercial SLS systems, it avoids vendor lock-in, supporting third-party materials and offering full control over software and settings. This open nature also fosters community-driven development, encouraging users to share improvements and accelerate innovation.
Last year at about this time, we hailed the impending launch of a $3,000 SLS machine on Kickstarter from the young company Micronics. However, just a few weeks into the campaign, the company was acquired by Formlabs, which has yet to reveal any advancements in its own SLS offerings.
Inside the Inova MK1
Smaller than the Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30 W ($27,000) and the Sinterit Suzy ($19,000) and with a less powerful laser (a 10 W, 450 nm blue diode laser), the Inova MK1 does boast a 100-micron layer thickness and a 9 mm/hour print speed.
Created by company founders Tomas Starek and Pavel Dyntera, the project is built around the goal of expanding access to professional-grade AM technology without the financial and technical barriers typically associated with laser-sintering systems. They say the machine is suitable for functional prototyping, small-batch manufacturing, and materials research.
Compatible materials include PA12 and TPU, with potential for use in experimental polymers.
In contrast to proprietary SLS systems, all hardware schematics, source code, and 3D models for the printer are freely available. Though open-source 3D printers are common in the fused filament fabrication (FFF) space, SLS has remained largely inaccessible due to its complexity and cost. The complete kit includes the laser, optics, control electronics, and mechanical components. A DIY version is also available for users who wish to fabricate some of the parts themselves. The KIY kit includes only all the electronics, optics, linear technics, and the heating components, and sells for €3,480 (~$4,075 excluding tax).
The system features a touchscreen interface, remote management over LAN or Wi-Fi, and local control without dependence on cloud services. Print settings are fully adjustable, offering users a degree of flexibility typically reserved for research or industrial-grade machines.
The SLS4All team offers global support through a Discord community and direct contact. More details and technical documentation are available at sls4all.com.
Inova MK1 Tech Specs
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