Freakstone F500 Goes Big On Kickstarter
Big name, big size, big claims – but is the Freakstone F500 backable?
Large-format 3D printers rarely crop up, but over on Kickstarter, we spotted a new one: the Freakstone F500.
The F500 will offer a massive build volume of 500 x 500 x 500 mm, and the printer itself is 760 x 810 x 1100 mm, so you’d better have enough floorspace for this one.
With a CoreXY motion system and the option of an enclosure, the F500 would fit the current trend for fast, stable 3D printers, and the 320 °C nozzle and 120 °C bed temperatures hint at the potential for printing exotic filaments. The FAQs over on Kickstarter state the F500 is compatible with “…PLA, ABS, PETG, Nylon, TPU, and various industrial-grade filaments…” which could mean expansive, exotic prints. Printing such materials in such a large space could prove challenging though, especially without a heated chamber.
It is at least enclosed, however, something that our current Upgrade Pick for The Best Large 3D Printers is not. The 104 kg Elegoo OrangeStorm Giga’s 800 x 800 x 1,000 mm print volume is wide open, and without a massive DIY effort, will remain that way. Despite being able to hit 300 °C and 100 °C on the bed, the OrangeStorm Giga is not suitable for the printing of exotics. It can print entire pieces of furniture within that work area, though.
As of yet, the F500 will not include a multi-material system or any AI-based print failure detection, though comments on the Kickstarter page from Freakstone have suggested that both of these features are being considered for the future. In terms of slicing, no proprietary software seems to be involved as Klipper and Mainsail buddy up, and the Kickstarter page recommends Cura, PrusaSlicer, or SuperSlicer for best slicing results.
Freakstone itself appears to be a new company, a project from a one-man team who claims over a decade’s background in mechanical molding and design. With nine days still to run on its Kickstarter, the Freakstone F500 is already fully funded, and there are plenty of slots left to pledge for a unit, from $1,899 – MSRP is marked at $2,999. The question is, would you want to? Let us know in the chat zone below.
Editor's Note – This article highlights a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Kickstarter is not a shop; campaigns are under no legal obligation to deliver on crowdfunding promises, nor offer refunds on unfulfilled campaign rewards. For more insight, read our article 8 Things to Watch for When Backing a 3D Printing Kickstarter.
Stay Informed, Save Big, Make More
Get our bi-weekly newsletter for the latest 3D printing news, deals, and guides.
We do not share your information! You can unsubscribe at any time.
By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy.
Read more recent news:
License: The text of "Freakstone F500 Goes Big On Kickstarter" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.