The Saltgator (Desktop Injection Molding) Kickstarter Campaign Reaches Its Goal
The Saltgator claims to be the first desktop soft gel injection molding machine, and it's reached its goal on Kickstarter, tenfold.
Projects on Kickstarter often claim to be unique and the first of their kind, and the Saltgator appears to fit the bill. So much so, that in three days (at the time of writing), it has reached its goal of $15,000, with an additional backing of around $190,000. The campaign’s successful run isn’t over yet either – you can still make a pledge until September 5, 2025.
The project is aimed at makers who are interested in desktop soft molding, with the company mentioning fishing enthusiasts, hardware designers and makers, educators and those in STEM programs, and cosplayers and prop artists.
The Saltgator “packs full-scale soft molding into a compact, desktop-friendly form.” Its use is claimed to be as simple as preparing the raw material, filling the injection chamber with it, setting the temperature and then heating and mixing the material, then injecting it into the mold. A three-minute wait is claimed to suffice for the molded part to be done. You can see the process in the video below.
The SoftGel material is reusable, which means less waste, and the company also claims that it’s “completely odorless, non-toxic, and free from carcinogenic risks.”
In addition to setting itself apart from existing options because of its size, the Saltgator “supports special low-temp molding” (80-210 °C), so it can be used with PLA 3D printed molds without risking damage. Additional material compatibility includes PETG, ASA, carbon fiber PA, and more, plus CNC machining and casting materials and other engineering plastics. To make it easier to get started or if you don’t want to work on the design side of things, the project includes a preset mold library.
Current pledges available include the Super Early Bird ($229 for one Saltgator, $429 for two), Early Bird ($249 for one unit, $469 for two), KS Special ($299 for one item, $509 for two), and a Super Early Bird at $1,049 for five Saltgators. Note that none of these include additional shipping costs, which are specified in the campaign details.
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.
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