Three students who dropped out of the nation’s most prestigious university to focus on their dream of creating a 3D printer that is accessible to all say they have no regrets about leaving school.
“I want to be in control of my own destiny,” said Ko Hsuan-en (柯軒恩), one of the trio of former National Taiwan University students behind FLUX, an all-in-one 3D printer that is ready for mass production after reaching its crowd-sourcing funding goal.
Ko said the vision to create the forthcoming printer was born out of a collaboration with roommate Yu Chun-jen (游雋仁), then a mechanical engineering student at the university.
Ko and Yu’s rudimentary tinkering led to the formation of a team of five like-minded students, but en route to making their concept a reality, three of them ended up dropping out of the university.
“I have no regrets about dropping out,” Ko said. “After all, it is not so uncommon nowadays. My goal now is to see FLUX stage an initial public offering.”
Unlike other 3D printers on the market, FLUX is marketed as an accessible alternative that is simple to set up. Most notably, the unit has an unlimited capacity for expansion through modules and is equipped with an integrated 3D scanner.
Using a mobile app to control the machine, users can clone 3D objects without having to master complicated modeling software thanks to the scanner.
FLUX can be fitted with a wide array of modules, such as a 200mW laser engraving head. Other modules currently in development include a dual extruder, a ceramics extruder and a pastry extruder to “print” edible objects from ingredients such as chocolate and jam.
All modules can be connected to the 3D printer without the use of tools by an innovative magnet locking mechanism.
FLUX also has an open module software development kit designed to pave the way for collaborations across user communities.
In recognition of their innovation, the FLUX team has been selected by non-profit SVT Angels to embark on a three-month mentoring program in California’s Silicon Valley, the technology capital of the world.
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