Solidoodle 3D printer is just $500

It's hard not to be amazed by the advancements that have come to the niche 3D printing market in the last year or so. But until now, even if you were fascinated by the subject, chances are you don't have enough money to buy one. It was incredible when MakerBot created a $2,000 3D printer, a drastically cheaper option than other printers out there, but that's still a good chunk of change.

Enter the Solidoodle, created by Samuel Cervantes. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the MakerBot or other products out there, but get this – it's only $500. It works just like the other basic 3D printers, by melting plastic and molding it into hyper fine detail and allowing users to create multiple levels of design. There is also a Pro version of the Solidoodle, which costs $50 more and gives you a printing landscape of 6" x 6" x 6".

3D printing is making inroads not just in consumer applications but also for business, for medicine, and for third-world countries where resources are much more scarce. The majority of the material needed for a 3D printer can now be printed from a 3D printer. It's fascinating to watch this next evolution in scientific advancement.

[via Ubergizmo]