Conrad Electronic , a mayor German electronics retailer, announced the Renkforce 1000 ,

@Conrad_Electronic , a mayor German electronics retailer, announced the Renkforce 1000, their first 3D printer design. While it uses open-source software and firmware, the hardware is proprietary.
What’s interesting about it is that a) it uses mostly precision industrial components, such as ball screws, proper ball slides, a massive aluminum frame and cable chains, b) has a couple nice features, like a bed probe and a 450W ceramic bed and c) it’s fairly reasonably priced for all that, at 1999€, putting it in the same ballpark as an Ultimaker or a Makerbot Replicator.
A 200W milling spindle is currently in development, with further addons (laser heads and such) planned.
It’ll be available starting February 20th - if they have them in-store by then, i’ll pop by and have a look at it.
Product link: http://conrad.com/ce/en/product/1007508/Renkforce-3D-Printer-RF1000

Originally shared by c’t magazin

Wir haben ein Vorserienmodell des 3D-Druckers Renkforce 1000 von Conrad in die Finger bekommen und getestet. (vza)
http://heise.de/-2108976

That looks quite stout. The side panels look about 5mm thick. The ball slides will limit acceleration some (uncaged balls skid if accelerated too hard), but they will provide good rigidity for a milling spindle. A very interesting machine. It won’t be a fast printer, but it could be much more than that.

My thoughts exactly @Dale_Dunn it looks like it could handle lift milling duties. Not sure about the bed moving in the Y axis though, especially as it looks really massy/heavy .

have you noticed that filament is going between the spool and the printer? :smiley:

nice machine btw