An Update On Sindoh’s 3D Printing Plans

We spent some time speaking with Sindoh to find out their latest strategy for 3D printing.

The company is well known as the producer of the reliable and high-quality 3DWOX line of desktop 3D printers. We’ve used several of these machines and found them to be workhorses that just keep running and producing excellent quality output.

In the past we’ve reviewed their original 3DWOX DP200 and more recently their powerful open materials machine, the 3DWOX 1. We were quite impressed with the 3DWOX 1, as it opened up the possibility of using many different kinds of material in the reliable 3DWOX platform.

But what’s next for the company? We spoke with their representative to find out more.

We learned that the new 3DWOX 1 is a success for the company; even though it is priced slightly higher than the original 3DWOX units, it is selling very well as it seems people do appreciate the open materials capability.

Since we reviewed the 3DWOX 1, Sindoh has announced the 3DWOX 1X, which is essentially the same machine but with an extended Z-axis. In other words, you can print taller objects in the same footprint. This machine does not yet seem to be available, but it will likely carry a slight premium over the original 3DWOX 1 price.

The company seems satisfied with the 3DWOX line as it stands, and they are taking two big steps.

The first is to expand the sales worldwide for the 3DWOX equipment. To do so they are diversifying their sales channels significantly. While a large component of their sales has been through Amazon, they are now focusing more on resellers who can add value to customer purchases. Currently they list around 100 resellers worldwide – many of whom I suspect were previously aligned with Sindoh’s other equipment lines. However, they are actively seeking additional resellers, particularly those focusing on 3D printing equipment.

Another approach they’ve been using in South Korea to expand sales is a focus on the educational market. According to the company they have been doing very well in Korean schools, as they have prepared an associated curriculum for students and teachers. This is a proven strategy that others have used in other countries, so I expect that Sindoh may attempt to repeat this elsewhere. However, they may find that niche already occupied by other 3D printer manufacturers and resellers in some regions.

The other major strategy push from Sindoh appears to be exploring an entirely different product line: resin 3D printing. For this we saw a new machine, the Sindoh A1, seen at top.

This machine is using the familiar SLA process and thus includes an onboard laser system. The A1 is also not yet available for purchase, but includes a build volume of 200 x 200 x 180 mm, which is quite large for an SLA machine. The 0.6W laser uses 405nm wavelength, making this machine compatible with many different resin offerings.

But the main benefit of the A1 is its resolution. This machine can 3D print objects with 0.05mm accuracy on the XY axis (the laser resolution) and 0.025mm on the Z axis. This makes for very high-quality prints as you can see here.

The A1 also includes full connectivity, including USB, wired and wireless options. It can also be monitored remotely via webcam, as can the 3DWOX line.

One key reason for introducing SLA technology with the A1 may be a new focus on the dental industry, which still offers a very large market for 3D printing. We’ll have to watch Sindoh’s moves carefully on this in future months.

It also appears that the company is also working on additional 3D printing processes that are not yet announced. I’m hoping they succeed in these ventures as their 3DWOX line set a high standard of product that they will surely match in new ventures.

Via Sindoh