A wise man was recording saying, “What has been will be again, what been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” The Masitte Laser SLA Kickstarter looks to defy that statement! Boasting a “never-before-seen laser SLA 3D printer, which comes at a brilliant price point,” Masitte is hoping to radically shake up the resin printer market with its new offering. So, let’s look together at what technical information is available, why you want to get connected before the launch, and answer a few questions from those in the community who are already interested.
The Tech Specs on Masitte and Masitte+
Firstly, if you’re like me, you want to know about a resin printer is build volume versus price. Resin printers are more expensive than those that use filament. Those that use lasers to cure the resin, rather than UV light arrays and LCD screens, are even more so. Price information has not been released yet, but details on size have. Here’s a breakdown of hardware information provided by Masitte on their website, regarding the Laser SLA, before the Kickstarter launch.
| Hardware Details | Masitte | Masitte+ |
| Printer Dimensions | 220mm X 230mm X 280mm | 280mm X 270mm X 340mm |
| Power Requirements | 100-240 VAC, 1.5A | 100-240 VAC, 1.5A |
| Laser Specifications | 1 laser, 405nm | 1 laser, 405nm |
| Laser Power | 150mW | 150mW |
| Connectivity | SD Card | SD Card |
| Printer Control | 4.3in Touchscreen | 4.3in Touchscreen |
Other Notable Hardware Features
Right away, a retractable Z-axis mechanism impressed me. This means the Masitte has a more compact design for storage when not in use. Also, the Z-axis rides on linear rails, improving stability and print quality. Another key feature is the frame. It’s a full-metal design, not relying on 3D-printed or injection-molded parts. Consequently, this will increase durability.
The build platform definitely stands out as unique. For example, most resin printers use a one-point or four-point system to secure the build plate to the Z-axis. Many users find these two systems challenging to get the surface properly leveled. In contrast, the Masitte Laser SLA uses a three-point, spring-loaded system. This should provide a more precise change that is quick and easy to set.
In addition, there’s the glass Masitte selected to sit between the laser mechanism and the vat. They chose a special quartz glass that has 90%+ UV transmittance. Consequently, this is expected to improve surface smoothness and curing accuracy. Finally, there is the laser mechanism itself. Directly from Masitte’s website, they state: “The Masitte uses a powerful laser along with a compact system of lenses and mirrors to provide flawless prints. This laser beam is driven by precise, high-speed, closed-loop mirror galvanometers. The smallest 3D printing detail is possible with this stable UV laser system.”
Speaking of Print Quality
Here’s what the company is sharing about the properties of the Masitte and Masitte+ Laser SLA Printers:
| Printing Properties | Masitte | Masitte+ |
| Technology | Stereolithography (SLA) | Stereolithography (SLA) |
| Build Volume | 110mm X 110mm X 175mm | 150mm X 150mm X 195mm |
| Layer Thickness | 30-300 microns | 30-300 microns |
| X/Y Resolution | 25 microns | 25 microns |
| Laser Spot Size | 80 microns | 80 microns |
Material Compatibility for Masitte
Because the laser is transmitting at 405nm, we should have high hopes that the Masitte will immediately be able to take advantage of resins readily available. With many resins we have tested and reviewed here at Inov3D, this is exciting news! Whether clear or tinted, flexible or tough, castable or dental, any resin that cures at 405nm should provide quality prints every time.
Why and How to Connect before the Kickstarter
If you have taken part in a Kickstarter before, this will come as no surprise. That is to say, that if you are not online, the moment it starts, it is highly unlikely you will enjoy being one of the “early bird” backers. This status most often comes with the lowest price and best accessories. Similarly, the Masitte Laser SLA Kickstarter is likely to be no different. Furthermore, they have not released pricing information yet. We here at Inov3D commit to do our best to keep this article up to date as additional information arrives, but cannot guarantee immediate updates. Ultimately, the best way to make sure you will receive all recent information is to subscribe through Masitte, using your e-mail.
Questions and Answers about the Masitte Laser SLA 3D Printer
I got more than just data during my research about the Kickstarter. In addition, I connected with Masitte Engineer, Oğuzhan Yalçın. He was kind enough to allow me to gather questions from the resin printing community on Facebook and answer them for our readers. Following is the list of questions asked and his answers:
Q: Have you done any other successful Kickstarter project?
A: Masitte will be our first project on Kickstarter.
Q: Have you ever built a printer like this?
A: We made FDM and DLP resin printer in 2016. You can check the images on our Instagram if you scroll all the [way] down. There are pictures of the products that we built.
Q: What guarantees do the backers have for a successful project? What the customer support will be like?
A: We have been working for the product for more than a year. We have done many tests and after having knowledge in this for a long time. I can guarantee that the clients will have satisfaction and can use [Masitte] itself for [many] years. We will have a guaranteed time for clients; whenever they have an issue, they can ship [the] product back. We can fix and ship them back or we can assist them in their location. [The company] will have a team for the issues, but so far, out of the tests we’ve done, the products have high-quality parts and material and working great. We guarantee or we assure the clients’ satisfaction.
Q: What is the timeline for this project?
A: We had to change the timeline because of COVID-19. We still [haven’t] set [it] for the future. But we will be done [with the] timeline soon.
Q: How far is this from an actual printer or just a render idea?
A: We have an actual prototype [that] is working and printing with the best quality and the best timing. You can see the pictures on our website. Right now [we’re] getting one off the prototype to Europe, since I [am] in Europe. I will send real videos, timelines, and a lot of content from our product itself to show potential [to] clients.
Q: Where is this printer going to be manufactured?
A: I’m a Turkish engineer. My company based in Shenzhen, [China].
Q: Will it have a proprietary slicer or can ChituBox be used?
A: Chitubox can’t be use with Masitte’s 3D printer. We have [our] own slicer software. [Our company] can collaborate with them. We can use it after upgrading their software for Masitte.
Q: Will it be faster than the current LCD Resin printers?
A: Masitte [will be] faster than LCD 3D printer[s] and Formlabs. I will show how much faster, soon.
Q: What will the cost be for a new vat?
A: We used FEP film on [the] vat. We made [the] vat from aluminum, so our backers can use a long time [and] don’t need to change. If they need more vat, we will provide cheaper prices. Our resin also will be a cheap price.
Q: What is the optical transmission of the blue shroud in the renderings?
A: About 5-10% transmission
Amazon.co.uk
Learn More about Kickstarters and Resin Printing
Before we conclude, it’s important to note that the Masitte Laser SLA Kickstarter comes with potential risks, like any other startup campaign. For example, digitaltrends.com reports that “there’s no guarantee that you’ll get something in return for the money you pledge to a campaign. Most crowdfunding platforms only require that creators make a “good faith effort” to deliver on their promises.
That means they face no consequences (aside from angry backers and some bad press) if the project misses its delivery date — or even fails entirely.” Above all, be sure to do your own due diligence. Research and understand the risk versus reward. This way, when you decide to back the Masitte SLA project, you will confident in your decision.
However, you many still be concerned about the risks involved with crowd fundraising projects. If this is so, try reading about the Prusa SL1 and compare.
Looking for more information about resin? Check out our articles on AmeraLabs, Hero, Elegoo Water Washable, or Nova3D.
