02-16-2014: M3D unveiled its tiny consumer 3D printer – Micro
Two months later it set a Kickstarter funding record
On February 16, 2014, 3DPrint.com published an article introducing Micro—a tiny, compact FFF-type 3D printer created by the newly founded startup M3D. This was the worldwide reveal of what would soon become a rising star in American consumer 3D printing. A few days earlier, the Micro had debuted at The 3D Print Show in New York.
In April 2014, the printer hit Kickstarter, where it secured a record-breaking $3.4 million in funding—the highest amount for a 3D printer at the time. Unfortunately, despite a promising start, M3D failed to withstand the test of time, ultimately joining the ranks of fallen stars from the consumer-hyped 3D printing era.
M3D was founded by David Jones and Michael Armani. The Micro 3D printer featured an extremely small build volume (10.9 x 11.3 x 11.6 cm) and an astonishingly low price of just $299.
According to its creators, the Micro incorporated 15 innovative technologies, with the key breakthrough being MMT (Micro Motion Technology). This system measured and corrected positioning errors in real time, allowing for more precise prints while reducing production costs by using cheaper components.
Additional innovations included: carbon fiber rods to maintain rigidity while reducing weight, a ceramic heating system that enabled rapid heating for faster printing. Micro was compatibility with PLA and ABS filaments, and had a removable build plate.
On April 7, 2014, M3D launched its Kickstarter campaign, which became one of the most successful 3D printing campaigns in the platform’s history. Midway through the campaign, M3D surpassed Formlabs' 2012 Kickstarter record ($2.9 million), ultimately raising $3,401,361 from 11,855 backers. It’s worth noticing tah the early bird version of the Micro was available for as little as $199!
Over the next few years, M3D became a leading name in consumer 3D printing, embodying the hype of the era. The Micro was tiny, colorful, and aesthetically pleasing, fitting perfectly into the vision of a home 3D printer.
In 2016, M3D returned to Kickstarter with the M3D Pro—a larger version of the Micro—but only raised $487,000. In 2018, the company introduced the Crane Quad, essentially a Prusa i3 clone but featuring an extruder capable of mixing four colors.
And then… the company vanished. Just like that…
According to LinkedIn, David Jones left M3D in January 2017 (even before the Crane's launch), while Michael Armani departed in June 2020, marking what is likely the official end of M3D. Both founders have since moved on to other ventures.
The reasons were the same as always - the low price of 3D printers did not allow for achieving a profitable margin, and the pressure from Asian companies (eg. XYZPrinting and then Creality) became impossible to cope with.
Source: www.3dprint.com & www.prnewswire.com
GET FREE HISTORY BOOK: ‘2012 in AM’
