04-20-2021: Zmorph released i500 – a large-format FFF 3D printer
It was supposed to bring the company to the top of the European markets, but ultimately marked its downfall
On April 20, 2021, Zmorph introduced the i500 – a 3D printer that was a new iteration of the well-known and respected HBot3D machine. It was an industrial-grade 3D printer with a massive build volume of 46 x 30 x 50 cm and dual extrusion heads. Along with the Fab model released six months earlier, Zmorph aimed to launch an aggressive entry into European markets. Unfortunately, this turned out to be the swan song of the Polish company, which today exists only on paper.
The Zmorph i500 supported 3D printing with 1.75 mm filament. When using a single print head, the build volume reached the advertised 460 x 300 x 500 mm; with dual heads (typically for printing water-soluble support material), it was slightly reduced to 440 x 300 x 500 mm. The printer featured a fully enclosed, insulated chamber and a hotend capable of reaching 300°C, making it suitable for printing with demanding engineering-grade materials.
The i500 also came with an automatic filament loading system and filament runout sensor. Additionally, it featured an improved extrusion system – the high-quality components of the machine were meant to ensure reliable, high-performance 3D printing. A built-in HEPA/Carbon filter helped protect users from harmful emissions released during the printing of certain materials.
The price was incredibly competitive: 28,000 PLN (~€6500), making it the most affordable printer in its class for that feature set.
Shortly after the launch, more than 100 units were reportedly pre-ordered. Unfortunately, the printers turned out to be very unreliable, largely due to serious design flaws. Most were returned for servicing and had to be re-engineered by a new R&D team (as the original designer had already left the company).
The wave of returns and the suspension of further orders pending fixes dealt a major blow to Zmorph – one from which the company never recovered. In the summer of 2022, it was acquired by another Polish company, Sygnis, which initiated a deep restructuring. As a result, by the following year, no one from the original Zmorph team remained.
Today, the company exists in name only, with no ongoing operations. The i500 itself is no longer offered – only the Fab printer and Shape thermoformer remain in Zmorph’s portfolio.
The Zmorph i500 is a flagship example of a 3D printer that literally brought the company down.
Source: www.centrumdruku3d.pl
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