While low cost 3D printers are entering the market (Makerbot, Printrbot, Portabee, eMaker, etc) they require extruded plastic filament that costs about $40-$54 per kg that is 5-10 times the cost of the raw resin pellets. The Desktop Factory Competition is seeking to fund an opensource filament maker for all you owners of these FDM type machines. The competition is a partnership between business competition aggregator iStart and online Fab supply store Inventables. The contest is offering $40,000 for the first filament making machine to meet their criteria. I an addition to the cash (from the Kauffman Foundation) the winner will also receive a "Desktop Fabrication Lab" (3D printer, FS Laser Cutter, & Shapeoko CNC Mill). I'm hoping the winning design is made of all printed parts ![;-)]()
