Pirate3D aims to reel in the everyday consumer to 3D printing technology

The founders refer to themselves as "Captains" and "Pirates".

Pirate3D, recently launching its flagship 3D printer The Buccaneer™, aims to make 3D printing viable for the everyday consumer, producing an affordable and easy-to-use product that fits perfectly at home. Their printers sell for USD 347. 

Two of its founders, Brendan Goh and Tang You Jun were Material Science students who realized they were spending too much on prototyping services when they pulled in Roger Chang to help assemble a kit themselves. Roger’s professor in his university, Professor Neo Kok Beng was also brought in and he suggested to them that they should make their own machine and everything sprung from there.

What started out as a service that provided prototyping using a consumer 3D printer, Pirate3D now designs, manufactures and markets their own consumer 3D printers which is very different from what is available in the market.

According to its “Chief Executive Pirate”, Cap'n Roger, “The consumer 3D printer we are producing is affordable, easy-to-use, and looks like it belongs in the home. This is different from current consumer 3D printers which are more novelty gadgets for enthusiasts.”

While 3D printers are not yet a household staple, Pirate3D’s The Buccaneer™ claims to be intuitively built, and comes fully assembled and calibrated. Pirate3D also offers Smart Objects™ which makes 3D graphic design easy even for beginners.

Pirate3D additionally has the Pirate Distribution Network, it serves as a “repository for 3D objects” which they hope will be the “world’s first bit-network for 3D models” according to their site.

The startup has received US$482,000 in funding through Red Dot Ventures and has already raised US$1,438,000 through its Kickstarter campaign.

Set out to officially have the printers available by 2014, many are already creating buzz over the product, with its sleek design and user-friendly set up, it presents something that its creators say are a far cry from the usual kits or packaging that made 3D printers only appealing to a niche market.

When asked about what they bring new into the table, Chang says “(there is) ease of use and a superior user experience. 3D printers currently do not focus on being great consumer products.”

Pirate 3D has raised their initial target funding at such a short amount of time and is now targeting bigger goals to maximize their potential. Currently, Pirate3D is looking on to expand their sales reach and continue their R&D for future product lines.

When asked about their outlook, Roger concludes, “the future is 3D printing. There will come a time where we can’t imagine not having one.”

(Photos of founders from pirate3d.com)
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Name of the company: Pirate3D

Founder/Founders: Roger Chang, Brendan Goh, Tsang You Jun, Neo Kok Beng

Website: https://pirate3d.com/

Major Investors: Red Dot Ventures

Total funding at hand: US$482,000 (Red Dot Ventures) + US$1,438,000 (Kickstarter)

Target fund: US$10,000,000

Start of operation: August 2012

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