In today's tech-driven landscape, 3D printing emerges as a game-changer, promising to revolutionize industries and unleash creative possibilities. Yet, its promise is often hindered by a significant challenge: accessibility. Navigating the intricacies of 3D printing can be daunting, deterring many from exploring its potential. Continuum 3D steps in as a pioneer in automation, aiming to transform 3D printing from a futuristic dream into an accessible reality for all.

Project Context

Despite its transformative potential, 3D printing faces significant hurdles impeding its widespread adoption and use. Globally, an estimated 200,000 hours per week are wasted on setting up and troubleshooting 3D printers. This equates to over £6 million per week spent on these tasks, calculated conservatively based on the number of printers worldwide and the average salary of engineers handling printer maintenance and repair.

Moreover, a recent survey conducted among university students revealed a disheartening reality: 50% are deterred from engaging with 3D printing due to perceived barriers such as lack of ability, confidence, or time.

Furthermore, the underutilization of existing printing infrastructure compounds the issue, with workshops experiencing less than 20% printer utilization. This statistic is derived from data collected by Makerspace managers and averaged across various facilities, highlighting the systemic inefficiencies plaguing current printing practices. These sobering statistics underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions to streamline the 3D printing process, empower creators, and maximize resource efficiency.

End-To-End Automation

Continuum 3D was developed as a solution to this overarching accessibility issue. It redefines printing efficiency and user accessibility through end-to-end automation. With an overwhelming 87% of users preferring Continuum that tested our minimum viable product (MVP), it looks to set a new standard for user-friendly 3D printing experiences. It is estimated that the product can produce up to 4 times higher printing throughput compared to traditional printers, saving a remarkable 40 hours per week with just one unit.

The product can be applied to multiple use-cases. Initially the product would be sold to university and commercial workshops and makerspaces, replacing the ‘walls’ of multiple individual printers that are commonplace in these spaces.

Workshop staff can efficiently manage their Continuum unit through a single dashboard, maintaining control over the print queue, monitoring printer status, and regulating user accounts with ease. Continuum's compact design optimizes space utilization while ensuring continuous printing capabilities around the clock, housing six printers equipped with integrated error detection and auto-correction features for uninterrupted production.

Upon completion of prints, Continuum's robotic handler swiftly removes the print bed and replaces it with a clean one, initiating the next job in a fully hands-off process. Finished prints are stored within the unit's shelving by the handler, offering users the flexibility to collect prints at their convenience while allowing printers to seamlessly continue creating new models.

Users receive notifications when their prints are finished, and with a unique code inputted into the unit upon collection, prints are effortlessly moved to the pickup window, ensuring a hassle-free retrieval process.

MVP Testing

A simulation of the user experience was developed to gather feedback from users, primarily targeting those who would want to engage in 3D printing within workshop settings. Over the span of three weeks, involving 48 users, the experiment aimed to assess user perceptions of the service compared to traditional workshop 3D printing methods.

The method involved recruiting users from Imperial College and the Royal College of Art, who were then invited to submit their 3D files through Continuum's web application that had been develop specifically for this user testing. Upon submission, users received notifications confirming their prints were in the queue. The team running this experiment simulated what the actual Continuum 3D product would do by slicing, printing, and storing users' prints in a communal 'unit' designed to replicate the product.

Once prints were completed and stored, users received email notifications prompting them to collect their prints. In exchange for their prints, users were asked to provide feedback through a survey, aiming to gauge user satisfaction and preferences compared to standard 3D printing practices.

Results indicated a strong preference for Continuum's service over traditional makerspace 3D printing, with notable findings including:

• 50% of users had never 3D printed before
• An average user satisfaction rating of 9.2 out of 10
• 87% of users preferred Continuum 3D service to standard printing

Traction

Customers

A UK based university, along with the UK's largest public makerspace agreed to trial the product during its development stages, whilst a European based university expressed formal interest with a letter of intent.

Distribution

Having engaged with similar businesses selling workshop equipment, the team was advised to predominantly sell through distributors with established relationships. This was validated from attending the 2023 Workplace Design Trade Show in London by talking to companies with similar product offerings, and customers. At the show, a great deal was learnt about sales and marketing in this industry.

A UK leading commercial distributer which supplies 8000+ printers every year recognised our product as a 'unique offering' and sent a letter of intent to stock and distribute the product, stating it would be an innovate product to add to their stock.

Intellectual Property

Having met with advisors from 4 London-based IP law firms, they identified that Continuum's end-to-end process of combining custom software with the physical robotic mechanism was highly novel, and a non-obvious solution. This underscored the potential to obtain a patent in order to protect against competitors as the automated 3D printing market continues to grow. Figure X shows a partially censored version of a system diagram that could be used in a patent application.

The Larger Vision

Continuum 3D's target customers are workshop managers, and our users are the workshop users. Having completed early stage validation with university makerspaces, and we plan to pilot our product in this sector. We will then move into the broader UK Higher Education & Commercial R&D market. Our long-term vision includes anyone who needs a printed product to use Continuum.

While there is steady growth in the global 3D printing market, there is a boom in the automated segment, which will be the space Continuum 3D will enter.

In our market positioning, Continuum 3D aims to be the first affordable end-to-end automated 3D printing solution. Competitors do already have automation solutions, but these are larger scale and unaffordable for most workshops.

A forecasted 5-year Income and Cashflow Statement were developed to evaluate the businesses funding requirements which can be downloaded using the button below. To view the website developed to showcase this project, visit www.continuum3d.xyz