MOD-t 3D Printer to launch in conjunction with new online marketplace for exchanging printable designs with an “Etsy meets iTunes”-like opportunity for designers and artists

PASADENA, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — May 28, 2014 — New Matter Inc. is breaking down barriers to widespread adoption of 3D printers for home use. Today, the company has launched a 35 day Indiegogo campaign to accept pre-orders for their new 3D printer, the MOD-t. With high-quality hardware, easy-to-use software and a starting price of only $149, the MOD-t is truly a mass-market 3D printing solution. At the conclusion of the Indiegogo campaign, New Matter will also launch an integrated online marketplace for exchanging printable designs, providing an “Etsy meets iTunes”-like opportunity for designers and artists.

New Matter's WiFi-Connected MOD-t 3D Printer Launches on Indiegogo to Bring High-Quality, Easy-to-Use 3D Printing to Everyone - Starting at $149 (Photo: Business Wire)

“We’re entering an exciting time where more and more people are being inspired by the possibilities of using 3D printing to customize the world around them,” said Steve Schell, Co-Founder and President of New Matter. “To truly make 3D printing accessible to everyone, we had to create a unified hardware and software experience that encourages people to explore and share their creations. We feel the MOD-t printer is a leap forward in the 3D printing space, and we’re excited to introduce it to 3D printing enthusiasts and novices alike.”

New Matter partnered with frogVentures, the investment arm of global product strategy and design firm frog, to create a cohesive, intuitive and satisfying user experience. frog’s interdisciplinary team of researchers, strategists, designers and technologists worked closely with New Matter to co-develop the company's experience strategy and design—from branding and identity to the design of the printer, marketplace and app.

“3D printing promises a magical interaction – with the press of a button, you can turn intangible ideas into physical objects,” notes Ethan Imboden, VP of Venture Design at frog. “This has been an essential technology for designers and engineers for decades but, without a robust ecosystem of easy to share designs, 3D printing had yet to deliver on its promise for mainstream consumers. In our work with New Matter, we’ve focused on crafting a product ecosystem that moves beyond the basics of ‘ease of use’ to make 3D printing both relevant and delightful for anyone.”

New Matter is the latest company from Idealab, a creator and operator of technology companies that has started more than 125 companies since 1996, resulting in more than 40 IPOs and acquisitions. The New Matter team is made up of veterans from the 3D printing and design industry, and is backed by leading venture capital firms First Round Capital and Alsop Louie, with additional investments from Idealab, frogVentures, Biotechonomy and angel investor Scott Banister.

“My dream is for a 3D printer in every home and in every classroom,” said Bill Gross, Founder of Idealab and Co-Founder of New Matter. “The potential for transforming both manufacturing and education is unfathomable, and the MOD-t is the firing shot to enable this revolutionary change.”

Achieving Truly Low Cost

Through clever mechanical engineering and with high-volume manufacturing in mind, New Matter has significantly reduced the cost to produce the MOD-t 3D Printer. New Matter developed a unique, patent-pending electro-mechanical design and a build platform with dramatically fewer parts, making the printer highly reliable, precise and affordable.

Key features of the MOD-t 3D printer include:

• Built-in WiFi
• Prints in safe, environmentally-friendly Polylactic Acid (PLA) plastic
• Print speeds of 80mm per second
• Layer resolution selectable from 0.2 to 0.4mm
• Maximum object size of 4 x 6 x 5 inches

New Matter utilizes high-volume manufacturing processes in order to reduce the overall product cost of the MOD-t design. To further ensure a smooth path to production, New Matter has partnered with Dragon Innovation, which specializes in bringing hardware products to market and has worked on some of the most successful hardware crowdfunding campaigns. After rigorous review and analysis, the MOD-t has earned the “Dragon Certified” designation, indicating that the MOD-t is manufacturing-ready.

Providing a Vibrant Online Marketplace

New Matter intends to solve the problem of limited access to quality 3D designs by creating an online marketplace where users can buy and sell 3D-printable designs. The Marketplace will feature customizable models and limited-edition items created by renowned designers and artists. A powerful interface will allow users to interact with and adjust 3D models with ease. In addition, the New Matter store’s social and sharing capabilities will enable users to send physical objects to friends as easily as sending a text message, or subscribe to a personalized series of curated 3D objects to be delivered on a regular basis. Finally, to make the printing process foolproof, the designs in New Matter’s curated store will be specifically calibrated for the MOD-t printer, allowing for great prints every time.