Blog Post #6: Nose to the Grindstone

Yikes… who would have thought 2020 would throw us this many curve balls? Global pandemic? Check. Global recession? Check. Social unrest and riots in the streets? Check and check.

I spent some time today poking around for a quote to sum up how our team managed these past few months. This one seemed the most fitting.

We will either find a way or make one.

— Hannibal (247-182 BC), Carthaginian General

I can’t say we weren’t a bit uneasy mid-March but when all of our trade show plans evaporated thanks to COVID-19, we were fortunate enough to find a cause worth sinking our teeth into. Designing and building personal protective equipment for local health care and front line workers managed to fill the lull. We spent months working alongside other local manufacturers and organizations to make a positive impact and that meant the world to us.

After exhausting our internal stock pile of filament on face shields, we switched our attention to ramping up our Alpha tester program to further improve the Mantis. This was a huge success in our book. We were able to keep our team working throughout the lockdown and our remote Alpha users provided an immense amount of useful feedback.

Tim, one of our many knowledgeable Alpha users, discusses design improvements which are now reflected in Mantis 1.0

Taking the feedback received from our Alpha testers, we began working on what the team began calling Mantis 1.0 — the first truly turnkey version of the Mantis. Version 1.0 took us a couple of months to cobble together given our supply chain was in shambles, but between runs to local hardware stores and Walmart for disinfectant spray, we were able to piece together everything we needed.

Mantis 1.0

Mantis 1.0 now includes an improved power supply, a vastly improved cooling system, and a feature rich intuitive user interface unmatched by our competition. After finalizing the Mantis 1.0 design, we switched to marketing and business development. That meant kicking off a pre-Kickstarter with Facebook ads as well as developing our pitch for a local business plan competition.

Both of these endeavors paid off. We’ve gained more and more followers and we achieved first place in the competition, which resulted in a cash investment to grow our business.

Most recently we’ve started offering the Mantis 1.0 to a select group of highly qualified followers who believe in our vision and the need for an easy to use 3D printer. If you’d like to be one of the first to get your hands on a Mantis 1.0, shoot me an email — joe@mantis3dprinter.com

It’s been a whirlwind year so far but things are finally starting to look up. To all of our supporters, we are eternally grateful. Your support means the world.

- Joe, Founder of Verde Mantis

Stay tuned for upcoming posts where I’ll be laying out how our Mantis 3D Printer is making our customers money with the press of a button.

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Interested in joining the Mantis family? Start by buying your Mantis 3D Printer today.

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Blog Post #5: The Story Behind the Mantis

June 14th, 2013

After a year of careful research, this was the day I was able to borrow enough money from my parents to buy a 3rd Generation, Solidoodle 3D Printer (order #13644). It was the end of my freshman year at college and I was eager to apply my newly learned engineering skills. This happened to be my first 3D printer and I was beyond excited.

I’m fairly techy so it only took me a few days of tinkering to get my Solidoodle up and running. The process was fairly straightforward and similar to many 3D printers today. YouTube videos back then were my saving grace when it came to learning how to set up my Solidoodle.

Vintage Solidoodle Unboxing Video

Additionally, much of my time early on was spent conquering some of the more obscure portions of the 3D printing learning curve. But first, let me breakdown the steps I learned were necessary to successfully prepare and operate a 3D printer:

Step 1) Plug in your 3D printer and make sure your computer (desktop or laptop, PC only usually) is able to communicate with it, this may require you to download and install drivers for your specific 3D printer

Step 2) Download a slicing software that works with your 3D printer

Step 3) Generate and/or download a model

Step 4) Convert your model to .STL file type (this is the most common file type used in 3D printing), adjust the .STL file’s resolution for best results

Step 5) Repair the .STL file, this makes sure there aren’t any errors leftover from the conversion in step 4

Step 6) Orient, optimize, and slice the .STL file in the slicing software you previously downloaded

Step 7) The slicing process converts your .STL file into machine code (G-code), now you must transfer this code to your 3D printer via usb, sd card, wi-fi, etc.

Step 8) Level the bed of your 3D printer, this ensures the 3D printer starts correctly

Step 9) Heat up your 3D printer, load material, and clean the nozzle (sorta like a glue gun)

Step 10) Press print to start your 3D printer when ready

That’s the cliff notes version of how to run a 3D printer in 10 steps. Unfortunately for myself and most users, it takes a while to master these skills and make 3D printed parts successfully.

Nevertheless, that was the status quo in 2013 and I was just pleased with the idea of manufacturing trinkets for my own amusement.

Sophomore year of college, I found myself in my dorm room 3D printing for profit and eventually starting a prototyping business which would operate upwards of 20 different types of plastic, photo-polymer, and ceramic 3D printers. As I studied away on my engineering class work, I kept a watchful eye on the 3D printing market.

Opening day for our first prototyping service office in 2014

I found it fascinating to watch the rise of 3D printing into the mainstream. Start-up company after start-up company, innovation after innovation. Business in 3D was booming… well until about mid-2015. That’s when things got a little rocky. I’m not quite certain of the root cause but the hype of 3D printing and its application to everyday life, met reality and so did many 3D printing related stock prices. Experts often referred to this time period as the ‘trough of disillusionment’, which is a now a well researched section of the 3D printing hype-cycle. This is the time when consumers began to realize that 3D printing wasn’t consumer ready. Unfortunately, during this same time period, Solidoodle, the company I bought my first printer from, went belly up along with many other 3D printing companies.

But 3D printing remained a personal interest and after graduating college in 2015, I landed my first full time job running metal 3D printers, specifically twin laser SLM 280HL’s. The German made SLM system is sorta like the Lamborghini of 3D printers, expensive, finicky, but when they are working, their performance is well worth the headaches.

SLM 280HL Metal 3D Printer

Eventually my career grew to the point where I was directing 3D printing operations within the company that now had 4 SLM’s and mutli-axis machining capabilities. I continued to play around with plastic 3D printers at home and continued learning about the latest and greatest as the 3D industry matured. This thirst for knowledge led me to pursue my master’s in 3D printing which I wrapped up in 2018.

2018 Masters Commencement

After my master’s degree, I took a look back at the 3D printing industry but this time around, I tried to put myself in the shoes of someone who bought their first 3D printer in 2018. I quickly realized three things:

1. The ten basic steps above didn’t change since 2013 when I first began

2. The ten basic steps still take a long time to learn

3. Many people who bought 3D printers ran into technical difficulties almost immediately

That’s when the light bulb went off… Why don’t I use my expertise to eliminate the technical difficulties by automating the ten basic steps?

But how? And why hasn’t someone else solved this problem? Is there even a market for such a product?

Well, I quickly learned the most likely reason why nobody has achieved this before. Essentially, in order to automate the 10 basic steps, you really need to design a 3D printer from the ground up with the appropriate electronics and hardware such that the physical hardware will interface seamlessly with your firmware and whatever slicing software you are using to convert your model into machine code.

The 3D printing market today has become somewhat of a parana fest whereby Chinese manufacturers of 3D printers are able to sell relatively good machines at a fraction of the cost of competitors. Lulzbot, a household name within 3D printing circles, appears to have just laid off 100 employees and seems to be the latest victim of this trend.

With hardware manufacturers fighting each other to the bottom, not much meat has been left on the bone for innovation which is probably why the 10 basic steps really haven’t changed in the last ten years.

Me being me, I went back to the drawing board and devised what I would consider the most ideal 3D printer that minimizes cost but also provides an unrivaled user experience. The brainchild of this exercise became known as the Mantis, named after my favorite color variant of green offered by Lamborghini.

The Mantis is a 3D printer unlike any other. Modeled after the first 3D printer I fell in love with, the Mantis is sturdy enough to stand on, easy enough for anyone to use thanks to automation, and backed by a career’s worth of 3D printing experience.

Joe & Andrew w/ the first Mantis prototype

At the end of the day, the Mantis is a fully automated 3D Printing appliance. It takes 5 minutes to learn to use instead of hours, it’s able to automatically process and print millions of existing models that are freely available online, and for only a slight premium that allows us to build them right here in the U.S.A.

Below I’ve created a list and video showcasing the features of the Mantis that allow us to create a worry-free 3D printing experience.

Technical Specifications:

• Fully Assembled for Immediate Operation w/ Optional Enclosure

• SAV MKI Motherboard

  • Proven hard-coded thermal run-away and fire prevention procedures

  • Enhanced security, the SAV MKI requires physical possession to update the firmware

  • Unrivaled data transfer speeds for fast printing

  • Expansion bay and Bluetooth capabilities

  • Open Source Firmware Capable

• Raspberry Pi 3B+ with upgradeable onboard solid-state memory

• Single Z Lead Screw, Gravity Fed, Z-Axis System for Reliability

• Purge bucket for Nozzle Self-Cleaning Operations

• Regulated laptop power supply for power consistency

• Detachable Spool holder for Portability

• Touchless Auto-Bed Leveling Technology

  • Dynamic 9-point assessment for highest level mapping accuracy

  • Simultaneous 3-Axis operation for dimensional consistency

• Controllable via a self-generated Wi-Fi signal

• Internet compatible, simply plug in an ethernet cord from your home router

• Pre-install of the latest OctoPrint 3D Printer operating system

• Slic3r, Cura, Simplify3D Compatible

• The SAV MKI allows for any baud rate speed which resolves data transfer issues currently encountered with other 3D printers

• Pre-installed firmware for 10 step automation system

• Fully automated material load, heat up, purge, nozzle cleaning, file preparation, material unload sequence, and cool down procedure.

• Intuitive Device Dynamic Graphical User Interface for Ease of Use

• Non-direct drive extrusion and core x/y gantry system for speed and reliability

• Fiberglass Reinforced Belt System for Maintenance Free Tension Rigidity

• Anti-Warping Heated Bed Technology for High Temperature Materials

• Open Source hardware, for ease of repairability and maintenance

• A premium powder coat of the highest quality to ensure the Mantis stands the test of time

Technical Breakdown

Circling back to the business side, the question remains: Is there a market for this product? I’m inclined to let you, the customer, decide.

Stay tuned for our next post and to be notified or leave a comment, follow us on social media.

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LinkenIn: Verde Mantis, LP

Blog Post #4: Useful 3D Prints – The Chip Clip

Welcome to the official Useful 3D Prints blog post series.

Today we’ll be discussing a quick and simple 3D print that made my Superbowl Sunday a little bit easier.

But first, let’s discuss the problem we needed to solve in this particular instance.

Everyone enjoys guacamole and tortilla chips. However, the problem I always face is that I usually have more chips then guacamole. This results in having to save the chips for later.

Whoever invented the chip bag made it super easy to open but a pain to close and keep closed! And here lies the root of my dilemma. After eating, I began searching around for one of those plastic clips to keep the bag of leftover tortilla chips closed. However, I had none…

Hell hath no fury but that of my girlfriend when she goes to eat a stale chip so it was time to get inventive.

I hoped over to www.thingiverse.com and found what I’ll call a chip clip.

Digital Chip Clip Design from Thingiverse.com

Source: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2009085

After downloading to my iPad, I connected my iPad to my Mantis’ wifi signal, uploaded the file, and simply pressed print.

Freshly printed Chip Clip

About ten minutes later, my worries were gone.

The Chip Clip and my bag of Torilla Chips

In the end this solution cost me about $0.04 in material and ten minutes of printing instead of a similar solution that Amazon sells for $1.86. That’s a cost savings of almost $2 dollars. Imagine how much you’d save if you use Chip Clips on a regular basis.

Source: https://www.amazon.com/Chef-Craft-Large-Chip-Clip/dp/B00RLDI0DS/ref=sr_1_11?crid=33OUOLR0UZ3KV&keywords=chip+clips&qid=1580746008&sprefix=chip+cli%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-11

Just another example of a home 3D printer saving you money and making your life that much more convenient.

Stay tuned for our next post and to be notified or leave a comment, follow us on social media.

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Blog Post #3: Useful 3D Prints – The Infamous Toothpaste Squeezer

Welcome to the first official Useful 3D Prints blog post.

Today we’re going to be showcasing how 3D printed items make life easier. Today’s example is a personal favorite and impacts a chore everyone performs daily: Brushing our teeth.

I’m a twice a day (sometimes thrice if I’m feeling self-conscious) brusher myself (normally once in the morning, once at night) which means a tube of toothpaste will usually last me around 2-3 weeks.

I’ve always been one to forget to buy another tube just before I run out and so I’ll often find myself trying to squeeze every last bit of toothpaste out the following morning or evening. The process of rubbing the tube against the edges of my bathroom sink is rather cumbersome, perhaps there’s a better way?

I hopped onto my favorite 3D printing file sharing site, www.thingiverse.com, and was able to conjure up a 3D printable file of a toothpaste squeezer that someone generously designed and made downloadable for free.

Oh, and by the way, this toothpaste squeezer costs about $0.05 and twenty minutes to make on my 3D printer at home. The average toothpaste squeezer off Amazon appears to be around $2 (plus shipping) and takes two days to arrive via Prime.

As a quick aside, my first foray into entrepreneurship was actually selling similar 3D printed toothpaste squeezers out of my college dorm room. Every day between study sessions I could make about 20 of these and would then proceed to sell them to every classmate, roommate, friend, or professor that would hear me out. $1 seemed to be a fair price and so $20 (or 2000% gross profit) a day for little effort gave me an easy way to pay for a few meals.

You’d be surprised how many people you can engage with your sales pitch when you open with “Hey, do you brush your teeth?”

Perhaps next time we’ll tackle flossing.

Stay tuned for our next post and to be notified or leave a comment, follow us on social media.

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Blog Post #2: Value Add – Useful 3D Prints that Improve Everyday Life

I’ve been following the 3D Printing space for nearly a decade at this point. I’ve had the pleasure to watch 3D printing history unfold with innovation after innovation. But yet, I find myself wondering why we still don’t all have a 3D printer in our homes?

‘Why is that?’ Is something I often ask myself. Is it because the technology is too technical? Or perhaps because 3D printers are relatively expensive? Both of these could be valid reasons, I suppose.

But what if it just came down to an industry’s failure to showcase value.

I’m not talking about stock value nor the value of money or time. I’m talking about the value a product brings to our lives. Think about it, what products do use everyday that make life easier and better.

To me that seems like a much more likely reason for people to buy something. After all, the latest iPhone will cost the average consumer upwards of a grand and nobody blinks an eye.

I’m blown away by the everyday products I use that just take the edge off of otherwise grueling tasks. As an example, just about every day I use my microwave to cook meals in minutes that otherwise would have taken me an hour to prepare. I microwaved a whole ‘microwaveable’ bag of sweet potatoes the other day and they came out perfect, what type of witchcraft is that?!

Granted, you can’t beat a home cooked meal but if I’m rushing between the office and jiu jitsu practice, there is no better remedy than simply reheating leftovers in the microwave. The microwave makes my life easier and I see that as added value. For that added value, I’m willing to pay.

I think the marketing genius behind the everyday products we enjoy did a great job of showcasing the value their products bring to our lives.

The 3D printing industry marketing folks could have done a better job at that.  

It’s my belief that 3D printing does add value to every household.

So, I’m going to take a crack at it. We’re launching a series of blog posts called Useful 3D Prints.

Each Useful 3D Prints blog post is going to do one thing: Showcase how a household 3D printer makes everyday life easier.

Stay tuned for our first post and to be notified or leave a comment, follow us on social media.

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Blog Post #1: 3D Printers to Lamborghini’s, Our Journey to Liberate Creativity

Years ago, on a chilly fall day, a lone student sat in a dorm room filled with the humming sound of 3D printers and that year’s homecoming parade just outside the window. At the time, life was simple and providing 3D printed parts for college students was a somewhat novel and profitable way to pay the bills. Who would have thought this could spark a lifelong pursuit?

That spark ignited an entrepreneurial imagination that gave rise to a business that lived and breathed on making ideas reality. Accomplished by providing clients with digital product designs and physical models of their ideas by way of 3D printing, attaining success arose along with an uncovered passion for unlocking the creativity of others.

At the core of this success was 3D printing. 3D printers allowed for a quick conversion of an idea from nothing to a physical part in your hand in days or even hours—our customers loved it and so did we.

Growing Pains and A Solution

But life wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, the relationship with 3D printers was certainly love/hate. As the business began to scale, 3D printer reliability became an increasing topic of concern. It became apparent the 3D printers themselves were pretty stupid. For instance, if they messed up printing a part, they would just keep going. It’s like photocopying a stack of papers with a photocopier that runs out of ink but just keeps going and you end up with a paper stack of useless illegible hieroglyphs.

To solve this problem, the solution was simple. Take existing 3D printers and make them smart using artificial intelligence. Turns out this concept worked well and allowed for a significant increase in reliability.

This technological breakthrough led to great financial success and even a couple patents.

Decisions Decisions 

After achieving this newfound pinnacle of success, the idea of leaving all the 3D printing headaches behind crossed his mind. The thought of getting engaged, moving into a house, and buying a particular long sought-after high-performance sports car, seemed like a logical next step.

But another thought began to creep in… The idea of making the technology he loved so dearly, accessible to everyone.

And if you really must know, she (not the girl but the car) was a Lamborghini Huracan, specifically in Verde Mantis.

Lamborghini Huracan in Verde Mantis

After much contemplation and many late-night hart to hearts with his mentors and confidants, there was only one path forward that made sense to him.

Inspired by the same passion and creative impulse that his favorite automobile evoked, this new path meant building a company that would sell the world’s easiest to use 3D printer.

The Mantis.

A 3D Printer Unlike Any Other

That idea gave life to the company Verde Mantis, uniquely named after the color of the aforementioned Lamborghini , the first consumer 3D printer manufacturer whose sole purpose is to bring convenient and easy to use 3D printers to the masses.

Naturally, The Mantis 3D Printer had to be an equally emotion evoking green.

The Mantis 3D Printer

Verde Mantis is focused on unlocking the true potential of creative minds by providing an easy to use solution that doesn’t require hours of training and headaches to learn.

The Mantis simplifies the complex 3D printing process and allows you to focus on innovation instead of dealing with the quirks that currently plague the 3D printing process.

Imagine a gateway to a world where all young aspiring minds can make their next big idea with the push of a button. The Mantis 3D Printer is that gateway.

After seeing the awe struck look on the faces of those who use the Mantis, we think we made the right decision. What do you think?

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

- Unknown

Thanks for taking the time to read our first blog post!

Feel free to provide us feedback via our social media pages that can be found at the bottom of our website.

- Joe

Interested in The Mantis 3D Printer? Learn more on our FAQ page by clicking here.