Is the Kidoodle 3D Printer Kickstarter a scam?

[@jbrownson]

Audio mix is rough, hard to understand you while you're playing the video

[@3dpprofessor]

Yeah, sorry about that.

[@pileofstuff]

You covered pretty much all the red flags I was concerned about. The only one I'm left wondering about is if it's locked exclusively to their proprietary app or cloud server (which could disappear without warning), or if you can operate it "offline". And, of course, (as you said) standard Kickstarter warnings *always* apply.

[@3dpprofessor]

That is an excellent point. And I guess we won't know until we try it out. Well, I suppose I could ask.

[@knerduno5942]

People are still waiting on the CubitBot which was supposed to be sent to people six years ago. I think the people are in hiding now. No update, or anything from them in over two years. I was one of the lucky ones to get their money out of their scam. I will have nothing to do anymore with KickStarter since they do not care people lost their money, and took a part of it themselves.

[@BeefIngot]

Technically speaking an ender 3 can do 600mm/s. I consider the travel speed numbers marketing wank. What matters is volumetric flow and max acceleration before notable artifacts. As for the printer. none of it looks special. There wasn't anything advertised that is particularly special or easy to use. "app", doesn't really mean anything and I don't think pre-made models do anything but produce plastic waste for kids. It has to be about creativity and problem solving. As for safety. Sure it pauses, but so what. It's the hotend I'd most be worried about children burning themselves on.

[@3dpprofessor]

I feel differently about premade models. I like a simple library, at least to get started. In fact I think their video demonstrates things rather well. You start off printing from the app, then move to problem solving. Not everyone's starting in the same place. Let's meet people where they are.

[@peircedan]

@@3dpprofessor I'm not so sure that really works. I see no evidence that smart phones and phone apps help people become problem solvers. I believe that if you want people to become problem solvers they should have open systems that ship with development tools and smart phones are too locked down for that. Even with the tools currently available it does not seem that that everyone one has an interest in going down this road.

[@3dpprofessor]

@@peircedan i have to believe that's not the case. Over a decade ago I left software development because I was looking for work and walked into a company where everyone was using MacBooks. I related a time that I read the code for a Javascript library to duplicate the functionality without the bloat. Their software development lead looked at me wide eyed and said "that's possible?" But despite the fact that they were using different tools at a completely different level than I was used to, they were still a successful company making software. Times change. Tools shift. But making will find a way. Meet people where they are.

[@tacticalpoet]

Point on small form factor generally, not just specific to this. Not everyone has a space for a proper workbench or extra deskspace for a big or even midsized printer

[@GeekDetour]

We received one - I am finishing my review. Your video surprised me: it’s a very nice video, considering you are looking from far away. The unit we received works, the library looks original - although the models are simple.

They are claiming 50000 mm/s^2 accel which would mean that the printer would need only a 9 mm move to achieve 600 mm/s. So the speed is technically possible assuming the acceleration data is correct.

[@BeefIngot]

I absolutely don't buy that number. Vezbots barely reach those numbers with AWD, and 56 volts

[@cpace123]

the big screen is nice. I sell alot of tiny 3d printed parts so several small 3d printer would be great or my situation. I like having at least 1 smaller 3d printer. I wonder how quiet it is? So it does have a space. My kids would love to print little shoes, or other things for their action figures / dolls. As far as modeling. Unless they have permission that probably can't show kids using tinker cad.

[@ZOMBIEHEADSHOTKILLER]

if its made by Sunlu then there is no reason for it to me on kick starter. kickstarter shoudlnt be allowing established international corporations to exploit their site as if they were some independent start up.

[@3dpprofessor]

I'm less upset about them using Kickstarter as a pre-order system than I could be. At least it significantly decreases the risk for the consumer.

[@peircedan]

@@3dpprofessor How does it reduce risk? I would have thought it shifts risk from the manufacturer to the consumer. Some kickstarters never ship anything. Some ship stuff that ends up requiring modifications by the end user or a community that helps iterate better versions. This does not seem like the right kind of product for a kickstarter as it is expected to arrive fully functional and not as a project to fix.

[@3dpprofessor]

@@peircedan It reduces risk in the send that they're more likely to deliver than someone who has never done manufacturing before.

[@mrbilky]

One major issue I have if you are correct that it is Sunlu is the fact that the should not need a kickstarter I'm quite sure they are well funded, and as others have said the A1 mini is still the goto I mean you are still as a parent going to closely monitor and educate your child and supervise so why not a unit that is well polished and will have dividends for years to come

[@3dpprofessor]

I don't think SunLu is that well funded. They're not as successful as Creality or Bambu. And this is a win for consumers.

[@Tater1337]

$200 for a sunlu 100 x 100? I paid $210 for my sunlu S8 on October 13, 2020, which is a 300x300x400 printer aside from a huge footprint and a bad power switch location, that S8 has been a print and go. Currently have it loaned out to my makerspace

[@peircedan]

I feeling very skeptical regarding this printer. Apparently it will ship pre levelled. The bed is not heated so it comes with glue stick. The specs shown say nothing about wifi. It ships with a USB drive and no cables except for power. I don't recall ever seeing a product that supports wifi or bluetooth without saying so. If it does support wifi then is is 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz? Does it require to be connected to a phone through the entire print or can one download files to it. How much flash does it have for that? Just surprised this stuff is not spelled out.

[@3dpprofessor]

It gotta have Wifi at least. The app wouldn't work on a phone over USB.

[@deadpark121]

If anyone is interested in an update. As of right now they have missed their expected shipping window and have stopped replying to comments. Might have been a scam after all.

[@3dpprofessor]

That makes me very sad. Had a lot of promise. I even saw some units in the hands of reviewers. Of course they never responded to my offer to review for them.

[@JamesTM]

Very interesting video so far (4 minutes in), but it's really hard to hear you over the music in their ad. I don't know if that's something you can fix post-upload, but it'd be great if you could duck the ad audio significantly.

[@3dpprofessor]

Sadly, I noticed that post-upload myself, and, yeah, it's nothing I can fix. I'll make sure that doesn't happen in the future.

[@JamesTM]

@@3dpprofessor Been there, done that. And the almighty algorithm will destroy you if you try to re-upload. So we viewers can just deal. Fortunately, you do a fantastic job of re-iterating your points, so very little (if any) information is lost. Great video, btw. I appreciate your thoroughness.

[@trugbilddrachen]

Great video. Lost some of your voice to the KS video. Thanks for doing this for the community.

[@recoveryguru]

Your mic volume is set too low

[@3dpprofessor]

@@recoveryguru sorry about that. I keep trying to turn it up, but the gain dial dura nothing.

[@Lukis3D]

Europe has really strict laws especially when it comes to products made for children. I have alot of doubt that this product will make it in the European market.

[@3dpprofessor]

Maybe that's why it has the unnecessary safety features it has.

[@ozskeeter]

they under priced their pledge target to automatically close the campaign with a win ... they are delivering in August 2024 ... that means they have already produced. This is using/abusing the Kickstarter concept as a preorder.

[@ozskeeter]

a lot of larger companies also abuse the "start up" delusion of Kickstarter ... SunLu is not exclusive in this ... CMON is a classic example. They still use Kickstarter as a pre-order system when they can damn well afford to develop and produce in the usual commercial way but CMON cultists still given them a fortune often over a year in advance of receiving product.

[@3dpprofessor]

While I wish this was the case, Kickstarter wouldn't' be in business very long if they only took money from the little guys. They subsidise the little guys by letting the big guys play in the same platform. It might not be ideal, but it works.

[@DaKOGJet]

The deal breaker is the lack of auto leveling. Such a waste.

[@3dpprofessor]

I agree, that's a gross oversight. However, on a bed so small (and a print head so big) maybe there wasn't room.

[@Salamattder]

I just got a Bambu A1 mini for my kids to learn on. $199

[@See-essEll]

Agreed. How can you justify this thing at even the $159 "super early bird backer" price when $199 gets you an A1 mini? From the looks of it on the site, they have an 8 (.25kg) roll variety pack for $37, so not horribly overpriced like the $11/.25kg "half pound" rolls that toybox sells. A1 mini all day.

[@DreamsVoid]

🍿 alright! Time for a new video from the Professor!

[@dversetto]

I was a victim of the Sunlu Filadryer Kickstarter. I stopped backing Kickstarters after that. (except for 3D Printing Professor’s, of course)

[@charlesraes8541]

What happened in the end with that product? Was it the one that could dry 4 at once?

[@geektoybox]

I compliment you on your bravery, sir!

[@3dpprofessor]

Dom, I almost deleted your comment. I know you must have seen my twitter.

[@geektoybox]

@@3dpprofessor What gave it away? :P

[@Pavel-u2c]

So far, it looks like a scam now.

[@3dpprofessor]

So sad.

[@MakerBees333]

@3dpprofessor Based on the marketing materials and the fact I had one once that is a Sunlu s9. Which was quickly obsolete and discontinued after extreme discounts. They don’t even make printers anymore, not sure the frustration in the marketing video was much of an exaggeration 😅. 👍

[@MakerBees333]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣 I JUST GOT to the part of the video that the Kickstarter is for SULU 😂😂😂😂😅😅 OMG

[@3dpprofessor]

Hopefully, though, that means this time they're getting it right.

[@MakerBees333]

@@3dpprofessor I hope so 🤞, it looks really good, I am honestly tempted.

[@MakerBees333]

@@3dpprofessorOH!! And the Truth in the advertisement cannot be understated ❤, they criticized their own stuff to promote the new innovation. 💯 admirable.

[@guythejedi]

Size matters Joe, 100x100x90 for kids yes for anyone else that has 3d printed nah.

[@3dpprofessor]

It's small, yeah. But that's how they keep the price down.

[@guythejedi]

@@3dpprofessor but at launch it will be $260 you can get an A1 mini

[@3dpprofessor]

@@guythejedi That's still a really good price for what it is.

[@3dpprofessor]

@@guythejedi Size isn't the only metric. That UX is top notch.

[@peircedan]

@@3dpprofessor That value for money depends on what one is looking for and also, if it will perform once it is produced in quantity. Kickstarters don't always make it into production. I have some serious doubts but it is not a printer I want anyway. If it never makes it into production than those tiny spools could be a problem.

[@3dpprofessor]

Am I going to back it? www.3dpprofessor.com/2024/07/09/kidoodle-3d-printer-kickstarter-review/

[@MakerBees333]

I bet it is legit, Sunlu had great ideas. My track record with them is so-so. But they always find a way to offer legitimate deals.

[@VanguardSys]

kickstarter = scam - never ever again - kickstarter should be investigated

[@3dpprofessor]

Interesting take.

[@T-lm5um]

Terrible audio and video

[@3dpprofessor]

Anything specific I can work on, or just general grumbles?