Imagine if you could roll every technological tool for creatives into one workspace-sized robotic arm. Sounds pretty excellent, right? Well Makerarm –a freshly-launched Kickstarter gizmo– does just that by combining the functionality of a 3D printer, laser cutter, etcher and embosser, ink printer, design assistant, bakery decorator, and more into a single robotic creativity machine.
So how can one machine boast so many functions? The key is Makerarm’s system of interchangeable heads, which adapt its output to suit the user’s needs. In the demo video below, Makerarm is shown executing visual art pieces, creating plastic parts, etching wood and leather, drawing on paper, and even icing a cake.
But Makerarm aims to be more than just the sum of its parts. Despite the fact that it’s a multipurpose machine, Makerarm outdoes standalone creativity tools in certain applications. As a 3D printer, for example, Makerarm prints free from the confines of a typical box printer, and even includes interchangeable attachments for fused filament fabrication (FFF) printing, and stereolithography (SLA) printing.
Makerarm will also come with a hardware development kit so that creators can dream up and execute their own interchangeable tool heads to suit specific project needs. Of course, Makerarm will also be completely programmable and Wi-Fi enabled, so makers can train a pair or even a fleet of Makerarms to work in tandem, and can program new functions remotely.
The Kickstarter campaign for Makerarm will run until November 10th, but they’re already well on their way to the funding goal of $349,750. If all goes as planned, Makerarm’s creators expect to begin shipping sometime around October 2016, assuming the campaign is successfully funded.