Silhouette Alta 3D Printer Announced

I was scrolling through my Instagram feed this week and was pleasantly surprised by the new Silhouette Alta 3D printer announcement. The Alta is a $299 delta style 3D printer with a 116 mm diameter by 120 mm height build volume.

The low price makes it an interesting choice for teachers and makers looking for an entry level 3D printer or who want to have multiple printers for class projects. (Disclaimer: I haven’t had any hands on with the Alta or even seen it in person. This post is based solely on what I’ve seen online.) I use a Silhouette Cameo vinyl cutter at home and for education workshops and that experience has me excited about what the Silhouette brand can bring to the 3D printing community.

There are certainly lots of affordable 3D printers on the market but I think the Silhouette Alta could be a game changer. Silhouette brings an entire digital fabrication ecosystem to the table. The Silhouette ecosystem includes machines, supplies, tools, software, a design store, social media network and community. Silhouette machines are on the shelves of craft stores across the country. I would love to see the crafting community adopt 3D printing in the same way it has vinyl cutting.

The most exciting part about Silhouette entering the 3D printer market is their marketing savvy. Take a look at the Silhouette Alta promo video and you see a fresh take on 3D printing at home. The video never over-promises and features realistic project ideas like home/office decor, party decorations, gear accessories, jewelry and school projects. The masterful part of the video is the storytelling. A mom and her son making cookies together using a 3D printer cookie cutter. It isn’t about the 3D printer but about a parent and child making together.

If you’ve tried the Silhouette Alta 3D printer, please leave a comment about your experience. I look forward to learning more about the Alta.

All photos courtesy of Silhouette.