X-Winder: A new additive manufacturing filament winder (4 replies)

We are the startup X-Winder and developed a new additive manufacturing device called the X-Winder, which we believe to be the world's first small scale, affordable, desktop filament winder. As many of you know, filament winding has been around for decades in the aerospace business, but only on a huge scale, with machines so big they take up the entire shop floor. Now, the X-Winder brings this same proven additive manufacturing technology to the desktop and a smaller scale for makers and hobbyists who can now share in the immense cost savings and superior parts manufacturing capability. Think of the X-Winder like a 3D printer - it deposits layer after layer of carbon fiber, fiberglass or other high tensile filament in an epoxy resin matrix on a rotating mandrel to additively manufacture very strong, lightweight parts. BUT, unlike plastic 3D printer parts, X-Winder parts can be used in demanding high performance applications that require great strength and light weight. We are also releasing easy to use software consisting of a G-code generator and a G-code executor (similar to most 3D printer software architectures) which operates the X-Winder. And for software and app developers, we also have an SDK and API we'll be releasing so that more people can write cool apps for the X-Winder.

We have working prototypes and a short video at www.XWinder.com and would like to hear any suggestions or feedback before launching.

We'll be at the NYC Maker Faire on September 21-22, 2013 - so please come by and see our booth, we'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. We are also simultaneously launching on Kickstarter that same weekend.

Thanks and looking forward to your feedback.