Removing supports, burrs, and weird little errors from 3D printing is a labor of love. You can use many different tools to accomplish it, each with its own downsides. The Slice 10 is a fascinating solution to the problem, using high-speed movement rather than heat to cut through your problems.
It recently smashed through its goal on Kickstarter, but it is still worth backing, especially at the lower price of $119, almost $100 off its retail price. I’ve spent some time with it, using it with different projects and materials, and I think it would make a great addition to your toolbox.
It’s sharpness personified
Slice 10 ultrasonic craft knife
An ultrasonic knife uses vibration to make cutting through most materials a breeze. One of the biggest issues with other versions of this type of knife is their tendency to overheat. The Slice 10 has some very clever tricks to make sure that doesn’t happen and that you’re cutting using the vibration, not heat. This is especially helpful when you’re working on low-temperature materials like PLA.
I used it to cut through different 3D-printed materials like PLA and ABS, but I also used it to cut leather, DTF plastic and a few pieces of cloth, though it didn’t work as well on cloth as it did on the other materials. Plastics slice the best, but I was very impressed with the leather. The small blade let me cut some complex shapes, but it was also hefty enough to get long, straight lines through 2mm thick leather.
The Slice 10 does have a few issues. The cap doesn’t fit as snugly as I’d like, and despite the boast of low-temperature operation, it can still melt some low-melting-point plastics. But the battery life is excellent — you can even buy extra rechargeable batteries for quick swaps — and it has a clever auto-shutoff that prevents the ultrasonic blade from vibrating when it’s laid on the counter. This reduces the risk of accidental damage and does a good job of conserving battery.
All in all, I like the Slice 10. It’s a handy gadget that is well worth having in your arsenal. If you can, try to jump on the early bird pricing on Kickstarter, but remember, Kickstarter is not a guaranteed service. The $119 Kickstarter price is a much better value proposition than the retail price of $215, so if you are comfortable with using Kickstarter, grab it now, before the time runs out.
See full bio
Read the full article here
