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New metal 3D printer shrinks industrial tech down to workbench size with laser powder bed fusion system — aims to bring laser metal printing to workshops and labs for $9,600

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Why This Matters

The Scrap 1 metal 3D printer represents a significant breakthrough by making industrial-grade metal additive manufacturing accessible to small workshops, labs, and individual builders at a fraction of traditional costs. This democratization of metal 3D printing could accelerate innovation, reduce manufacturing costs, and expand the use of complex metal parts across various industries.

Key Takeaways

Scrap Labs, a Colorado-based additive manufacturing startup, unveiled the Scrap 1 — a compact laser powder-bed fusion metal 3D printer — at the Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival in Loveland, Colorado, which took place from April 18–19, 2026. The company is hoping to bring industrial-level metal additive manufacturing into the hands of individual builders, small manufacturers, research labs, and schools that have traditionally been priced out of the technology.

Metal 3D printing is one of the most compelling manufacturing technologies available today. It can produce fully functional parts with complex internal geometries, intricate lattice structures, and near-full material density that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive to machine by conventional means.

Swipe to scroll horizontally Scrap 1 Laser Powder Bed Fusion Metal 3D Printer SP Build Volume 100×100×100 mm (~4×4×4 in) Physical Dimensions 43W×50D×57H cm (16.9W×19.7D×22.4H in) Weight 30 kg (66 lb) AC Input 100-240V AC, 50-60 Hz, single phase Power Consumption 500W max (250W avg) Working Temp 10°C to 30°C (50°F to 86°F) Spot Size ~135 µm (~0.0053 in) Layer 20-100 µm (0.0008-0.004 in)

Despite those advantages, metal printing remains far less accessible than its plastic counterpart. The problem is that until very recently, metal 3D printing has been almost entirely unreachable for anyone outside a well-funded industrial operation. Entry-level systems from established players like EOS or Trumpf typically run well above $200,000 (£148,198), and require three-phase electrical infrastructure, dedicated floor space, and extensive safety systems for handling reactive metal powder.

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Even the more affordable end-of-market machines from companies like Xact Metal, which has made a point of targeting smaller buyers, start at around $65,000 (£48,164) and still require a proper lab environment.

Scrap Labs says it wants to change that. The company describes its mission as making advanced metal printing radically more affordable and practical, while maintaining genuine industrial capability, so that builders and makers can prototype, iterate, and deploy high-performance metal parts without a six-figure machine. Scrap Labs is also emphasizing open workflows, browser-based controls, and compatibility with familiar slicing software rather than locking users into a closed ecosystem.

Its first product, the Scrap 1 machine, is a compact platform designed for workbench use. The machine uses laser powder bed fusion — a metal 3D printing technique that works by spreading thin layers of fine metal powder across a build platform and melting them selectively with a high-powered laser, layer by layer, until the complete 3D geometry forms.

Scrab Lab brings this capability into a compact machine with the following specs:

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