HeyGears has announced the G1X, a desktop machine that builds full-colour 3D models and also works as a flatbed UV printer for flat and textured surfaces. A Kickstarter campaign is planned, with a waitlist and a 50 dollar early bird slot open now. The company targets creators, studios and small businesses.
Key facts
Builds full-colour 3D models and acts as a flatbed UV printer
UV mode: up to 1440 x 2400 DPI, 400+ materials, textures up to 5 mm
Deep relief prints reach up to 150 mm
Early bird slot costs 50 dollars; Kickstarter launch planned
Context Deep relief (2.9D) here means a relief-style full-colour print that extends up to 150 mm in height, rather than a freestanding model.
How does the G1X work in 3D mode?
In 3D mode the machine builds models layer by layer from a dedicated ink set: cyan, magenta, yellow, black, two white channels, a water-soluble support ink and a transparent ink. HeyGears says this gives models coloured inside and out without painting. The same mode produces deep relief pieces up to 150 mm.
What can it do as a UV printer?
In UV mode the unit acts as a flatbed printer with an eight-channel ink system and up to 1440 by 2400 DPI. HeyGears lists more than 400 compatible materials, including metal, acrylic, wood, leather and ceramics. Raised textures up to 5 mm high can imitate leather, wood carving, brushstrokes or braille.
Which hardware and software does it use?
The printhead is an Epson I3200. HeyGears claims up to three times faster UV printing, based on its own tests against desktop UV printers with a single F1080 (XP600) head. Line-scan imaging detects an object's position and edges for automatic alignment. HeyVerse AI and Blueprint Studio generate models from text or images.
When and at what price?
The G1X is due on Kickstarter soon. A 50 dollar early bird slot includes a 300 ml bottle of white UV ink, valued by the company at 39 dollars. No final machine price is given.
What it means
The G1X is aimed at creators and small studios, not production, and its figures come from the vendor. For industrial users the relevant point is the process: inkjet-style colour building with water-soluble support competes with painted resin parts and multi-colour filament. Material properties, durability and running ink costs are not stated, so a business case cannot yet be drawn. Treat it as a design, prototype and customisation tool until independent test data exists.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HeyGears G1X?
It is a desktop machine that prints full-colour 3D models and also works as a flatbed UV printer for flat and textured surfaces.
How tall can the textures and reliefs be?
UV textures reach up to 5 mm in height, and deep relief prints extend up to 150 mm.
How can buyers reserve one?
HeyGears offers an early bird slot for 50 dollars with a free 300 ml bottle of white UV ink, ahead of a Kickstarter launch.