Airwolf 3D

Airwolf 3D was founded in May 2012 by Erick Wolf and Eva Wolf in Southern California. The business idea followed Erick's attempt to use a purchased 3D printer to fabricate replacement parts. Difficulties with the machine's capabilities encouraged him to design a more capable printer, resulting in the first Airwolf model. The original v.4 design was derived in part from the Prusa Mendel and Mecano Air designs, which also influenced the company's name. The company began shipping fully assembled printers in June 2012 from a garage in Newport Beach. An early machine was sold to Lars Brubaker and Kevin Pope of MatterHackers, an early 3D-printing supplier and software company. MatterHackers later developed MatterControl, linking Airwolf's early hardware activity to the broader desktop-fabrication software ecosystem. Airwolf's first documented product expansion occurred with the AW3D 5.5 in late 2012. The AW3D XL followed in January 2013 with a larger approximately 12-by-8-by-7-inch printing area. In November 2013, the company introduced the AW3D HD at the 3D Print Show in Paris. Its approximately 12-by-8-by-12-inch print volume and stated 0.06-millimeter layer-to-layer resolution reflected the brand's movement toward larger and more capable desktop systems. The product family subsequently included the AW3D HDL, a base model with an unheated bed; the AW3D HDx, which used the JRx hot end and supported sustained temperatures up to 315 degrees Celsius; and the AW3D HD2x, a dual-head model launched in 2014. The HD2x could print two colors or two materials simultaneously when the materials had compatible extrusion temperatures. Airwolf later offered the Wolfbox wireless controller for wireless operation of the originally hard-wired printing and slicing workflow. The AW3D HD-R was introduced at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show. It combined dual high-temperature print heads with integrated Wi-Fi and cloud-based slicing, file storage, and file management based on AstroPrint from 3DaGoGo. Its aluminum structural backbone was intended to improve rigidity. The company also offered Wolfbite, an adhesive formulated to help nylon and nylon-blend prints adhere to, and later release from, glass and ceramic build plates. The product addressed warping and adhesion issues associated with nylon printing. These developments established Airwolf 3D as a professional-oriented desktop additive-manufacturing brand rather than a purely entry-level consumer printer maker. Its historical proposition centered on larger build volumes, elevated extrusion temperatures, dual-head printing, and materials support for design, engineering, education, and maker applications. Public references do not provide enough dependable information to describe later ownership, current executives, financial performance, or present operating status.

• 2015

  AW3D HD-R introduced at CES

  [1]Airwolf 3Den.wikipedia.org

  The HD-R added integrated Wi-Fi and AstroPrint-based cloud functions alongside dual high-temperature print heads.

• 2014

  AW3D HDx and HD2x expanded the range

  [1]Airwolf 3Den.wikipedia.org

  The HDx added a high-temperature JRx hot end, while the dual-head HD2x enabled compatible two-color or two-material printing.

• 2013

  AW3D XL introduced

  [1]Airwolf 3Den.wikipedia.org

  Airwolf 3D introduced the AW3D XL with an approximately 12-by-8-by-7-inch printing area.

• 2013

  AW3D HD launched

  [1]Airwolf 3Den.wikipedia.org

  The AW3D HD debuted at the 3D Print Show in Paris with an approximately 12-by-8-by-12-inch print volume.

• 2012

  Airwolf 3D founded

  [1]Airwolf 3Den.wikipedia.org

  Erick and Eva Wolf founded Airwolf 3D in May, and the company began shipping assembled printers from Newport Beach in June.

• 2012

  AW3D 5.5 introduced

  [1]Airwolf 3Den.wikipedia.org

  The AW3D 5.5 replaced the earlier v.4 and v.5 models and offered a stated maximum print volume of 195 by 212 by 112 millimeters.

• 2011

  Founder encounters limitations with a purchased 3D printer

  [1]Airwolf 3Den.wikipedia.org

  Erick Wolf's effort to make replacement parts with a purchased printer led to the idea for a more capable Airwolf machine.

Professional and engineering-oriented desktop additive manufacturing, emphasizing larger build areas, high-temperature extrusion, multi-material or multi-color capability, and supporting materials.

• 3D printer · 2012

  AW3D 5.5

  Introduced in late 2012, the AW3D 5.5 superseded the earlier v.4 and v.5 Airwolf printers. Its documented maximum printing volume was 195 by 212 by 112 millimeters, making it an early step in the company's move from its initial prototype-derived machines toward a more defined product range.

• Large-format 3D printer · 2013

  AW3D XL

  Introduced in January 2013, the AW3D XL expanded the company's print-area proposition to approximately 12 by 8 by 7 inches. The model operated on a RAMBo controller board made by Ultimachine and represented Airwolf 3D's emphasis on larger desktop build areas.

• Professional 3D printer · 2013

  AW3D HD

  Presented in Paris in November 2013, the AW3D HD offered an approximately 12-by-8-by-12-inch build volume and a stated layer-to-layer resolution of 0.06 millimeters. It used a single print head with a standard 0.5-millimeter nozzle and an optional 0.35-millimeter nozzle.

• 3D printer

  AW3D HDL

  The AW3D HDL served as a base model in the Airwolf range. It used an unheated print bed and a single print head rated for sustained temperatures up to 260 degrees Celsius. Its documented build volume was approximately 12 by 8 by 11 inches, with a stated resolution of 0.08 millimeters.

• High-temperature 3D printer · 2014

  AW3D HDx

  Introduced in May 2014, the HDx used Airwolf's JRx hot end and could continuously sustain temperatures up to approximately 315 degrees Celsius. It retained an approximately 12-by-8-by-12-inch print volume and a stated 0.06-millimeter layer resolution. Desktop Engineering selected the model as an Editor's Pick of the Week.

• Dual-head 3D printer · 2014

  AW3D HD2x

  The HD2x was a dual-head printer introduced in 2014. Its print heads could sustain temperatures up to approximately 315 degrees Celsius and could process two colors or two materials in one job when the materials had similar extrusion requirements. The original system was hard-wired, with later wireless operation supported through the Wolfbox controller.

• Wireless dual-head 3D printer · 2015

  AW3D HD-R

  Introduced at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, the HD-R combined dual print heads, a stated 315-degree-Celsius sustained temperature capability, and an approximately 11-by-8-by-12-inch build envelope. It was the first Airwolf model documented with integrated Wi-Fi and cloud-based slicing, file storage, and file management through AstroPrint.

• 3D-printing adhesive

  Wolfbite

  Wolfbite is an adhesive developed to help nylon and nylon-blend prints bond to, and later be removed from, glass and ceramic build plates. It was formulated around common nylon-printing problems, particularly warping and inadequate first-layer adhesion.

1. 1Airwolf 3Den.wikipedia.org