Scrap Labs Unveils SCRAP 1 — The First Desktop Metal 3D Printer Under $10,000

A New Era for Affordable Metal 3D Printing?

Scrap Labs has unveiled the SCRAP 1, claiming it to be the lowest-cost metal 3D printer ever to hit the market. At an introductory price of $9,600 for a DIY kit, it represents a significant step toward making metal additive manufacturing accessible to small businesses, workshops, and serious hobbyists.

The SCRAP 1 uses Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technology — the same process found in industrial metal 3D printers costing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to Scrap Labs, their mission is to build "the lowest cost, most radically affordable metal 3D printer in existence."

Pricing and Availability

The SCRAP 1 is available as a kit for $9,600 during the early bird pricing period, which runs until the end of April 2026. After that, the price will rise to $14,200. For those who prefer a fully assembled and tested system, the cost is $17,990.

While still a significant investment, this price point puts metal 3D printing within reach of many more users than ever before. Traditional industrial metal LPBF systems typically start at $100,000 or more, making them practical only for large manufacturers and service bureaus.

What This Means for the Industry

The SCRAP 1 joins a small but growing category of affordable metal 3D printers aimed at democratizing metal additive manufacturing. Similar to how desktop FDM printers brought plastic 3D printing to homes and small businesses, devices like the SCRAP 1 could open metal printing to a much broader audience.

Potential applications for affordable metal printing include:

• Custom tooling and jigs — Small manufacturers can produce bespoke metal parts on-demand
• Prototyping — Engineers can iterate on metal designs without expensive tooling
• Educational purposes — Schools and universities can teach metal AM concepts
• Repair and replacement parts — Workshops can produce custom metal replacements

Watch This Space

Metal 3D printing has long been the domain of large industrial players. As more affordable options like the SCRAP 1 emerge, we expect to see increased adoption across smaller manufacturers and potentially even serious hobbyists. We'll be following this story closely to see how the SCRAP 1 performs in real-world testing.