With 3D printing fast becoming “normal”, we’re seeing a huge sampling of those who think they’ve got it right. Some offer quick printing, others a platform. Others, still, just plain try to get in at the lowest cost, betting you just want to print a toy or trinket to show off for friends. The FLUX may not be the lowest cost 3D printer we’ve seen, but it’s definitely one of the coolest, and one of the more well thought-out offerings on the table right now.

3D printers are at a bit of a crossroads – after a lot of initial promise, they seem to have hit a roadblock between early adopter zeal and general consumer interest. A new entrant called Flux should at least reinvigorate hobbyist excitement, thanks to a modular design that makes it a veritable all-in-one maker factor for budding builders. The Kickstarter project for Flux launches today, making the gadget available for pre-order pledges starting at $499 for an early bird unit reservation, and $599 after that. Flux’s modular units allow it to become a 3D scanner, later engraver, ceramics or pastry printer using modules either included, available as a separate add-on option or in development for later release. The startup has also opened up a module SDK to let others build hardware add-ons to potentially create lots more different capabilities for the Flux system in the future.