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What's not to like about 3D printing? The basic concept that's been responsible for everything from toys, to rocket engine parts, to life-saving medical devices has been gaining a lot of ground lately, but this particular technology is about to get what, to many, is its next logical stepping stone: a fax machine equivalent. Poised to hit Kickstarter soon is AIO Robotics' Zeus, a device best described as a 3D fax machine.

Essentially, what AIO Robotics is looking to bring out is another 3D printer, but this time, a version complete with scanner, copier and fax capabilities. The plan is to bring the Zeus to Kickstarter starting September 4, and try to raise the cash for the device's development. It's set to compete with the Makerbot Replicator and Digitizer, though with the distinct advantage that the Zeus will have fax capabilities, while Makerbot's devices do not.

AIO Robotics, meanwhile, has brought out two digital renderings on RepRap, one of the forums of choice for those who engage in or just follow 3D printing, along with a little advance commentary on the device. The Zeus boasts a seven inch color touchscreen, as well as an ARM (News - Alert)-based computer that allows it to work without the need of a desktop to supply the processing power. The computer can handle 3D scanning as well, thanks to HD camera pictures taken with a swiping laser. Meanwhile, controlling the device is remarkably simple, with just four buttons for the user to work with: copy, fax, print and scan. Data taken can be sent to the cloud for reconstruction, which means the device will need access to an Internet connection to work. 

Based on the competition's pricing—namely, the Makerbot Replicator and Digitizer—the Zeus should retail for somewhere around $3,000. While it's not yet known just how much the Zeus will sell for, assuming it meets its goal, current reports indicate that the Zeus will be “significantly cheaper than the Makerbot Replicator and Digitizer.”

While the value of a 3D fax machine is a bit questionable—a 3D printer hooked to a desktop will do much the same thing—the idea that a 3D scanner and printer combination could be less expensive than the current crop is an exciting idea. Throw in the ability to do faxing, which really isn't necessary but falls well into the category of “nice to have”, and the end result is a very compelling potential appliance for users. The total number of 3D printers in the market is rapidly increasing—Amazon, not so long ago, brought out a complete 3D printer shop to accommodate what it likely expected to be a growing industry—and as a result, there will be people looking to make the experience as easy to work with as possible. The Zeus may make that jump a lot easier overall, and as such, is likely to have quite a bit of appeal. Just how much appeal remains to be seen, but it's certainly going to be worth watching.