Kare 3D's Kare S1 Prints Metal and Plastic on One Desktop Machine

One printer, two material families

Most desktop machines pick a lane. They print plastic, or they print metal, but not both without a different toolhead, a different firmware, or a different company. Kare 3D, a startup based in Istanbul, is betting that buyers want the choice in a single box. Its Kare S1 launched on Kickstarter this month with a claim that sounds like science fiction for the bench: the same hardware runs standard plastic filament and, with an add on metal kit, 316L stainless steel.

The metal path is not magic. You print the green part on the S1, then move it to the optional Kare Metal Set, which bundles a sintering furnace and a washing unit to burn off the binder and fuse the metal. That is the standard workflow for desktop metal filament, and it is the part that usually keeps metal printing out of home shops. Kare 3D is packaging the whole chain as an accessory rather than a separate machine.

What the specs say

The S1 is a compact aluminum framed machine. The base model offers a 200 x 200 x 200 mm build volume, while the S1 Plus stretches height to 480 mm for tall parts. Head temperature reaches 550°C, bed temperature 150°C, and top speed is rated at 500 mm/s. Resolution is listed at 10 microns. Connectivity covers USB, SD card, and Wi-Fi, with a 4.3 inch touchscreen up front.

On software, Kare 3D is not locking anyone in. The S1 works with the company's own Kare Slicer and with third party tools including Cura, Simplify3D, and Repetier-Host. Extruder options are listed as direct drive or Orbiter.

The campaign math

Kare 3D set a goal of £52,275 and had raised about £16,000 from six backers at launch, with the clock running to August 27, 2026. Backer tiers run from a £1 pledge to an £8,000 Kare S1 Printing Kit that bundles the furnace, washing unit, and a spool of 316L stainless steel filament, though that top tier does not include the printer itself. The company says it will put 51 percent of funds toward general and miscellaneous costs, 22 percent to manufacturing, 18 percent to taxes and fees, and 9 percent to compliance.

Our read

Metal printing on a desktop has been almost here for years, and the sintering step is where most of those promises stall. Kare 3D's move to bundle the furnace and washer as one kit is the interesting part. Whether six backers and a steep top tier signal real demand or early curiosity is the open question. If the campaign funds and ships, the S1 would be one of the few ways to go from plastic prototype to sintered steel part without leaving your workbench.