About Us

The PHLATPRINTER STORY

-This is a summary of the Phlatprinter-

The Phlatprinter, is an invention created by Mark and Trish Carew in 2006. This is a printer designed for cutting out or engraving into sheet foam from 1/8" up to 1-1/2" thick.

It's concept is based on a 3 Axis CNC machine with the X axis being the drive roller feeding the foam through the machine. The Phlatprinter was an idea to allow for 2D cutouts to be folded into 3D models. The machine parts can be locally purchased at a hardware store with the exception of a few pieces. The machine is a work in progress and we are certain that many mods and updates will follow with the help of people willing to build the machine.

  " One of the great features of the Phlatprinter is that it allows you to change mistakes on your design and tweak the variables of your design to save as you go.

For example I have hundreds of RC airplane designs on my computer created in a free 3D program called Sketchup. I can now layout the parts and print out the plane. At that point I build the plane and test fly it. If need be, (more often than not) I can make changes to that design and re-print and test fly until I get the plane flying just like I think it should. Once I have what I believe is a great design, I have the option to sell or share my creation with others that own the Phlatprinter. They down-load the Phlatcode and print it out and ta'da' they have a new RC aircraft to fly :)"

Mark and his wife Trish Carew are an RC kit manufacturer under the company of Phlatboyz, LLC.  They created this machine to make the process of cutting kits quicker and with precise repeatability. 

The Phlatprinter can take a 3D model that has been unfolded to a 2D surface it can cut the 2D surface and the object can then be refolded in the real world back into its original 3D shape.