LulzBot

LulzBot is a 3D-printer brand historically developed and manufactured by Aleph Objects, a Loveland, Colorado company focused on open-source hardware and free and open-source software for additive manufacturing. The brand became known primarily for the LulzBot TAZ and LulzBot Mini desktop printer families, which were designed around RepRap principles and emphasized serviceability, documentation, material flexibility, and user access to design files and software. The LulzBot product philosophy differed from that of many closed 3D-printer systems. Although its machines used conventional manufactured components, including extruded aluminum rails and other production hardware, the printers retained a substantial open-hardware and open-software orientation. Some parts were designed to be printable, and users could inspect, modify, repair, or reproduce elements of the machines. This approach made the brand relevant to open-source engineering communities, educational institutions, libraries, makerspaces, and research projects. The TAZ platform was the brand's principal product family. The TAZ 4, released in 2014, introduced engineering changes intended to improve robustness and prepare the platform for additional extrusion configurations. The TAZ 5 subsequently received favorable attention in third-party printer rankings. The TAZ 6, released in May 2016, added automated bed leveling, automated nozzle cleaning, an enclosed power supply, updated firmware, broader filament support, and thermal-management improvements. The TAZ line was also associated with strong documentation and ease of maintenance, qualities that helped it gain visibility among hobbyists and institutional users. LulzBot also offered the smaller Mini line. The LulzBot Mini 2 was recognized by technology reviewers as a strong intermediate or enthusiast printer in 2019, reflecting the brand's effort to serve users seeking a more compact machine than the larger TAZ models. Beyond printers, the business sold plastic filament, accessories, and replacement parts, extending the brand into consumables and maintenance equipment. The brand's open ecosystem supported a range of noncommercial and research applications. LulzBot machines were used in projects involving open-source scientific instruments, low-cost prosthetic hands, and other experimental fabrication systems. The TAZ 6 received the Free Software Foundation's Respects Your Freedom certification, an indication that its hardware and software documentation met the organization's requirements for user freedom and openness. LulzBot also appeared in public demonstrations of emerging bioprinting techniques. In 2019, Carnegie Mellon University used a LulzBot printer in work based on the FRESH process to produce functional printed human heart tissue using collagen-related materials. This example illustrated how a desktop additive-manufacturing platform could be adapted for research beyond conventional plastics. Aleph Objects experienced severe financial difficulties in 2019. In October of that year, the company laid off 91 of its 113 employees because of cash-flow problems. In November 2019, it announced that Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D had acquired all of its assets. The acquisition changed the corporate context surrounding the LulzBot brand, but the available reference material does not establish the brand's complete current ownership structure, headquarters, executive team, or operating status. Accordingly, those fields remain limited where current evidence is unavailable.

LulzBot emerged as the principal 3D-printer brand of Aleph Objects, a small manufacturing company based in Loveland, Colorado. Aleph Objects built its business around open-source hardware and free and open-source software, applying that philosophy to desktop additive manufacturing. The company's machines were designed to remain accessible to users who wanted to understand, modify, repair, or reproduce parts of their equipment rather than rely exclusively on proprietary service channels. The brand's development was closely connected with RepRap principles. LulzBot printers used a mixture of manufactured and printed components, including extruded aluminum structural elements and parts that could be produced on a 3D printer. This design approach made the products attractive to makerspaces, educators, libraries, researchers, and open-source engineering communities. The company also supplied filament, accessories, and replacement parts, supporting ongoing use and maintenance of its printers. The TAZ family became LulzBot's best-known product line. The TAZ 4 was released in early 2014 with a redesigned drive-rod arrangement, revised heated-bed mounts, a 400-watt power supply, and a more complete electronics enclosure. These changes were intended to make the platform more robust and to prepare it for later dual-extrusion options. Reviews highlighted the engineering work behind the revision. The subsequent TAZ 5 also received favorable placement in independent 3D-printer comparisons. LulzBot gained broader public exposure during this period. In June 2014, a production crew from the Canadian television program How It's Made visited the company's headquarters to record a segment centered on the TAZ 4. The resulting segment aired on the Discovery Channel in 2015. The brand also developed a reputation for documentation and maintainability. Make Magazine's 2014 testing guide recognized the TAZ for documentation quality among the hobbyist printers it evaluated. On May 17, 2016, LulzBot released the TAZ 6. The new machine added automated bed leveling and nozzle cleaning, an enclosed power supply, improved firmware, support for additional filament types, and changes to the heat sink and related thermal components. The model received strong third-party reviews. LulzBot's smaller Mini line provided a more compact alternative, and the Mini 2 was recognized by technology publications in 2019 as a leading intermediate or enthusiast printer. The open nature of the platform enabled uses beyond ordinary prototyping. LulzBot machines were used to fabricate components for open-source scientific tools, including a photometer for nitrate testing, and appeared in projects producing low-cost prosthetic hands. The brand also entered research discussions around bioprinting. In summer 2019, Carnegie Mellon University used a LulzBot printer in its FRESH process to create functional 3D-printed human heart tissue using collagen-related biomaterials. Despite its technical and community profile, Aleph Objects encountered financial problems. In October 2019, the company attributed a major workforce reduction to cash-flow difficulties, laying off 91 of its 113 employees. The following month, Aleph Objects announced that Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D had acquired all of its assets. This transaction placed the LulzBot brand under a new corporate context. The supplied references do not provide enough information to state the current executive structure, precise headquarters, financial condition, or complete post-acquisition operating footprint, so those matters remain unresolved in this entry.

1. 2019LulzBot Mini 2 received reviewer recognition

   The Mini 2 was named a leading intermediate or enthusiast 3D printer by technology reviewers.

   Source
2. 2019Aleph Objects workforce reduction

   Cash-flow problems led to the dismissal of 91 of the company's 113 employees.

   Source
3. 2019FAME 3D acquired Aleph Objects assets

   Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D announced the acquisition of Aleph Objects' assets.

   Source
4. 2016TAZ 6 released

   LulzBot launched the TAZ 6 with automation, firmware, power-supply, thermal, and material-support improvements.

   Source
5. 2015How It's Made segment aired

   A television segment filmed at Aleph Objects' facility and featuring the TAZ 4 was broadcast on How It's Made.

   Source
6. 2014TAZ 4 released

   The TAZ 4 introduced a revised drive system, redesigned heated-bed mounts, a 400-watt power supply, and an enclosed electronics system designed to accommodate future dual-extruder options.

   Source
7. 2014LulzBot recognized for documentation

   Make Magazine's 2014 3D-printing guide gave the LulzBot TAZ its best-documentation distinction among the hobbyist printers tested.

   Source

Open-source, repairable, documented, and materially flexible desktop additive-manufacturing equipment for makers, educators, libraries, researchers, and professional users.

• LulzBot TAZDesktop fused-filament 3D printer

  The TAZ is LulzBot's principal large-format desktop printer family. It follows the brand's open-source and RepRap-oriented approach, combining manufactured structural components with accessible hardware and software designs. The family emphasized serviceability, documentation, material flexibility, and upgrade potential. Notable generations included the TAZ 4, TAZ 5, and TAZ 6.

• LulzBot TAZ 4Desktop fused-filament 3D printer2014

  Released in early 2014, the TAZ 4 revised the platform's drive-rod system and heated-bed mounting arrangement. It also added a 400-watt power supply and a fully assembled electronics enclosure intended to support subsequently introduced dual-extruder configurations. The model was reviewed as a more robust evolution of the earlier TAZ platform and later gained additional public visibility through a How It's Made television segment.

• LulzBot TAZ 6Desktop fused-filament 3D printer2016

  The TAZ 6 launched in 2016 with automated bed leveling and nozzle cleaning, an enclosed power supply, revised firmware, support for additional filament materials, and improvements to thermal components. It represented a mature version of the TAZ design and was reviewed favorably for overall capability. The model also received the Free Software Foundation's Respects Your Freedom certification.

• LulzBot Mini 2Compact desktop fused-filament 3D printer

  The Mini 2 was the smaller-format counterpart to the TAZ family. It was positioned for users who wanted a more compact LulzBot machine while retaining the brand's emphasis on accessible maintenance and broad enthusiast use. In 2019, technology reviewers recognized it as a strong intermediate or enthusiast printer.

• LulzBot materials, accessories, and replacement parts3D-printing consumables and components

  Alongside printers, the business sold plastic filament, printer accessories, and replacement parts. These offerings supported the practical requirements of operating and maintaining LulzBot equipment and complemented the brand's repairable, user-serviceable product philosophy.

• 2014How It's Made television feature

  United States · Canada

  A television crew visited Aleph Objects' Loveland facility and filmed the LulzBot TAZ 4 for the Canadian-produced How It's Made program.

  Outcome. The segment aired in 2015 and provided general-audience exposure for the LulzBot manufacturing process and product.

  Source

• 2019Workforce reduction during cash-flow difficultiesStrategy

  Aleph Objects faced cash-flow problems that threatened its ability to continue operating at its previous scale.

  What changed. The company laid off 91 of its 113 employees.

  Aftermath. Aleph Objects subsequently announced the sale of all its assets to Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D.

  Source
• 2019Asset acquisition by Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3DM&A

  Following Aleph Objects' financial and workforce difficulties, the LulzBot business required a new asset owner.

  What changed. Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D acquired all assets of Aleph Objects.

  Aftermath. The transaction placed LulzBot under a different corporate ownership context, but the supplied sources do not establish the full post-acquisition structure or operating status.

  Source
• 2016Launch of the LulzBot TAZ 6Product launch

  LulzBot continued developing its flagship TAZ platform for users seeking a capable and relatively maintainable desktop additive-manufacturing system.

  What changed. The company introduced automated bed leveling and nozzle cleaning, an enclosed power supply, updated firmware, broader filament support, and thermal improvements.

  Aftermath. The TAZ 6 received favorable independent reviews and became one of the best-known generations of the TAZ line.

  Source

• 2019Aleph Objects laid off most of its workforce

  The company reported cash-flow problems and dismissed 91 of its 113 employees.

  BankruptcyOther
  Source
• 2019Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D acquired Aleph Objects assets

  Aleph Objects announced that Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D had acquired all of its assets, changing the corporate ownership context of the LulzBot brand.

  M&A
  Source
• 2016LulzBot TAZ 6 launched

  The TAZ 6 introduced automated bed leveling and nozzle cleaning, an enclosed power supply, firmware improvements, wider material support, and thermal-management updates.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source
• 2014LulzBot TAZ 4 introduced with platform and power-system improvements

  The TAZ 4 added engineering changes including a revised drive-rod system, redesigned heated-bed mounts, a 400-watt power supply, and an electronics enclosure intended to support later dual-extruder configurations.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source
• 2014LulzBot TAZ 4 featured on How It's Made

  A Canadian television production crew visited Aleph Objects' Loveland headquarters to film a segment featuring the LulzBot TAZ 4; the segment later aired in 2015.

  CampaignOther
  Source

1. Aleph Objects
2. LulzBot official website