According to The Economist the 3D printing is outsourced to Shapeways so the load shouldn't be a problem.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/10/small-scale_p...

Shapeways is apparently already doing north of 10k prints a month:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/shapeways-and-its-3...

Hopefully they'll let one of the larger rapid-prototyping companies handle that task.

Typically, when I need more than a handful of 3D rapid prototypes I'll order cast urethane pieces. The rapid prototype shop will take my part, create a two-piece SLA (type of 3D printing) mold, then cast the individual pieces in this 3D-printed mold. Turn-around times are very quick.

Lately, though, I've been able to get molds cut and have 20-100 first article pieces (sans final texture) in 4-6 weeks from China. If they've already settled on the design, they may want to just send the $50 contributors a first article and then ship them a final unit again later. Of course, it's not entirely the same feel as a 3D printed part, but it's probably far stronger and still gets them to the front of the line.

For a part that size, a normal 3D Printer could print out 30-60 a go, depending on the size of the printer. The primary determinant of printing time is the Z-axis I'd estimate it would be a 4-5 hour job, so they could print these in a week. That said, Shapeways has access to much more production capability.

I'm consistently surprised at the kind of things Kickstarter projects offer to donors. If a project becomes really successful, some projects may get into a bind. One project offered a phone call to donors, which alone would be really difficult with a lot of people. (>1000?)

My understanding of the video is that the first one was 3D-printed, but they need the money so they can use injection molding, and your donation is a pre-order for the injection-molded batch they produce.

Wait, I thought they said they were going to manufacture them using injection molding, not 3D printing. It looked to me like they use used the 3D printer to make the prototype.