Mcor Technologies makes a 3D printer that uses standard reams of office paper as the build medium. This is probably most exciting to me because of the very low cost to print in this medium. Is there any chance of this technology coming to Shapeways anytime soon?
The low price would be great for printing larger parts even if the finished detail and smoothness wouldn't be good enough for small parts. This is one thing that shapeways now lacks (after introducing the fine detail of FUD) - a cheap material for large models.
Just saw the video of this printer, and I'm also hoping that Shapeways considers this technique... it actually might make me print some big stuff
It looks an interesting technique, but the material cost is only one small part of the total cost of someone like Shapeways producing a 3-d item and dispatching it to you. You may not see the savings you expect ! BTW is it just my computer or is the text on their website virtually impossible to read?
Seems to me something like that would be more practical as a home-based 3D printer for mock-ups and such. I daresay someone with the ingenuity and know-how could probably build such a thing themselves relatively easily. Very cool stuff.
Just wanted to bump this. Mcor is has changed their business plan. They will lease their printer for a flat fee that includes all material and maintenance. For what amounts to about $1100/mo, you get the printer and unlimited blades, adhesive, paper and maintenance. I wouldn't expect post processing to cost any more than what is already typical for the cheaper materials and shapeways. It's just peeling paper, no equipment required. Even accounting for general overhead and markup, I would think the Matrix would be able to offer a per/cm3 cost quite a bit lower than Sandstone.
Company site- http://www.mcortechnologies.com/ TCT Article about MCOR - http://www.3dworknet-3dprinters.nl/fileupload/Matrix_TCT.pdf http://www.3dworknet.com sells the Matrix in the Netherlands and offers printing services with it.