$25,900 3D Copier Makes Real Objects
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: 3D, Copier, ZPrinter, Prototype, Monochrome | Themes: Software, Business
Z Corporation has developed a printer than can generate 3D copies of objects placed inside.
Z Corporation today revealed the first automated, monochrome 3D printer, costing consumers a whopping $29,500 USD. The monster of a machine takes normal copying to a different level by creating actual objects up to 8 x 10 x 8 inches in size. While the new ZPrinter 350 definitely isn't a Replicator capable or recreating a cup of tea or a Klingon's favorite dish, this new device is certainly a step in the right direction.
So why would anyone need a 3D printer? Engineers would put it to good use, making a physical copy of a current prototype before going back to the drawing board to modify the original. Although the ZPrinter 350 only provides one color (white), consumers can preserve complex geometries and intricate details before making alterations. It's like making copies of a virtual model before applying the textures.
“The ZPrinter 350 gives a lot more engineering departments access to advanced 3D printing technology at a value price,” said Z Corporation CEO John Kawola. “ZPrinting is going to improve the quality of their products, speed their development processes, and ultimately help the bottom line.”
The company said that the new 3D printer uses snap-in binder cartridges, and will recycle the unused, office-safe building materials. However don't expect the machine to magically create the copy in mere seconds: the 3D copier has a vertical build speed of .08-inches per hour.
-
Previous News Article
Miyamoto: New Mario Will Kick... -
Next News Article
Holographic HUDs Could Go Into...
omfg, you can make like, fake graphic cards now?
Now mod it with a way to destroy the original object and you have yourself a short range transporter!
Haven't toy makers, 3d-model makers been using this sort of thing for a *long* time now?
thats really kool, does it like skulpt the copy out of one solid block of material
No I dont think it makes a real working object, it's just a copy. Also the time it takes is not worth consumer items.
http://reprap.org/
There's nothing really new or exciting about this even though they're claiming a "first". 3D printers have been around for at least 10 years now.
I wanna sit my ass on that copier. Much more "funny" factor than black & white butt prints.
How is this different from a currently existing rapid prototyper? It will also have trouble scanning into recesses in an object so it probably comes out less useful than just using a rapid prototyper that they already have.
Yeah, additive maching machines, rapid prototpying, 3D printing, whatever you want to call it, has been around for quite some time. All they've done here is add a 3D scanner.....and 3D scanners aren't new either. Like hunter315 said scanning into recesses or areas with shadows will be a limitation.
Haven't toy makers, 3d-model makers been using this sort of thing for a *long* time now?
EXACTLY! This kind of thing has been done for ages. Many rapid prototyping services use this kind of things.
when we get atom needles down pat and can have 100,000 of them taking electricity and turning into chicken, call me!
Old news if you "print" it from a computer model, new if you can put in a physical model and it would scan it then print it.
The reason for this is that I took a tour at Walla Walla University at the beginning of this last summer and they had a 3D printer there that could print 3D computer models, but it didn't have the scanning capabilities. Whats cool about the one that I saw was that you could have an object with interlocking gears or something and it would put a hard material between the gears as it printed it so that the gears would not be fused together. After that you would put it into some sort of slightly acidic solution and it would dissolve the in-between object so that the gears could turn freely. It was really cool!
Frankly guys, I don't understand anything in this news. You create a physical copy of an object using ink and paper? The title isn't helping either: 3D Copier Makes Real Objects. Really? Real Objects! This is the most impressive invention of mankind ever! Stop all research on cloning now. We can copy babies now!
The star trek type future is coming.
I see many adult stores taking advantage of this somehow....
lol this will put china out of business
My buddy works for a different 3D printer company and there machines will build intricate 3D models with moving parts that function after built. Build a replica car... the wheels rotate and turn and all the mechanicals are identical and function like the real thing in terms of basic movement.
Now just get it to make copies of itself...
This just took photocopying your butt to a whole new level.
The difference between this one and previous models, like Electro Goofy said, is that you can scan a model, use the 3D data, and then "print" out the copy with the same machine.
Mondotronics used to sell 3D scanners and small CNC machines through their catalog in the late 90s, plus software that both could use, but the scanner/fabricator were separate. Also the fabricator didn't use the powder+printed binder method of this one and most modern 3D printers (the loose powder is smoothed out and a glue is sprayed on the shape of a layer of the model, then another layer of powder is smoothed over that and repeat a few dozen hundred times until a 3D model made up of "slices" of the original comes out)
I've a 4years old 3000dolars laser etching machine that does the same.
"Piracy is not stealing," anyone?
I wanna sit my ass on that copier. Much more "funny" factor than black & white butt prints.
Now imagine a pissed off colleague waiting around hours for the machine to be free only to find a scale model of someones ass when it finally is.
How much does the 3d paper cost
Haven't toy makers, 3d-model makers been using this sort of thing for a *long* time now?
First line of article says: "Z Corporation today revealed the first automated, monochrome 3D printer, costing consumers a whopping $29,500 USD."
So, probably not.