Ireland based Mcor Technologies makes the only – or at least the best known – paper based 3D printer and its technology is proving to be one of the best fit for scholastic and office environments. When office supply giant Staples decided to offer 3D printing services it went with Mcor and the same has happened to many institutions and schools, especially in the UK, US and Australia.
One of the reasons why it is so welcome in schools and offices is that its printing material is paper, actual letter and A4 office paper sheets. Since the only part that can be seen after 3D printing is the outer layer, it can also use sheets with 2D printed writing all over them. This means that consumables – one of the number one expenses for 3D printing – is a non-issue for Mcor adopters.
The Robert E. Lee High School of Bayton has become the first of what is likely shaping up to be a long series of scholastic institutions offering their architectural AutoCAD students the possibility to turn their digital models into real life designs through an Mcor Matrix 300+ 3D printer.
“These students are exceptional spatial thinkers,” said Lee High School Instructor, Adam Truncale. “So they appreciate the opportunity to hold in their hands something they’ve conceived in their brains and shaped in the software. This is how great ideas are born, how future engineers are engaged and how a wealth of products will be created in decades to come.”
One of the best side effects of allowing students to learn through 3D printing is that they learn about 3D printing. Seeing the three dimensional physical models allows them to fully understand the final result of their digital productions, discovering that many times things are not quite like they appear on a computer monitor. This is true for 2D printing and it is even more true with the added dimension.
In fact Mcor machines are an ideal fit for schools because of relatively low operating costs, ease of use and an eco-friendly process that utilizes the most affordable build material there is: paper. They work by using each sheet as a slice of the object, cutting out each layer according to the digital model’s perimeter. The finished products requite no post-processing and can be full colour. After use they can be recycled in any paper bin.
“Students have one shot at getting high school right, and the ones who invest themselves into their studies are the ones with the best chance at success in years to come,” said Truncale. “Mcor 3D printers are helping us engage these students early in a meaningful way so they can go on to create their own opportunities – and make the most of them.”
