04-30-2004, 05:00 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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A Whole New Type of Laser Printer
"VersaLaser� can transform images or drawings on your computer screen into real items made out of an amazing variety of materials� wood, plastic, fabric, paper, glass, leather, stone, ceramic, rubber� and it�s as easy to use as your printer."
I saw this advertised in PC Magazine, and was blown away - I've never seen anything like this being promoted to consumers. It's capable of cutting & marking or engraving the following:
� Fabric & Leather
� Paper & Cardboard
� Plastic (sheet, film & molded)
� Rubber (natural, synthetic & foam)
� Wood & Hard Organics
Haven't you always wanted to put a design on your knife? I know I have. :mrgreen: It's fairly expensive at $9995 USD, but I'm sure that less expensive versions will come out in a few years. I can also see some creative types starting up businesses based around a tool like this. Very cool stuff! Maybe I should request a review unit... :lol:
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04-30-2004, 05:05 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,055
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Wow, this opens a whole new consumer market! It is expensive at $10,000, but I can see this going the way of "GarageBand" and "iMovie." It will give the PC yet another creative application.
Now, only if I were even remotely creative... 
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04-30-2004, 05:21 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 193
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check out local colleges
If you have kids in college you have access to these. I am a CS engineer at university of Colorado and we have at least 6 of these (but much bigger can print huge) around campus, and you can print on them for the cost of materials. Same for full 3d printers, which can print movable gears in place. Anyways lots of people use them and I have heard of non students being able to get access to the machines, for a fee. So if your interested talk to kids or check a local college out. The coolest thing I saw one use for was thin plexeglass was cut using the laser cutter to etch in a logo and info to make a bunch of regular size business cards, looked really cool.
Oddly enough i haven't ever used them for anything really.
It can import files from corel draw, photoshop, cad apps, and other such applications but i think it has to be in a vector graphic format.
mmm tech is fun huh....
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04-30-2004, 05:57 AM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,133
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Okay, everybody. I need your help. Don't tell my father about this.. He'll want one. Badly.
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04-30-2004, 06:38 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 134
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I saw one of these (same brand, looks like same model from outside) about three years ago, was still around $10,000. So I'm doubting the price will drop, but I can see printing places getting these. Cheaper then some high end Xeroxes. And I DO want one, so effin cool. Think of the geek factor!
"Oh that? I just tossed it in my laser etching machine. What? You don't have one? No I don't mean a laser printer. Those are SO 2003.."
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04-30-2004, 06:56 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 51
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Not bad but have you seen this
I too was blown away when I saw this device which build 3-models in a variety of materials. Seem's a bit more advanced than the one you mentioned.
http://www.zcorp.com/
Russ
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04-30-2004, 08:38 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 734
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F'ing awesome. So this can build an actual 3D model. So say.. I have a 3D cad model of an Ipaq or whatever, and I pop in a plastic cube... this thing could cut out an exact replica? Way cool.
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04-30-2004, 08:57 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 275
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Yeah I know some of these can be surprisingly accurate. A lot of us Cg guys are looking forward to the day we can print off our characters or scene models and decorate our work stations with once-digital models
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04-30-2004, 09:46 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 51
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3D Models
Quote:
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F'ing awesome. So this can build an actual 3D model. So say.. I have a 3D cad model of an Ipaq or whatever, and I pop in a plastic cube... this thing could cut out an exact replica? Way cool.
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Yep, you can even get some samples from them. It's accurate enough to produce 3d die's for metal casting and you can produce your 3D model in a variety of materials including a sort of metal! OK so it's expensive, but I'd love to have one to produce all the stuff, objects designs etc, that I think of and are just too expensive to process normally. An inventors dream machine
I'd never heard of http://www.zcorp.com/ before, but saw it on a BBC web site and had a look. At first I thought it was an April Fool, but it isn't!
As you say ..."F'ing awesome..." now if only I could just win the lottery...
Russ
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04-30-2004, 01:14 PM
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,878
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Quick! Somebody make me a flip for my Pocket PC! :wink:
Steve
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"My eyes are rolling back in my head so far I can see my grey matter bubbling and frothing from reading this thread....bleh." JD
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