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I recall seeing a similar idea to this on a 3D printer that used sheets of paper for the layers. It would (workflow from memory) print with high saturation on t

I recall seeing a similar idea to this on a 3D printer that used sheets of paper for the layers. It would (workflow from memory) print with high saturation on to a stack of paper then drag them in to an aligned stack while cutting the layers out using a drag knife and gluing them. I wish I could recall who made the thing, but it was quite impressive. Main target use case was architectural work.

iancmceachern 2y ago
I remember this, the coolest part was that the feedstock was just glue, inkjet cartridges and A4 printer paper
simonjgreen 2y ago
This was the one: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mcor_Technologies_Ltd https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mcor_Technologies_Ltd Seems they went out of business. Video here https://youtu.be/2DRJ2oUK4-E https://youtu.be/2DRJ2oUK4-E
mk_stjames 2y ago
3D printing via paper sheet stacks was one of the first 'rapid prototype' technologies. It was around in the automative industry at least in the mid 1980's, and was called LOM - Laminated Object Manufacturing. The machine I saw would unroll glue-backed paper onto a plate, laser-cut the layer into it along with laser cutting a consistent grid pattern everywhere outside the part. Then repeat for all the layers. This took forever (literally days for a big part) but when it was done you would get this giant block that felt like essentially a glue-up wood countertop. You would then bust away all the cube pieces on the outside, revealing the 3D part inside. The part would have this grid line pattern on it from where the waste cube cuts intersected the final part. You could then varnish the part and you'd have a pretty much rock solid, heavy reproduction straight from a computer model. I know that these were used for vac-forming parts straight off them, and also as patterns for sand castings. It was interesting as this tech has been pretty much erased, it's even hard to find pictures of it these days. Anyway. I don't ever recall ever seeing one that printed color onto the paper however, but I'm sure this was something that was experimented with. Here is a 1991 paper describing the tech, which had already been around for a few years by then I think: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/95bf7a6d-8ea9-4a47-bc81-4a3dd320a8e4/content https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/server/api/core/bitstrea...
ricardobeat 2y ago
Impossible Objects has refined this idea by using stacks of printed powder onto fiber sheets. They get stacked and sintered into the final object, and the fiber itself acts as reinforcement. It makes 3D printing at massive scale possible: https://impossible-objects.com/3d-printers/ https://impossible-objects.com/3d-printers/
- 0_____0 2y ago
  That's slick! I wonder what sorts of jobs end up being cost effective on it. Like, how much does the media used to print the example job in the video cost? There's no clue on the website as to the cost of the media, so I'm guessing you have to have a pretty good reason to need this particular technology (simply speed?)

iancmceachern 2y ago

I remember this, the coolest part was that the feedstock was just glue, inkjet cartridges and A4 printer paper

simonjgreen 2y ago

This was the one: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mcor_Technologies_Ltd https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mcor_Technologies_Ltd Seems they went out of business. Video here https://youtu.be/2DRJ2oUK4-E https://youtu.be/2DRJ2oUK4-E

mk_stjames 2y ago

3D printing via paper sheet stacks was one of the first 'rapid prototype' technologies. It was around in the automative industry at least in the mid 1980's, and was called LOM - Laminated Object Manufacturing. The machine I saw would unroll glue-backed paper onto a plate, laser-cut the layer into it along with laser cutting a consistent grid pattern everywhere outside the part. Then repeat for all the layers. This took forever (literally days for a big part) but when it was done you would get this giant block that felt like essentially a glue-up wood countertop. You would then bust away all the cube pieces on the outside, revealing the 3D part inside. The part would have this grid line pattern on it from where the waste cube cuts intersected the final part. You could then varnish the part and you'd have a pretty much rock solid, heavy reproduction straight from a computer model. I know that these were used for vac-forming parts straight off them, and also as patterns for sand castings. It was interesting as this tech has been pretty much erased, it's even hard to find pictures of it these days. Anyway. I don't ever recall ever seeing one that printed color onto the paper however, but I'm sure this was something that was experimented with. Here is a 1991 paper describing the tech, which had already been around for a few years by then I think: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/95bf7a6d-8ea9-4a47-bc81-4a3dd320a8e4/content https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/server/api/core/bitstrea...

ricardobeat 2y ago

Impossible Objects has refined this idea by using stacks of printed powder onto fiber sheets. They get stacked and sintered into the final object, and the fiber itself acts as reinforcement. It makes 3D printing at massive scale possible: https://impossible-objects.com/3d-printers/ https://impossible-objects.com/3d-printers/

0_____0 2y ago
That's slick! I wonder what sorts of jobs end up being cost effective on it. Like, how much does the media used to print the example job in the video cost? There's no clue on the website as to the cost of the media, so I'm guessing you have to have a pretty good reason to need this particular technology (simply speed?)