FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 27 – Mcor Technologies Ltd today announced the availability of a new 3D printer with the most powerful colour capability ever. Named after the goddess of the rainbow, the Mcor IRIS prints in more than one million hues simultaneously as it creates photo-realistic physical objects from 3D data. Available in December, the IRIS will produce 3D models all week at Euromold 2012, Hall 11.0, Stand B109.

High-fidelity colour is critical for many organizations in manufacturing, education, architecture, military and health care that need product prototypes, architectural studies, three-dimensional maps and medical models to improve sales, marketing, communication, treatment and logistics.

While most "colour" 3D printers print only a handful of colours - one at a time in solid patches - the IRIS delivers True Colour, printing different hues simultaneously from a palette more than twice the size of its nearest competitor, including pure black.

Mcor takes its unique colour capability a major step further by rendering colour as rich, vibrant and complex as it appears on a computer screen. That's because the build material is paper, the original and natural medium for coloured ink. The plaster employed by other 3D printers turns ink to mud, significantly altering intended hues.

"With the IRIS, what you see on your screen is what you get in your hand, and that's limited only by your imagination," said Mcor co-founder and CEO Dr. Conor MacCormack. "Ink was intended for paper, which is the ideal canvas for bright, high-resolution colour."

Other factors in IRIS colour quality include:

• Mcor's patented 3D colour ink, which permeates the entire part, not just the surface.
• Printabilty on all surfaces, including undercuts and side walls.
• Consistent colour from part to part.

"The Mcor IRIS is just the 3D printer we've been waiting for," said Allan Valentin Hansen, managing director of Mcor reseller Saitu Graphic Equipments Co.,Ltd. "Our customers want to cost-effectively produce high-quality, durable 3D prototypes with the most realistic colours. These are precisely the capabilities Mcor has delivered with the IRIS and I'm certain we will see a huge demand for this new printer."

"In Education, the availability of a 3D printer opens up a new world of possibilities, imagination, creativity and innovation," said Fred Hampton, co-owner of Mcor distribution partner Southern Educational Systems (SES). "The addition of colour to the process exponentially multiplies and enhances the educational experience. Let's open wide the iris of the mind's eye and experience the colours. Thank you Mcor."

IRIS specifications include:

• Build size
• A4 Paper: 256 x 169 x 150mm
• Letter Paper: 9.39 x 6.89 x 5.9 inches
• Layer Thickness: 
• 0.1mm (0.004 in)
• 0.19mm (0.007in ply colour only)
• Colour resolution: 5760 x 1440 x 508 dpi
• Machine resolution: 0.004 inches
• File Formats for Printing: STL, OBJ, VRML
• Software: Mcor's SliceIT plus Colour Module
• Workstation Compatibility: Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 

Durable, affordable and eco-friendly

Mcor also delivers uniquely eco-friendly operation and the lowest cost of ownership in its class.

The Mcor IRIS and its monochrome sibling, the Mcor Matrix 300+, are the world's only 3D printers that create models from paper (standard Letter/A4 sheets), whether fresh or used. Models can be disposed of in the recycling bin for cradle-to-grave sustainability. When pages are cut and bound together, the model is tough, durable and stable - no infiltration is required.

Mcor 3D printers employ water-based adhesive - no toxic fumes, lasers, airborne powder or toxic resins - enabling the machine to easily co-exist in an office or classroom. Part cost is 5 percent of other technologies' costs, and total cost of Mcor IRIS ownership over five years is one-fifth that of the competition.

Pricing and availability

The Mcor IRIS can be ordered today through Mcor's worldwide reseller network for December delivery at €11,300 (£10,200 or $15,866 USD), the manufacturer's suggested retail price per year for the three-year Free D plan. The unique Free D plan includes machine use, free materials and service, and reflects Mcor's commitment to unfettered innovation - encouraging access to and use of powerful 3D printing technology. Instead of discouraging use through expensive consumables, the company rewards use with a flat price.

About Mcor Technologies Ltd

Mcor Technologies Ltd is an innovative manufacturer of the world's most affordable, full colour and eco-friendly 3D printers. They are the only 3D printers to use ordinary business-letter paper as the build material, a choice that renders durable, stable and tactile models. Established in 2004 with a talented team of specialists in the area of 3D printing, software and CAD/CAM, Mcor's vision is to make 3D printing more accessible to everyone. The company operates internationally from offices in Ireland, the UK and America.

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Source: Mcor Technologies