We may have to wait on comprehensive answers, but we do know now that this is what Zhuhai CTC Electronic of China has been working on in secret. While the cat is out of the bag today, and we don’t know all the details quite yet, this is definitely something they expect to set the industry on fire, akin to the HP announcement just months ago regarding the Multi Jet Fusion industrial 3D printer.
Confirmed by Jianru Tan, Vice President of Zhuhai CTC Electronic, headquartered in Zhuhai, this technology which will feature a contemporary cube-like structure in black that is aesthetically appealing with curved panels and sleek lines, meant to appeal to both the scientist and the designer in each user.
There are many benefits of inkjet printing that could transfer to the 3D printing arena, but obviously affordability, portability and desktop ease come to mind. Inkjet 2D printers have been inexpensive for a while, and the market is so ridiculously cheap these days that if you need one while out of town or in a pinch, it’s as easy as running out and purchasing one in ten minutes with virtually no concern to your budget.
Materials in the inkjet realm are easy to come by and relatively cheap, which will also make the inkjet 3D printer of great interest, with CTC’s new 3D printer said to use color resin and powder, which will be cured with UV lights, in keeping with CTC’s reputation not only as an FDM printing manufacturer, but also showing off their expertise with SLA and allowing them to expand further in that area.
Along with all the other benefits of inkjet, you generally have a fairly long-lasting piece of machinery that works quickly, reliably, and can provide modest output. Is this something we could look forward to with the CTC 3D inkjet printer? Apparently, we will have to wait a few months to see, as it is poised to be on display at International CES in Vegas being held from January 6-9 2016.
If CTC’s new technology is a success it will be interesting to see if companies like Stratasys and 3D Systems, who already have expensive industrial inkjet 3D Printers on the market, transitions this technology to the consumer, desktop space as well.
Is this a technology that interests you? Are you a fan of the traditional inkjet printer? Discuss in the CTC Inkjet 3D Printer forum over at 3DPB.com.