[Philip Lelyveld comment: Mcor claims that the cost of maintenance and materials for 3D printers can dwarf the purchase price, which is why they have a service-only pricing model and focused on paper as the printing medium.]

[DesignNews]

It seems like the 3D printing market is throwing out curveballs lately when it comes to technology innovations and price points.

The latest pitch I came across is from Mcor Technologies, a company based in Ireland that bills itself as the only maker of a printer that uses ordinary (A4/letter-size) printer paper, instead of the powdery plastic or resin substances employed by most competitors, to make 3D objects.

You read that right. I said ordinary paper. Before you get too skeptical, check out some of the Mcor Technologies YouTube channel videos. They show that the Matrix 300 3D’s water-based printing process can churn out some pretty impressive-looking prototypes that don’t look or sound like they were produced using paper.  …

The Matrix 300 looks much like one of those big office copiers. A paper stack on the side feeds individual sheets into the printer, where a blade cuts a 2D profile, and each subsequent sheet is attached with a water-based adhesive.

In addition to its unique paper-based approach, Mcor is flexing its muscle with a novel pricing model. Instead of charging a set fee for the printer, the company is giving the printer away for free and generating revenue by charging for a print service plan that can be purchased for one, two, or three years. The one-year plan starts at $18,500 and includes all maintenance fees and unlimited printing. Mcor is offering the Matrix 300 and the service plans in Europe, and it will introduce the model to the US market this year, MacCormack said.

Read the full story here: http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1394&doc_id=238107&f_src=designnews_gnews