Z Corp.

Z Corporation is a manufacturer of 3D printers and 3D scanners, headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA.

In 1995 Z Corporation patented a unique 3D printing technology based on the use of a composite powder and binder (similar to super glue). [http://www.zcorp.com/documents/108_3D%20Printing%20White%20Paper%20FINAL.pdf Z Corporation 3D Printing Technology]

First, 3D printing software slices a CAD file into thousands of thin layers, and the physical model is built one layer at a time, at a rate of approximately 1 cubic inch per hour. Next, a layer of powder is spread and inkjet print heads deposit binder into the powder, which hardens, and then another layer of powder is spread. This process is repeated, building the 3D printed model one layer at a time. This technology not only enables models to be built faster than any other 3D printing technology, but it is the only 3D printing technology capable of printing multicolor models directly out of the printer, Desktop Engineering. This is possible because Z Corp.’s 3D printers operate like 2D desktop inkjet printers, using multiple print-heads to enable 24-bit color printing. Colored binder materials (cyan, magenta, and yellow, just like a 2D printer) are used to produce millions of colors.

Significance of Z Corp.’s Color 3D Printing Technology
Z Corp’s patented 3D color printing technology is a significant breakthrough in 3D printing because, not only is Z Corp. the only company to have developed a full color 3D printing technology, the ability to 3D print parts and models in full color vastly expands the realm of possible applications across industries:

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