Mcor IRIS
Mcor's IRIS 3D printer.Mcor Technologies announced yesterday (April 23rd) that it is introducing new software that prepares 3D data files for full-colour 3D printing on the Mcor IRIS 3D printer.
Christened ColourIT, the program enhances users' 3D data files with colour, texture maps, engineering labels, logos and more by applying them directly to the surface of the 3D model.
The capability of 3D printing in full colour allows customers to communicate their design intent more clearly, producing realistic prototypes for sales and marketing and enabling applications where colour is critical, such as consumer products, architecture, GIS, entertainment and medical modelling.
ColourIt expands Mcor's colour 3D printing abilities - which began with the 2012 launch of the Mcor IRIS - a 3D printer that prints high-fidelity, photo-realistic physical 3D models in more than a million colours, which is more than any other colour 3D printer.
Mcor - which manufactures the only line of desktop paper-based Selective Deposition Lamination (SDL) 3D printers - revealed the news in New York at the Inside 3D Printing Conference and Expo, where it has been showcasing its latest developments to industry investors, businesses and designers.
Speaking at the event, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mcor Dr Conor MacCormack stated: "All of our technology decisions have been made in support of making professional-class 3D printing more accessible while remaining eco-friendly.
"Now, with ColourIT and the IRIS, the once niche color 3D printing capability is widely accessible with a low-cost, eco-friendly, comprehensive solution."
Used in conjunction with Mcor's SliceIT software, which slices the computer model into printable layers and allows parts to be positioned within the printer's build chamber, ColourIT applies colour to the 3D digital files before slicing them in SliceIT.
Compatible with numerous file formats, ColourIt exports models as WRL files after the colour has been applied. The model is then imported into SliceIT for preparation for 3D printing. ColourIT - which is available immediately - can also check file integrity to ensure the 3D model is waterproof manifold.