Office supplies chain, Staples, to offer in-store 3D printing

Electronic Products ^ | 12/7/12 | Jeffrey Bausch

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Announcement marks first time major franchise will carry technology

Staples, the popular office supplies store, has announced that its Printing Systems Division will work with Mcor Technologies Ltd. to launch a low-cost, full-color 3D printing service called “Staples Easy 3D”.

The program will be hosted online and offers everyone from architects to engineers to parents the ability to create photo-realistic 3D printed products. All that’s needed is an electronic design file be uploaded to the online Staples Office Center. After that, the user can head down to the store to pick up the finished model, or otherwise opt to have it shipped.

“Given our market leadership in commercial print, why would we ever stop at two dimensions?” Wouter Van Dijk, president of the Staples Printing Systems Division in Europe, said in a statement. “[Customized] parts, prototypes, art objects, architectural models, medical models and 3D maps are items customers need today, in a more affordable and more accessible manner.”

This announcement comes at an interesting time for the technology: it’s still too new to have caught on as something one would want for their home, but there’s so much novelty-factor, if you will, tied to it that more and more people are seeking out ways to test out this technology out for themselves.

For this reason, Mcor Technologies CEO Dr. Conor MacCormack believes that the company’s partnership with Staples is the perfect solution.

“Staples is uniquely positioned to become the pre-eminent service bureau to the world, and we will help them deliver [the] highest quality and value,” he said in a statement. “Staples Easy 3D is a breakthrough service in innovation and access for consumers and businesses alike.”

Popular office supplies store, Staples, will soon offer 3D printing at some of its stores, using the Mcor IRIS 3D printer.

Unfortunately for U.S. customers, the service will not be available in the States right away. Instead, it’ll go through a limited, soft-release in the Netherlands and Belgium in the first quarter of 2013, before being made available in other countries thereafter.

At the site is a video demonstrating the whole process. It shows a 20-minute run-time, but that’s because it re-loops the same video over and over again. The actual demonstration takes about 2 minutes:

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Not here, not yet...

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Fun news for the 3-D printer fans on FR...

[JRandomFreeper]

Cool. The pace of change accelerates.

/johnny

[from occupied ga]

It might be good for printing fake claymores to line your yard with.

[Errant]

Not a bad idea, but they’re going to have to figure how to handle the nerd who just wants to print a pair of boobs. lol

[jim_trent]

But soon. Just print off a lower receiver for an AR-15 and you are good to go.

[WinMod70]

Not here, not yet... and not new. This has been around since the 1800’s, i think the software package was Braille 1.0.

[VanDeKoik]

Totally will be taking advantage of this service!

Hopefully it wont cost too much.

[null and void]

From your screen name, I’d guess you are where you could try it locally well before it’s even available in the US.

Please post photos when you do!

[petro45acp]

Gotta get hands on! These things are amazing.

Thanks for the ping!!!!!

[RobertClark]

For $500.00 you can put one on your desk: SoildDoodle. For under a grand, you can buy a cubify, which is the one I ordered last week. I can't wait until it arrives.

[AZLiberty]

This ushers in 3D sexting. Staples will have to install private booths.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Good points; but, consider that Staples still does a lot of photocopying, despite how ubiquitous cheap laser printers have become. I believe there will be a large market for 3d printing services. Professionals will want higher-resolution prints than the consumer-grade 3d printers can produce. They will also appreciate not having to train staff to use the machines. Many others will just want to experiment, without making a capital purchase. (Custom-printed Christmas presents anyone?)

Of course, if you’re really serious about exploring the new technology (as opposed to some specific applications), you’ll do what you’re doing & get your own equipment.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Take out some patents — that might be a billion-dollar idea.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

What material does it output? Polycarbonate? Wax?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Just print off a lower receiver for an AR-15 and you are good to go.

Already been done. It lasted for six rounds.

[mike_9958]

Easy tech to buy stock in now..... because you know everyone will have one in 10 years.

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Paper. Laminated paper in full color.

[jim_trent]

> It lasted for six rounds.

Thanks for the information. I was thinking about a lower that I saw in a video that was machined out of a block of high strength plastic of some sort. It lasted longer, but has not yet replaced aluminum. However, I am absolutely sure the problems will be worked out and it will be practical in the not-so-distant future.

I am also absolutely sure that the gun banners will jump on this and find some way to make it illegal. The BATF is never going to allow someone to walk into a Staples with a CD, download it into their 3-D copier, and walk out with a functional lower receiver. They have been harassing the 80% aluminum receiver suppliers for years.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

However, I am absolutely sure the problems will be worked out and it will be practical in the not-so-distant future.

Ha! I'm certain it will too. And about 10 seconds after aluminum parts can be spit out of a 3D printer, the BATFE will ensure that a new Executive Order will make them illegal.