Contex Enters 3D Printer World

By DE Editors

Contex(Herndon, VA) a leader in wide-format document technologies, this weekentered the world of 3D printers. Contex says it will be demonstratingthe COPYmate 18 Flatbed Scanner with iJET Technology for directconnection to a printer and the new DESIGNmate Cx Color 3D Printer atthe upcoming Graphics of the Americas Conference in Miami BeachFebruary 3-5.

Contex will have two 3D printers: The monochrome DESIGNmate Mx with 300X 450 dpi resolution and the full-color Contex DESIGNmate Cx with 600 X540 dpi resolution. The Mx was designed to be the value-priced printerin the line, creating physical models directly from digital data inhours instead of days. Its user interface and price are said to make itthe ideal entry-level prototyping system for office environments andeducational institutions. The top-of-the-line Contex DESIGNmate Cx usesinkjet printing technology to create high-definition, accurate modelsof design concepts in their nearly finished state. Users can leveragecolor capabilities to highlight and annotate physical models just asthey would with a 2D drawing.

The aim of the machines is to enable engineers to create physicalmodels of real-world objects to communicate more effectively withcustomers, partners, and suppliers. Applications include conceptmodels, presentation models, functional testing, finite elementanalysis (FEA), sales presentations, and market research on style,color, and packaging options.

For more information, visit contex.com.