Even though it produces hard plastic parts and not ink on parchment, the V-Flash Desktop Modeler from 3D Systems operates at about 60 decibels, only slightly louder than ambient noise of a typical ink jet machine.  And yes, with a 26 x 27 in. footprint and at 31 in. high, it really does fit on a desktop.

The machine is 3D System’s smallest-sized commercial printer to date and joins a growing field of office-intent prototyping machines.  But, priced under $10,000, the V-Flash may be the least costly of the pack.  

Part of 3D System’s ProJet line, it uses film transfer imaging material (FTI-GN), a hard plastic resin, to product parts within its build volume of 9 x 6.75 x 8 in.  Layer thickness is 102 μm, with a resolution of 768 x 1024 x 2000 DPI (X, Y, Z) and a minimum vertical wall thickness of 0.025 in.  The parts are said to be tough enough for functional testing, are suitable for painting and can be metal-plated.

To see in it at work, click here.