Z Corp has just launched its new entry level full colour printing device, the Z Printer 450. This is the next iteration of its existing colour print capable products, and has a much higher degree of automation. Material loading, set-up, powder extraction and what not are all handled by the machine within its confines. You load up the powder bin, snap in a new binder cartridge and set of HP print heads (off the shelf) and you're ready to go. Send it a Colour 3D file (from the included ZPrint software) and away it goes. Once done, the machine will remove the unused powder, filter it for reuse, you then move the part across to the next integrated bay, blast off the remaining powder with an air hose (again, this is removed automatically). Once that's done, the only really manual process is to add the infiltrant - of which there are a number depending on what you want to do with the parts.

Build volume is 203 x 254 x 204 mm (or 8" x 10" x 8"), build speed is around 2 to 4 layers a minute (which is quick for these alledged Rapid prototyping machines). As with most powder based systems, because the parts are self supporting, there's no support removal and you can stack up the build chamber to get the most out of your build run.