Targeting the mechanical computer aided design (MCAD), education and medical markets, the Designjet 3D range consists of two machines: the 3D printer and the Color 3D printer. The Color #D printers can produce larger models and offers a choice of coloured plastics.

The machines extrude ABS plastic in 0.254mm thick layers and thanks to a "smart support" material, functional complicated multi-part designs with moving parts can be created. After printing, the support material is washed away in a 3D removal system, which uses plain water and detergent to dissolve the support, leaving behind pure ABS.

The initial target for the machines is for in-house workgroup 3D printing, which HP claimed would enable users to slash the time and cost of using an external model maker.

Shane Lucas, director of HP Graphic Arts South Pacific, told ProPrint that the vendor is "hoping to see a South Pacific release in the first half of 2011" for the machines.

"We are not expecting to see this printer this calendar year in South Pacific as Europe will be the first region for focus," he said.

"We are very excited about the product and I see several markets for this product in South Pacific, including the medical industry."

The basic machine, which can create objects up to 203x152x152mm, is currently priced at £11,050 (A$18,400) in the UK market. The Color machine produces larger 203x203x152mm objects, in addition to offering eight different colours.

The Designjet 3D is the first result of HP's alliance with 3D printing specialist Stratasys.

HP said that it is aiming for a 70% share of the 3D printer market, similar to its position in 2D CAD, according to the firm.

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