3D Copiers, Printers, And Scanners... Are They The Way Of The Future?

There are a few things you can expect to be welcomed to when you walk into your office building. The chatter of other employees on the phone. The smell of coffee being made. You can definitely expect to see the ever-so-familiar line at the photocopier as well. Doesn't it all seem a bit monotonous? Wouldn't it be nice to spice things up a little bit? You might not be able to put a Star Bucks in your office, but you might be able to upgrade that old copier that you have in the office. This isn't to say that there is anything necessarily wrong with the normal copiers, but there is always room to upgrade your office technology.

When you think of your normal copier or scanner, you probably don't have 3D copiers, scanners, or printers come to mind. Emerging technology, however, suggests that you should probably start now.

3D Everything
When I say "3D", there could be a couple of different ideas that pop into your head. You might be thinking 3D glasses or even 3D graphics. Well you are on the right track... sort of. These new 3D printers, scanners, and copiers are all more in the business of copying, scanning, and printing, actual objects instead of just paper. These devices are able to scan and create on more than just the typical flat plane. Instead, they are able to access the z-axis instead of just the x-axis and y-axis. Basically they are able to scan and print objects in real space, in case I lost you in the all the math talk. The scanners will scan the objects, create a 3D-rendered image on the software, and then the 3D printer can print of the object in real space, not on a piece of paper.


Application?
If you take a second to think about it, these new devices could become huge assets in the business office. Being able to scan and print off certain supplies that you might need in the office could become a huge money saver. Is your office cater to more graphic design work? Maybe you work for an architectural company? 3D scanners could become your best friend in the office. Why is that you may think? Well the fact that these scanners can gather full imaging of whatever object that you're scanning and then save that data to later be uploaded on the software is a big deal. Instead of just starting from complete scratch, you now have something to work with and edit to your liking. You can then "print" out your images and models to get an idea of what you want when you finally make the real thing.

Is It Really The Future?
Even though these new devices sound promise, can they still take over the photocopier? Are these new products able outshine your normal Xerox machine? They just might be able to. How you may ask? Well think if these products allow for both 2D and 3D scanning, printing, and copying. You then have something that could basically be a 6-in-one machine that can be used in the office. Some of these new 3D devices are portable as well. There are 3D scanners that you can even put on your iPad's camera lens in order to capture 3D rendered imagining such as that. We have home scanners and home printers. That's all well and good but what about the possibility of having these objects scanned, the 3D image information sent over to your 3D printer wirelessly, and printing out for you? Now we are getting more towards the future.

There are still times when all you really needs is a paper document copied and printed off. That being said, many companies are starting to go paperless and just send their memos via email. College classrooms are sending syllabuses via email now as well. When we need something on paper we still have that possibility, but we may be on the verge of seeing a technological shift from regular 2D paper copying, to 3D image scanning, rendering, and printing.

Just A Few Things You May Need To Know Before Choose A Copier

It should come as a surprise to no one that copiers can be expensive. In basically any type of office setting, they can have one or two people waiting to copy or print something, or a line of people waiting angrily for the "paper jam" to get fixed for the 7th time that day. Maybe you think that it's time to invest in a new copier? Perhaps you have some that you have in mind already? The worst part about buying new technology, especially office technology, is that many employers will go in blind on the subject and not have any background information at the products they're looking at. This can cause a problem. You don't want to jump at the first thing you see. There are some things that you need to consider. Questions you may need to ask yourself before you decide to say, "This copier will be a good long term investment."

Let's say that you are a business that uses a copier only once in a while. Should you go for a copier that is coupled with printing and scanning features, you can usually get them for a low price. They may even come bundled with a PC. There is a downside to these however. Depending on your dependency on these types of copiers, you could be spending more money than you had anticipated. These types of copiers use inkjet cartridges. These little guys can get very, very expensive. Because of the pricey nature of these cartridges, many copiers use toner cartridges now. The refills can be around $40, but they're way less expensive in the long run.

Speaking of ink, many people think that they're going to need a full color printer. These people clearly don't get just how much ink and toner cartridges can cost. You could easily be spending three times as much as you would if you were to just stick with basic black. Color documents are always a bit more enticing to look at, but is it really worth the extra cash out of the company's budget? I didn't think so either. After all, these copiers can be expensive enough already.

Perhaps you want a copier that can double as a scanner. You're in luck. Many of the new copiers these days come with a myriad of features, and among those features is a scanning feature. Since technology has come as far as it has, many new copiers will come with network cards. This basically means that you can connect the copiers to your computer network and have then use the scanning feature to have the image linked to your office computer. Definitely a plus, and a money saver.

Since we're on the subject of money saving, why don't we talk about owning the printer outright. Again, these products can be EXPENSIVE. You would be much better off leasing or renting from a company. Obviously each has their own pros and cons, but think of all the good that could be done if renting was your option. Anytime there was some maintenance that needed to be performed on the machine, or if there was an actual malfunction happening, the company renting the device to you is responsible, not you. A fixed monthly or annual rate can be discussed, and soon your office could be working with a brand new, up to date copier!

When you deal with these types of upgrade decisions, always make sure you research the product before you jump into the deep end with them. Business is all about spending as little as you can to make as much as you can, and rentals can definitely help with that!

Are You Interested In A Copier Rental? Contact www.Rentacomputer.com At 800-736-8772

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