3D Printer for Artists

[Feign]

Well, that's super open-ended there, but I'll bite. The ability to have some measure of automated post-processing on a per-layer basis as the part is printing. Not necessarily a machining process like the ORNL hybrid manufacturing lab, but a light polishing or sanding process to smooth each layer as the print is built. A very large build area, not necessarily a whole room, but 4'x4'x4', large enough to print a table or chair in one piece.

And pump-style paste/clay extrusion with a heat gun/UV torch follower arm rather than heated plastic extrusion. Paste extrusion offers a huge array of material choices, but the current syringe style print heads for paste extrusion, adding a heat gun follower arm allows you to set a shell of clay/concrete/epoxy almost instantly, giving the material a better overhang handling ability, with a UV torch to cure photoresin slurries even more quickly than you can cure epoxy ones. Resin slurries have a great finish, and with the right fillers can make convincing granite substitutes when sanded and polished.

Am I dreaming big enough?