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Is this the world’s largest inkjet?
Two Swiss researchers have developed what could be the world’s largest
portable inkjet printer, though it’s unlikely that engineers at Hewlett-Packard
will be losing sleep over the invention.Instead of using conventional ink cartridges, the mammoth
printer–Hektor–feeds off canisters of spray paint and can be mounted on walls.
It scans smaller images and renders them into large pieces of artwork, BBC News
reported.The spray paint is held by a custom-made harness and is moved by two
independently controllable pulleys powered by a pair of motors, the report said.
“All the parts for Hektor fit into two suitcases, making the whole device
portable and adaptable to almost any surface the motors can be attached to,”
said the report.Jurg Lehni, one of Hektor’s creators, said he came up with the device to let
artists to turn computer-drawn images into more tangible artifacts. In addition,
the report said he wanted to combine the precision of computer imaging with the
“woollier” outlines of spray paintwork.In the development process, Lehni said a major challenge was writing the
path-finding algorithm so the printer can map the optimum route for tracing and
spray painting an image.The challenge has since been solved and Hektor is now a fully-functional
printer which has already been used to create artwork for an exhibition at the
Zurich Kunsthaus gallery. It has also won accolades at the 2004 Machinista media
art festival which was held in Russia in April,the report added.
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