Printing

Printing is a ubiquitous term for matter processor/ fabricator systems found throughout the galaxy thanks in large part to paracausal scientific advances made post-Deimos Event. Printers range in size from handheld units fed by back-worn matter processors to hanger-sized, fully self-contained printing facilities. Printers range in time and efficiency. The larger and or more complex an item is, the longer it takes to print. Generally speaking, most print protocols involve some assembly and finalizing after constituent parts have been fabricated.

Schedule 1 printers are the most common and are used for all terrestrial and stellar applications. Schedule 1 printers are roughly 14 square meters (or 150 square feet) and can be operated by one person. They can print objects up to SIZE 1. Printing a SIZE 1/2 or SIZE 1 mech from a schedule 1 printer would take anywhere from two to eight hours.
Schedule 2 printers are the next most common type and are likewise used in a range of terrestrial and stellar applications. Schedule 2 printers generally are designed and built as a self-contained unit – printer and housing are one structure – and require a team of two to four technicians to operate. They can print objects up to SIZE 2. Printing a SIZE 2 mech from a schedule 2 printer would take about 10 hours, anything smaller only two to four.
Schedule 3 printers are relatively rare, typically used only for large construction, industrial, or military applications. Like schedule 2 printers, schedule 3 printers are housed in standalone facilities that require a team of personnel to operate. Schedule 3 printers usually also feature a selection of smaller workbenches and print units for component and detail work. Printing objects SIZE 3 and below takes anywhere from minutes to days, depending on the object in question.
Schedule 4 printers are the largest available size and are only used for orbital applications. They are typically reserved for megastructural engineering projects, the construction of capital ships and civilian freighters, and other massive construction projects.

All printers function in the same basic manner: raw matter is processed – the purer the element, the higher quality the result – and used to fabricate the requested item (or its constituent parts). Handheld printer operators craft items and objects in augmented reality; larger printers are automated.