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I've heard of a more advance version of this technology that can make more complex and thinner parts because the support material is water solluble so you don't have to go through the chipping away process.
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Stratasys does have soluble support technology "SST". The support material is basically like the capsules of a pill. It simply dissolves when placed in a soapy like solution. These SST printers cost thousands more and probably worth the price if you pay someone to remove the supports from the kind of printer I have AKA Break-away Support Technology "BST".
As far as I know the cost of the support material is the same. The only thing that costs more is the printer, the extra expense of purchasing the solution and the solution tank.
Stratasys does also have a new printer out that uses stronger ABS plastic and prints in layers as fine as .007".
I'm glad to hear that these wonderful machines are being placed in schools! I wish I had one in my high school CAD class.
Here is a great video I found several months ago for educators that are trying to get 3D printers into schools.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BOiAZgD5u60