I'd like to see a desktop printer that has a small punch-built into it so that as it prints, it could cut or score things.
It would operate like a regular printer, in raster, but when you need a shape cut-out you'll put in a special kind of line and it would do a continuous punch along that line and it would come out of the printer already cut. You may want to leave just a few small connections to keep it attached to the paper so it will feed right.
The punch itself would either be part of the print-head or sit next to it, so it would be easily replaceable. Possibly the design could be made to be self-sharpening. It will have to be a male-female punch and I recommend a small circle, though it could also be square or rectangle. Both the male and female parts of the punch will have to move raster, like the print head.
I also would incorporate a method of perforation or even scoring so I could not-only cut things, but make easy-fold-lines. This way, I can print on card material and put the folds in afterward, so I can print, then assemble a small, perfect box. With personalized decoration already on it! Or as an engineer, I could print a model of a sheet-metal part I'm designing in CAD.
Printing and folding paper or card-stock toys would be fun and could initiate software products that come with Barbie or Dora or GI Joe. You could really stimulate invention with such an item. Animals, fashions, tanks...
I've looked for these online and I almost can't believe they don't exist. I've given away what I think is a great idea here--I hope someone can make something of it.
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Have you considered a "plotter cutter"?
Generally, a plotter-cutter is not what I'm talking about. I know those exist, as do lasers, but they're industrial, large machines. I mean a desktop raster-type carriage that simply punches holes as it's rolling through the sheet. And looks like a regular printer.
Replacing the word 'scissors' with 'cutter', I see quite a few recent patents have been issued along the same lines as this idea, but none mention scoring.
I'm hoping for a machine that would work with ordinary CAD, paintbrush and even word-processing files. Something kids could use.
The tie-ins to the scrap-booking craze would help generate buzz, I think this would sell & has a chance to be really big. If nothing else, someone like KINKO's could offer this as a service. Great idea.