If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I have a slight obsession with 3D printers. I wish I had one to play with! But this article tells us that the next step in 3D printing is here with multiple materials and textures. That's a huge step forward! Read on!
–techcommgeekmom
Stratasys launches multi-material colour 3D printer
The world's first multi-material full-colour 3D printer has been launched by Stratasys, the owner of the MakerBot range of printers.
It features “triple-jetting” technology that combines droplets of three base materials, reducing the need for separate print runs and painting.
The company said the Objet500 Connex3 Color Mutli-material 3D Printer would be a “significant time-saver” for designers and manufacturers.
It will cost about $330,000 (£200,000).
By incorporating traditional 2D printer colour mixing, using cyan, magenta and yellow, the manufacturer says multi-material objects can be printed in hundreds of colours.
While the base materials are rubber and plastic, they can be combined and treated to create end products of widely varying flexibility and rigidity, transparency and opacity, the company said.
