2 ms·

Hmm. I’m not getting the switch each color once part. Why is that?

• fabian2k 6y ago
  Printing the filament like in the linked article is essentially in 2D (not really, but for this point it's close enough). So if you have 2 colors, you can first print all color 1 segments, and then manually switch and print all color 2 segments. In a real object your print is 3D and consists of layers that are ~ 0.1-0.2mm high. In a typical multicolor print each layer has several colors, and you have to finish a layer before printing the next one. So you have to switch between all colors that are present in each layer.
• fentonc 6y ago
  To create the 'programmable filament,' you only switch over to each color once as they generate the toolpath in such a way that the nozzle doesn't interfere with previously printed filament (and the printer resets the z-axis back to 'layer 0' each time it switches colors). For making relatively small, multi-material / multi-color prints, this really is a pretty clever system that looks reasonably practical on a wide variety of existing low-end 3D printers. With good software support, I could imagine being able to make things with interesting physical properties by making hybrid rigid / flexible materials (integrated hinges or other deformable parts, for instance).
  • mrfusion 6y ago
    I finally get it! That’s really cool. This is what I wasn’t getting: > resets the z-axis back to 'layer 0' each time it switches colors