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Multi-Color 3D Printer

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mawyatt:
We have an ongoing project that we've printed some End Cap bumper types as shown for an extruded aluminum "channel" that acts as the housing for a custom PCB. These End Caps were 3D printed with a Genius printer which has worked well and produced nice prints.

Would also like to print thin End Plates that will fit under these End Caps, and hold the Connectors, LEDs and Potentiometers. For labels the idea is to Emboss these in the End Plates with text and markings in another color from the End Plate to stand out better. We've done this before with somewhat limited success by pausing the Genius print operation, swapping and purging the filament, and continuing.

What are recommendations for a 3D Printer which handles multiple colors without swapping the filaments, and associated slicing tools to create (automatically without user input) the files to allow the color changes?

We have occasional prototype use, don't need large print capability, or high speed, and use PLA filaments.

Any guidance is greatly appreciated,

Best,

brucehoult:
I've done this before without even pausing the print ... as soon at the embossed stuff starts to be printed I snip the filament, and feed the new one in behind it.

It looks fine (to me) if the first layer, or parts of the first layer, of the embossing is in the original colour.

Would be nice to have it automatic, for sure, and I know some machines can do that, but I don't know details.

dferyance:
The best kind of printer for multi-color is an independent dual extrusion (IDEX). They can get pricy. Because they are 2 or more hot-ends they don't have to purge filament. It sounds like your specific case might not need frequent color changes. If the embossing is all on its own layer and at the top, that probably isn't too bad to do with an automatic color changer. But if you have color changes within the same layer, a printer without IDEX will be purging every layer. This slows things down considerably and wastes a lot of filament.

Prusa has a color change kit as does Bambu lab. They are not IDEX unless you get Prusa's XL which has a tool-change mechanism. No idea how good that is and I don't think it is very available.

My printer has no support for multiple materials. I account for this by splitting up the part into individual single-color parts and joining them together. This can be challenging at times. You have to get tolerances just right or they won't fit together. Depending on the use case a simple friction-fit might be fine. I tend to solvent weld though.

kripton2035:
the cetus printer can do it. and is not that pricey.
https://www.cetus3d.com/

xrunner:

--- Quote from: mawyatt on January 13, 2024, 03:57:01 am ---We have an ongoing project that we've printed some End Cap bumper types as shown for an extruded aluminum "channel" that acts as the housing for a custom PCB. These End Caps were 3D printed with a Genius printer which has worked well and produced nice prints.

--- End quote ---

I can't help you with your question, but thanks for the idea for the bumpers for those types of cases. That's what I want to do from now on.  :-+

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