This is neat but I don’t understand how it saves time/effort compared to simply pausing the print at the right times and changing the filament then?
The article addresses this but I don’t understand their explanation.
The article addresses this but I don’t understand their explanation.
In this method you have to only switch to each color once (if the filament length you can print is enough for your object).
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.
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).
This is what I wasn’t getting:
> resets the z-axis back to 'layer 0' each time it switches colors