World's First Multi-Color, Multi-Polymer 3D Printer Unveiled

Lucas123 writes "Stratysis today announced it will be shipping this year a printer that can use hundreds of colors and polymers to create production-grade or prototype objects without the need for assembly. Previously, manufacturers could print multi-colored parts using many different materials and assemble them after completion. Stratasis' Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer features a triple-jet printer head that combines droplets of three base materials to produce parts with virtually unlimited combinations of rigid, flexible and transparent color materials in a single print run."

Comments

Re:Absolute B$

[Gaygirlie]

I was under the impression that the tricolour-mendel can print in 3 colours, whereas this one uses 3 base-colours to create any of the millions of different combinations, very much like regular printers and RGB-displays and the likes.

Nice

[cold fjord]

This is great news for prototyping! Hopefully it will help kindle innovation, new companies, new industries, manufacturing, and the economy. Let the innovation commence.

I would think it could be pretty handy for various scientific uses as well.

Re:Nice

[CanHasDIY]

It will also kill off the entire replacement parts industry. Cars, washing machines, fridges, etc, etc.

Riiiiiiight... because when I need a new tie-rod end in my truck, a shitty plastic one will be just as good as the cast metal part it's replacing.

In local news tonight, tragedy struck when a moron who replaced metal parts of his vehicle with 3D printed, plastic ones caused an 18-car pile up on the interstate...

Shit, I'd rather people keep making guns with 'em.