US company claims to have developed world's first multi-coloured 3D printer

A US company claims to have developed the world's first multi-material full-colour 3D printer capable of making objects of hard, soft and flexible polymers.

The 3D printer developed by Stratasys features "triple-jetting" technology that combines droplets of three base materials, reducing the need for separate print runs and painting.

This ability to achieve the characteristics of an assembled part without assembly or painting is a significant time-saver, the company said.

It helps product manufacturers validate designs and make good decisions earlier before committing to manufacturing, and bring products to market faster, it said.

"I believe our new Objet500 Connex3 Colour Multi-material 3D Printer will transform the way our customers design, engineer and manufacture new products," said Stratasys CEO David Reis.

Engineers at beta user Trek Bicycle in Waterloo, Wisconsin are using the 3D Printer for assessment and testing of accessories like bike chain stay guards and handlebar grips prior to actual production.

"Now we produce bicycle parts that look and feel like production parts. We are particularly excited about 3D printing our models directly in colour," said Mike Zeigle, manager of Trek's prototype development group.

Similar to a 2D inkjet printer, three colour materials - VeroCyan, VeroMagenta and VeroYellow - are combined to produce hundreds of vivid colours, the company said.

These colour materials join a range of PolyJet photopolymer materials including digital materials, rigid, rubber-like, transparent, and high temperature materials to simulate standard and high temperature engineering plastics.

The 3D Printer also features six palettes for new rubber-like Tango colours, ranging from opaque to transparent colours in various shore values to address markets such as automotive, consumer and sporting goods and fashion.