MIT Develops 3D Printing Technique for Objects with Varied Colors & Textures

Multi-material printing technology has already been discussed at 3Dnatives. This process makes it possible to manufacture 3D objects using several materials in a single continuous print. It opens up a way to create tailor-made devices in a variety of colors and textures. However, this method has its limitations. The process can be slow and costly, as current 3D printers often have to alternate between different nozzles, removing one material before applying another.

In response to this problem, researchers at MIT and the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands have developed a more efficient method, offering both greater precision and reduced waste. The technique uses heat-reactive materials to enable objects with different colors, shades and textures to be printed in a single printing phase.

A New Approach to Customizing Textures and Colors

The researchers call their method “speed-modulated ironing.” This method can be used for FDM 3D printing and involves a 3D printer with two nozzles. The first deposits a heat-reactive filament, while the second then passes over the printed material to trigger various effects, such as changes in opacity or texture, through the targeted application of heat. By adjusting the speed of this second nozzle, they can modulate the temperature precisely, influencing the color, nuances and roughness of the filament.