Multi-color and multi-material 3D printing have seen a current resurgence because of the recognition of Bambu Lab printers and AMS items. However in the event you personal a 3D printer from some other producer, your choices for multi-color printing are going to be very restricted. That will quickly change, as a result of ChromaSet is a brand new system from Co Print that guarantees to convey multi-color printing to any 3D printer available on the market.
ChromaSet simply launched on Kickstarter and the marketing campaign has already raised greater than $300,000 in funding. Co Print beforehand launched a multi-filament unit (additionally referred to as Co Print) via Kickstarter, so we’re assured that ChromaSet is not vaporware.
This technique consists of a number of totally different {hardware} elements. These embody the ChromaPad, ChromaHead, KCM (Klipper Chroma Module), ECM (Prolonged Chroma Module), and CX-1 Extruder. Customers can combine and match these, relying on their wants.
Beginning on the backside, the ChromaHead comprises the ChromaHotend, a filament cutter, and a twin drive extruder. It is a hybrid Bowden/direct drive system, with as much as eight filaments feeding from separate Bowden CX-1 Extruders into the ChromaHead’s direct drive extruder. The ChromaHead cuts filament as obligatory to permit a brand new colour or materials to feed into the recent finish.
The ChromaHead and CX-1 Extruders function below the management of both a KCM or ChromaPad. The previous is for printers that already run Klipper firmware and this setup known as “KCM Set.” The latter is for printers that do not already run Klipper and for printer farms, and is known as “ChromaSet.” That offers you the tablet-like ChromaPad, which has a GUI interface you should utilize to handle as much as eight printers.
The terminology here’s a little complicated, however Co Print has a wizard that can assist you choose the fitting {hardware} in your printer(s).
Lastly, the ECM helps you to increase the variety of extruders you’ll be able to have feeding right into a single ChromaHead. You need to use a number of ECM items to work with as much as 20 totally different spools of filament in a single print job.
This ecosystem is way from intuitive, nevertheless it appears promising. Klipper is the present gold commonplace for 3D printer firmware and Co Print’s new line of merchandise appear to benefit from it.
If you wish to get in on the motion, the ChromaSet Kickstarter marketing campaign will run till December 2nd. Tremendous early birds can get a KCM Set with 4 CX-1 Extruders for about $353 USD, or a ChromaSet with 4 CX-1 Extruders for about $505 USD. Rewards ought to be delivered in March of 2024.
