Stratasys Launches a Multi-Material Full Color 3D Printer

Additive manufacturing leader Stratasys has launched its newest printer at SolidWorks World 2014, showing off a system that combines multi-material and full color 3D printing.

Using a printing technique called “triple-jetting” the Objet500 Connex3 combines three material bases and a blended color to produce objects of varied hardness and shade. Like other printers in its Objet line the 500 Connex3 can create materials which blend rigid plastic with flexible rubber bases to produce materials with assorted Shore A values. By employing this process, Objet machines ensure that each piece of your prototype accurately reflects the performance of its eventual final product.

With the introduction of 46 different colors, Stratasys’ new machine cuts down on prototyping time by eliminated the need for many post-processing procedures – including time-consuming painting. With true-to-vision models coming right off the printer, designers will have an even greater ability to wow clients and iterate designs more rapidly.

"As the first true multi-purpose 3D printer, we believe the Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer is in a league of its own, enabling you to dream up a product in the morning, and hold it in your hands by the afternoon, with the exact intended color, material properties and surface finish," says Stratasys’ Igal Zeitun.

While the new Objet500 is already on sale, many of its color materials won’t be available until the second quarter of 2014. For those interested in the system, Stratasys says its newest machine will cost $330,000 – a great value for prototyping service companies and large product design firms.

Image Courtesy of Stratasys