Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? The idea goes like this... Normal FDM printer + an inkjet printhead (CMYK) The system would be setup for dual extruders, but one of the extruders would be the inkjet. You would have CMYK inks (dyes) heated to just below boiling. The system would put down a layer of nylon plastic (due to its ability to be dyed easily), then put down a perimeter of ink in various colors. The colors would have to be specially sliced by a slicer software designed to do so. The inkjet head would also have to be heated to keep the dyes up to temperature. You could also add an automatic agitator to keep the dyes suspended in the solution. It's just a thought, and would need careful engineering to get the inkjet printhead functioning properly in the system What do you guys think? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326149#msg-326149 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:08:24 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,359488#msg-359488 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,359488#msg-359488
P.S. It's a bit embarrassing that I initially calculated 70W. I'm not sure what went wrong there.]]> samp20 Developers Fri, 23 May 2014 13:49:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,358177#msg-358177 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,358177#msg-358177 reprap.org]. I think my problem is my voltages are too low. Adrian was using around 100 volts to get his to work. At most I was using about 30V.

I've had another idea though. Would it be possible to use a low value surface mount resistor to rapidly boil the ink to eject a droplet? I've done some quick calculations to see if it's plausible.

Start with a volume of water/ink to boil of 1mm cubed. That will require 0.36 Joules to boil from 15C (Using [en.wikipedia.org]). Let's choose a heating time of 5ms (I'm assuming the thermal conductivity of water is insignificant for this duration), that'll require 71W. At 12V that's a 2ohm resistor and 6A. Those numbers don't seem too bad, and an 0402 resistor should be a good size to heat 1mm cubed of water/ink.

It should be fairly easy to experiment by submerging the resistor in a bowl of water, switch a MOSFET for 5ms, and see if a bubble of steam is generated.

EDIT: It just occurred to me that the heat isn't going to conduct from the resistor to the water immediately. Also the wires going to the resistor will probably conduct a some heat away.]]> samp20 Developers Tue, 20 May 2014 19:02:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345473#msg-345473 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345473#msg-345473 konwiddak Developers Sat, 26 Apr 2014 05:45:56 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345086#msg-345086 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345086#msg-345086
I think Pacaus' idea of mounting the inkjet next to the nozzle but separate is the way to go. Apart from getting a working inkjet in the first place, there is also the challenge of fitting it all onto the X-carriage. If we get really stuck for space then this (or another) tool changer is an option: [forums.reprap.org]]]> samp20 Developers Fri, 25 Apr 2014 10:17:49 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345073#msg-345073 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345073#msg-345073 MrDoctorDIV Developers Fri, 25 Apr 2014 09:40:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345069#msg-345069 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345069#msg-345069 My idea was to mount a regular inkjet head next to the hotend, print the plastic first and then the ink, as in the current magic marker method... not simultaneously or in the same pass.

Paucus]]> paucus Developers Fri, 25 Apr 2014 09:29:15 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345034#msg-345034 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,345034#msg-345034 Imagine the bottom of an inkjet cartrige, the holes that the ink comes out of, spread around the inner, bottom of the FDM hole.
I'll draw something up and let you see.]]> MrDoctorDIV Developers Fri, 25 Apr 2014 08:28:33 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,344887#msg-344887 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,344887#msg-344887 Evil Monkey Developers Fri, 25 Apr 2014 00:34:21 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,343181#msg-343181 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,343181#msg-343181 An idea I've had, but know of no way to make and test something requiring precision as I don't see it being makeable with home tools.]]> MrDoctorDIV Developers Mon, 21 Apr 2014 20:03:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,343152#msg-343152 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,343152#msg-343152 this interesting...



Now what I'd really like to do is use an inkjet to color the objects... anyone willing to share experiences?

Paucus
]]> paucus Developers Mon, 21 Apr 2014 18:38:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,342029#msg-342029 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,342029#msg-342029 samp20 Developers Sat, 19 Apr 2014 05:36:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,341993#msg-341993 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,341993#msg-341993
Looks like a cool project.
Got a link to the piezo that you're using, and how is it powered?]]> A2 Developers Sat, 19 Apr 2014 04:05:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,341914#msg-341914 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,341914#msg-341914 [attachment 31097 20140418_200734.jpg]

The nozzle was made by inserting a pin into some hot glue then shaving off layers with a scalpel until a hole appears.]]> samp20 Developers Fri, 18 Apr 2014 15:27:08 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,328122#msg-328122 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,328122#msg-328122
Quote
drumguy560
It seems like the most difficult part would be to figure out how to get an inkjet to work putting out a single jet of ink. Most in modern printers put out a few lines of ink at a time to speed up printing.
You could give the ink magnetic properties and make it flow through a electro magnetic field?]]> tyscof Developers Fri, 21 Mar 2014 14:37:11 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326916#msg-326916 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326916#msg-326916 drumguy560 Developers Tue, 18 Mar 2014 19:58:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326612#msg-326612 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326612#msg-326612 Kenzu Developers Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:08:04 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326410#msg-326410 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326410#msg-326410 lazzymonk Developers Mon, 17 Mar 2014 20:12:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326303#msg-326303 Re: Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326303#msg-326303 forums.reprap.org]. Also I did a little expetiment printing ink onto PLA: [forums.reprap.org]. It would be great to see some progress made on this idea :)

Edit: this topic would be a lot better suited to the Developers sub-forum. It will quickly get lost under General.]]> samp20 Developers Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:31:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326149#msg-326149 Idea for full color FFF/FDM printing? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,326149,326149#msg-326149
Normal FDM printer + an inkjet printhead (CMYK)

The system would be setup for dual extruders, but one of the extruders would be the inkjet. You would have CMYK inks (dyes) heated to just below boiling. The system would put down a layer of nylon plastic (due to its ability to be dyed easily), then put down a perimeter of ink in various colors. The colors would have to be specially sliced by a slicer software designed to do so.

The inkjet head would also have to be heated to keep the dyes up to temperature. You could also add an automatic agitator to keep the dyes suspended in the solution.

It's just a thought, and would need careful engineering to get the inkjet printhead functioning properly in the system

What do you guys think?]]> drumguy560 Developers Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:38:14 -0400