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Article

Development of a Multicolor 3D Printer Using a Novel Filament Shifting Mechanism

1
Faculty of Industrial Education, The University of Danang—University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Vietnam
2
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Danang—University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Vietnam
3
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Inventions 2022, 7(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions7020034
Submission received: 20 February 2022 / Revised: 27 March 2022 / Accepted: 30 March 2022 / Published: 3 April 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in 3D Printing 2.0)

Abstract

Three-dimensional printing has become an unchallenged method for the manufacturing of complex shape objects. Although multicolor devices in Fuse Filament Feeder category recently have shown promising developments, their number still remains limited. The present study introduces the design of a new prototype of three-dimensional printer using Fused Filament Feeder and capable of printing multicolor objects. A single-color three-dimensional printer is used as a platform and is augmented for multicolor printing by the implementation of a mechatronic device that provides two functions. First, a transmission mechanism based on planetary gears allows feeding the selected filament color toward the printing head. The second function is provided by a combination of a central cam disk and several pushing rods. It allows selecting the filament color to be fed by the transmission system. The mechatronic device has been dimensioned to manage five different filament colors and the printing head has been modified to accommodate a five-to-one diamond nozzle. The filament shifting device is integrated into the single-color three-dimensional printer and a series of validation experiments has been carried out. These tests have demonstrated the new prototype ability to print out multicolor objects and to rival with commercial three-dimensional printers in terms of dimensional accuracy. This shows the ability of the proposed design and method to be used to upgrade a standard single-color 3D printer into a multicolor one. The presented multicolor 3D printer will be available to the 3D printing community for free.
Keywords: additive manufacturing; filament shifting device; multicolor 3D printer additive manufacturing; filament shifting device; multicolor 3D printer

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Thi Hai, V.N.; Phu, S.N.; Essomba, T.; Lai, J.-Y. Development of a Multicolor 3D Printer Using a Novel Filament Shifting Mechanism. Inventions 2022, 7, 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions7020034

AMA Style

Thi Hai VN, Phu SN, Essomba T, Lai J-Y. Development of a Multicolor 3D Printer Using a Novel Filament Shifting Mechanism. Inventions. 2022; 7(2):34. https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions7020034

Chicago/Turabian Style

Thi Hai, Van Nguyen, Sinh Nguyen Phu, Terence Essomba, and Jiing-Yih Lai. 2022. "Development of a Multicolor 3D Printer Using a Novel Filament Shifting Mechanism" Inventions 7, no. 2: 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions7020034

APA Style

Thi Hai, V. N., Phu, S. N., Essomba, T., & Lai, J.-Y. (2022). Development of a Multicolor 3D Printer Using a Novel Filament Shifting Mechanism. Inventions, 7(2), 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions7020034

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