3D Printer Uses Multiple Colors & Materials

3D printers are not yet commonplace and found in almost every home, like a TV or microwave, but they are increasing in popularity. The problem is that they are limited in the materials that they can print with and cost about as much as a used vehicle from the late 90s. Still, over the last five years those prices have dropped and continue to drop (more so if you can assemble it yourself) and manufacturers continue to incorporate a wider range of print material with each new 3D printer.

A relative newcomer to the 3D printing market from Canada is looking to compete with popular companies such as MakerBot and Stratasys with their RoVa3D printer. So what does Object Replication & Design (ORD) bring to the table that outshines the others? For starters, it can print objects in five materials that include the traditional ABS and PLA filaments as well as nylon, PC, and PETT with others sometime in the near future.

It does this through five separate nozzles with the extruders mounted on the side of the carriage. This frees up room on the top of the enclosure to use different sized nozzles running at different temperatures for different materials. This also allows for a greater range of colors that can be used as well. Unlike other 3D printers, users will no longer have to change out filaments and colors during the printing cycle, which in turn makes the printing job much faster over the competition.

The RoVa3D features an alloy frame with stainless-steel gears, all-metal pulleys, and stainless-steel bearings, which gives it a longer life span than those outfitted with soft brass or plastic parts. So what advantages does it have over other popular 3D printers on the market besides being able to use more materials? It has a larger print area than that of the Replicator 2 and the Cube X at a size of 11.18 x 11.88 x 7.55-inches and features a fully heated print bed with even heating from edge to edge. It also has a lower Z-resolution at 50um, a lower cost per-liter of build space (roughly $157.80), and a higher print temperature (at 450C). If that wasn't enough, it has an MSRP of $2,599 (outfitted in the five-nozzle configuration) and comes fully assembled.

Users have a choice of nozzle configurations depending on their needs (from 1 to 5), which raises or lowers the price respectively. There is also good news for those who own ORD's original MH3000R1 3D Printer, as the printer can be upgraded through a much cheaper upgrade kit, turning the printer into a fully functional RoVa3D printer ($499). ORD's RoVa3D printer was successfully funded on Kickstarter a few days after it began.

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