Multi-material, full-colour 3D printer launched

Stratasys has announced the world's first multi-material, full-colour 3D printer.

Described as a 'game changer' for the engineering and manufacturing industries, the device features a triple-jetting technology that combines droplets of three base materials (VeroCyan, VeroMagenta and VeroYellow) to produce parts combining rigid, flexible, and transparent color materials – all in a single print run. The printer is expected to cost around $330,000 (£200,000). Stratasys says it will enable designers and engineers to bring products to market faster. Igal Zeitun, vice president of the company's product marketing and sales operations, commented: "The Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer produces models and parts using photopolymers in vivid colours so users can create colourful models from investigating concepts to pre-production pilot runs. "As the first true multi-purpose 3D printer, we believe it is in a league of its own, enabling designers to dream up a product in the morning, and hold it in their hands by the afternoon, with the exact intended colour, material properties and surface finish."