In this post, we’ll show you how to make your 3D print multicolor, and without any additional components! For this we use the color change setting in Prusa Slicer and create a color tower with 7 different colors as an example!
Table of Contents
Load model into Prusa Slicer
- First, load the part into the Prusa Slicer. It is best to use the versions from 2.3.0 of Prusa Slicer.
- First, select the correct printer.
- Position your part on the correct surface if your part is incorrectly positioned on the base surface.
- After that, select the right material for printing.
- Also adjust the layer height depending on the quality requirements.
- Finally, you can adjust your filling.
Make 3D printing multicolor in slicer
To make a 3D print multicolor, some settings have to be made in the slicer program. Here we limit ourselves to the Prusa slicer. Also, if you are printing in multiple colors, stick with one material. Here we use PETG, for example. This article explains why you should also use PETG for certain applications.
- Once slicing is complete, you have the option to view the individual layers with a slider.
- Select the layers where you want to realize a color change. Then confirm that you want to change your color at this point by pressing the plus button next to the slider.
- Repeat this step as often as you need.
- Then reslice your print and export your print code to your USB stick or SD card afterwards. If available, you can also upload the file to your print server such as OctoPrint or Repetier.
- You can also see how long each color print takes on the left side, so you can also plan when you need to change colors. This prevents long pressure interruptions.
How to make your 3D print multicolor
Once you have started your print with the first color you must wait for your printer to suggest the shift change. The Prusa printers emit an acoustic beep signal at short intervals for this purpose. Furthermore, we show you the process in the following video. We use the filament material PETG for this.
The result is something to behold!
Addendum: By using a 0.6 mm nozzle instead of a 0.4 mm nozzle and the wrong Prusa Slicer setting, the surface in the upper picture has become very rough. In addition, we have now dried our PETG filaments to obtain even better printing properties. For this we will also create a post for you. We are particularly excited about the vacuum bags, which can be evacuated with a vacuum cleaner, and the dry beads.
Multicolor 3D Printing Conclusion
Multicolor layer printing in 3D printing is a great way to print multicolor even without accessories. In doing so, appropriately separating your models and aligning them on the print board can create beautiful multi-color prints. Finally, as an example, we would like to show you a beautiful specimen, where the advantages of this method come into play.
You can also use this technique wonderfully to initiate a controlled filament change. For example, to avoid an unclean transition due to an idle coil.
If you need to color a complex part, we recommend multicolor printing systems. For example, the Prusa MMU2 unit is very suitable for this purpose. We will soon be able to describe this pressure unit to you as well!
