two materials

alan_brunsman706

I want to change materials in the part. Can I make a part from two materials? Or does it require two parts in an assemble? I have a printer that will print from two filaments. I do not know how to draw the part so that the printer will accept the two materials. The printer has a sample program that switches materials with different colors but I can not see the code.The printer is a XYZ 2. 

philip_thomas

@alan_brunsman706 - i am familiar with the U3 - it too can print in 2 materials.
That printer requires 2 stl files - one for each material.
So now we know we need 2 stl files - one from each of two parts.
You have several options.

• Build both parts separately in the same part studio. 
• Build a single part and then use 'split' (or various other techniques) to split it into 2 parts.
• Build each part separately in its own part studio.

When exporting as stl from a single part studio: either export them individually, OR, export the entire part studio and select the option to 'save in separate files'

That should get you going

alan_brunsman706

Won't that print two separate parts. I want the final piece to be one structure made of two materials. Much like you get when you print with the dissolvable material. Maybe the question should be asked of the printer mfg. 

owen_sparks

@alan_brunsman706

@philip_thomas speaks the truth.  (T-shirt forthcoming, it's generally worth listening to what he says... )

Just because it's two files doesn't mean they don't touch each other.  If they touch and they're made from melted plastic they fuse into one solid seamless part.  This is indeed how multi-material print slicers tend to work 

Happy printing.

Owen S.

philip_thomas

Here is a part printed on a U3 from two different STL files

owen_sparks

Was your beard produced via the same method? 

O.S.

philip_thomas

Ha ha - I never noticed that!