Design and fabrication of a modular multi-material 3D printer

Abstract

This thesis presents 3DP-0, a modular, multi-material 3D printer. Currently, 3D printers available on the market are typically expensive and difficult to develop. In addition, the simultaneous use of multiple materials in 3D printing has not been extensively explored. The printer presented in this thesis was developed to address these shortcomings. The printer features a low-cost high-performance design largely using commercial off-the-shelf parts. Inkjet print heads from commercial desktop printers allow the use of multiple materials within a single print. In addition, the modular and open design of the printer allows the independent and continuing development of print heads and print materials. Testing has shown the system to be capable of producing objects with fine features, including 500 [mu]m-wide cubes containing multiple materials separated within a core.