MultiMaterialJetting

MultiMaterialJetting is an additive manufacturing process that allows for the deposition of multiple materials within a single print job. This technology is a type of material jetting, where droplets of build material are jetted onto a build platform. In MultiMaterialJetting, however, the print head is capable of handling and ejecting distinct materials, often in a pixel-by-pixel fashion. This enables the creation of objects with varying material properties, such as hardness, flexibility, or color, in specific locations.

The process typically involves a print head with multiple nozzles, each dedicated to a different material. These materials are often photopolymers that are then cured by a UV light source immediately after deposition. The precise control over material placement allows for complex internal structures and the integration of different material functionalities within a single part. Applications for MultiMaterialJetting include creating realistic prototypes with varying textures and colors, functional parts with embedded conductive or flexible regions, and medical models that mimic the feel of biological tissues. The ability to combine materials in intricate ways opens up new possibilities for product design and development.