In order to get the most out of our desktop 3D printers, we need a wider variety of printheads. Makers have long been experimenting with the idea of universal paste extruders, syringe-like devices that can handle more viscous materials for 3D printing. And, though many have successfully created such printheads, Structur3D will be launching the first commercially available paste extrusion system at the Maker Faire this weekend.
The Discov3ry paste extrusion system is more than just a syringe printhead that can squirt out a variety of goops. Structr3D bills it as a plug-n-play device that anyone can attach to their existing RepRap-style 3D printer, including Makerbots and Ultimakers, and begin printing. It can plug into the existing electronics boards that run most RepRaps and works with open source software like Slic3r and Repetier. Discov3ry also includes a cartridge system that allows for a 60cc supply of paste (the amount in one large syringe) to be fed to your 3D printer. 60ccs, Structur3D claims, is enough for several prints and the cartridges can be capped off and stored for later.
So, what’s a paste extruder good for? Just about anything that isn’t quite a solid. It’s often associated with food printing and Structur3D has tested their extruder out with cake frosting, as seen in the cupcake image above. Other printable materials include: ceramics, silicone, latex, and polyurethane. These might be good for prototyping more flexible objects, such as gaskets, o-rings, or insoles. Interestingly, the company also suggests that users might create support structures out of dissoluble sugar for easy support clean up on complex prints.
Structur3D plans on launching a Kickstarter campaign coinciding with their exhibition at the Bay Area Maker Faire this weekend. The anticipated price is somewhere around $350, which they believe is adequate to give almost any desktop 3D printer user the ability to print with paste. If you agree, you’ll want to keep an eye for their KS. Otherwise, you might consider heading to Thingiverse and checking out these open source universal paste extruders.
For more about the company’s Discov3ry universal paste extruder, watch the video below:
Source: Structur3D
