Authors Note: We recently bought a SECOND 3D printer – and it is a Dependent Dual Extruder printer. (The Qidi Tech iFast) Before making that purchase – we did a lot of research regarding Dual Extruder 3D printers – and here is a summation of a lot of that research.
Introduction to Dual Extruder 3D Printers
Dual extruder 3D printers are becoming increasingly popular among hobbyists and professionals alike, thanks to their ability to print with multiple materials or colors at the same time. This allows for more complex and detailed prints, making them ideal for a wide range of applications.
One of the most notable benefits of dual extruder 3D printers is the ability to print with dissolvable support materials. This means that the support structure, which is necessary for some complex geometries, can be easily removed after the printing process, leaving a cleaner and more polished final product. Some of the filaments available for support materials are even dissolvable in plain and simple water. This was one, if the primary reasons we were looking to add a dual extruder 3D printer to our
Another benefit of dual extruder 3D printers is the ability to print with different colors or materials at the same time (see my featured image above for an example of this). This allows for more creative and eye-catching designs, and can also be useful for functional parts that require different materials for different properties.
A Brief History of Dual Extruder 3D Printing
The history of dual extruder 3D printers can be traced back to the early days of 3D printing technology. One of the first dual extruder 3D printers was developed in the late 1990s by a company called Z Corp. This printer was able to print with two different colors at the same time, and it was used primarily for rapid prototyping and architectural modeling.
Over the years, dual extruder 3D printers have continued to evolve, with new models and designs being introduced to the market. In the early 2000s, dual extruder 3D printers began to incorporate more advanced features, such as the ability to print with dissolvable support materials, and the ability to print with different materials.
The development of open-source 3D printing technologies also played a role in the advancement of dual extruder 3D printers. This allowed for more innovation and experimentation, and led to the development of new features and capabilities.
In recent years, dual extruder 3D printers have become more mainstream and widely available. They have become increasingly popular among hobbyists and professionals alike, thanks to their ability to print with multiple materials or colors at the same time, and their ability to print with dissolvable support materials.
Today, dual extruder 3D printers are used in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and art. They are also becoming more affordable and accessible, with many companies offering models that are specifically designed for home and small business use.
Overall, the history of dual extruder 3D printers is one of steady evolution, with new features and capabilities being added over time. As the technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see even more exciting developments in the future.
Broad Categories of Dual Extruder 3D Printers: Dependent Extruders Vs Independent Extruders
A dependent dual extruder 3D printer is a type of 3D printer that uses two extruders that are attached to the same moving mechanism. This means that the extruders cannot move independently from one another and that only one extruder can print at a time. Although the print head contains two extruders – only one can actively be printing. Due to the extruders being dependent, the precision and flexibility of the printer may be limited compared to independent dual extruder 3D printers.
On the other hand, an Independent Dual Extruder (IDEX) 3D printer uses multiple independent extruders that are autonomous and can move separately from one another. This allows for more flexibility and precision when 3D printing, as the extruders can be precisely positioned to print in different areas of the build platform. Additionally, IDEX 3D printers can print with different materials or colors at the same time, and they also have the capability to print with dissolvable support materials. This makes them ideal for printing complex geometries and for high precision printing.
Dependent dual extruder 3D printers are more limited in their capabilities and precision compared to Independent Dual Extruder (IDEX) 3D printers. However, IDEX 3D printers, in general, tend to be more expensive than dependent dual extruders because there are more mechanical parts necessary, and complexities involved in enabling the extruders to move independently of each other.
Types of Dual Extruder 3D Printers
There are many different types of 3D printers. A 3D printer’s distinguishing characteristic that usually leads to its classification as one type of 3D printer or another is usually based on one of several things:
- what moves (i.e. the extruders, build plate or combination of the two),
- how it moves (according to a cartesian coordinate system with an X, Y & Z axis, Core XY, Delta, Polar…)
- the type of technology it uses to print (Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Digital Light Processing (DLP) Multi Jet Fusion (MJF))
- or the material it uses to create the 3D model.
Many different types of 3D printers come in a dual extruder variant. Here I outline some of them.
1) Cartesian dual extruder 3D printers: These 3D printers are the most common in use today. They usually have a print head that moves along the X and Y axis (length & width) while the build plate moves along the Z axis (height, up & down) to create 3D objects. They are known for their precision and accuracy, and are often used by hobbyists as well as for professional and industrial applications.
- Advantages
- Precision & accuracy,
- Good for small & detailed parts,
- Good for printing wider models that a more rectangular
- Good for both industrial & professional applications.
- Disadvantages
- Relatively slow print speeds,
- Limited build volume.
2) Delta dual extruder 3D printers: These printers are built for speed and use a moving extruder controlled by three arms and a stationary platform to create 3D objects. The build platform for these types of printers are usually circular and these printers are usually better suited to building tall models as opposed to wide ones. They are known for their fast print speeds and are often used for large-scale or high-volume printing.
- Advantages
- Fast print speeds,
- Good for printing tall, narrow models
- Good for large-scale or high-volume printing,
- Relatively low cost.
- Disadvantages
- Not as good for printing wide models
- Lower precision & accuracy compared to Cartesian printers,
- More complex calibration process.
3) SCARA 3D printers: SCARA stands for Selective Compliance Assembly Robotic Arm. This type of printer is really only available / appropriate for large industrial uses because of their high cost and complexity. They use a robotic arm-like motion to extrude the material, they are known for their precision & speed.
- Advantages
- Can print large objects – like walls and houses!
- High precision,
- High speed,
- Good for industrial & professional uses.
- Disadvantages
- High cost,
- Limited build volume,
- Complex calibration process.
4) Polar 3D printers: This type of 3D printer is not very common, because they feature a newer design concept – which is a rotating build plate. However, they are very efficient in their use of space and allow for a deceptively large object to be printed by a surprisingly small 3d printer. This is because the circular build plate can rotate, move forward & backwards, as well as left & right.
- Advantages
- High precision,
- High speed,
- Efficient in size (footprint),
- Uses fewer stepper motors (usually only 2),
- More energy efficient – since it uses only 2 stepper motors,
- Excel in printing circular elements
- Good for industrial/professional uses.
- Disadvantages
- Not very common
- Higher cost than other types of 3D printers,
- Limited build volume,
- Calibration process that is more complex.
5) Multi-material dual extruder 3D printers: These printers are equipped with two or more extruders that can print with different materials or colors at the same time, allowing for more complex and detailed prints.
- Advantages
- The ability to print with different materials or colors at the same time,
- Allowing for more detailed & complex prints.
- Disadvantages
- Higher cost,
- Acalibration process that is more complex,
- The need for specialized software to control the multiple extruders.
- Water-soluble support dual extruder 3D printers: This is really a subset of multi-material dual extruder 3D printers. These printers are equipped with one extruder that prints the model and another extruder that prints a water-soluble support material. This allows the user to easily remove the support material after the printing process.
- Advantages
- Easy removal of support material after printing,
- Good for printing complex geometries, and
- More efficient use of material.
- Disadvantages
- The need for specialized filaments,
- More complex calibration process, and
- Specialized software for the control of multiple extruders.
- Advantages
Conclusion
In conclusion, dual extruder 3D printers are a versatile and valuable tool for hobbyists and professionals alike. With their ability to print with different materials & colors, they offer significantly more capabilities for creating complex and detailed designs.
Sincerely,
