New AutoDesk Patent Shows Innovative Multi Color 3D Printing Approaches

An Autodesk patent has just been published which reveals possible plans for the software giant to enter the FDM/FFF 3D printing space. The patent, which details several innovative methods of printing with multiple materials and multiple colors, was filed on Sept 30, 2014 and just published this last week. It details multiple methods of mixing filament colors and also changing nozzle sizes during a 3D print. One method allows for the mixing of up to 7 different strands of filament within a single hotend. Additional details on the methods that they outline in this rather interesting patent filing can be found here:
http://3dprint.com/74984/autodesk-patent-multi-color


Below is a diagram of one of these 3D printing methods they outline:
http://3dprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/p31.png

Hey guys, another great find. I actually did a talk with Andreas Bastian, chief research scientist at Autodesk, at SXSW and I am not surprised by this. Very bright guy who also has contributed to the talon e-NABLE prosthetic hand design as well. I am hoping to have him in on for a interview on 'All Things 3D' in August. You can watch the V.360 panoramic video of the event here: https://youtu.be/T8ro2twYkuo . Quality could be better, but SXSW fell through on providing me the recorded audio and I had to use poor shotgun mic recorded version in the back of the room.

Mike Balzer
All Things 3D

I have read half the article and had to stopped with the abomination as I read further.