ProJet® 5500X - Multi Material 3D Printer Just announced

[Markum_Debreeze]

This is another 3D Printer, just announced from 3D Systems. It can print in multiple materials at once, and actually put them together to some extent.

3D Systems’ ProJet® 5500X delivers the highest quality, most accurate and toughest multi-material composites based on 3D Systems’ latest MultiJet Printing (MJP) technology. The ProJet 5500X simultaneously prints and fuses together flexible and rigid material composites layer by layer at the pixel level in a variety of colors and shades including opaque, clear, black or white and numerous shades of gray. 3D Systems’ printed multi-material composites result in stunningly realistic, functional, large and small prototypes and products for a wide range of manufacturers, designers and engineers.
The ProJet 5500X delivers fast composite material print speeds using breakthrough materials with properties that can be easily varied within a single part. This new VisiJet® composite family of materials is precisely mixed by the ProJet 5500X print head on-the-fly to achieve superior mechanical properties and custom performance characteristics and comes with a 5-year print head warranty. With so many options, the ProJet 5500X is perfect for a variety of applications, including overmolded parts, multi-material assemblies, rubber-like components, long-lasting living hinges and high-temperature testing.With its industrial-grade print head, the ProJet 5500X prints up to two times faster than any other printer in its class, and produces more than 60% larger volume than all other comparable systems, producing larger parts up to half a meter long, or more parts per print job.

[RedSox2013]

I was just reading about both these printers. Have to say this is a nice advancement by one of the leaders in the industry. Having said this, this certainly is not in the price range of DIY'ers, but rather manufacturers. The 4500X also looks pretty awesome! Technological progress at it's finest

[Eddie]

I had the chance to see this printer in action at the Inside 3D Printing Conference this past week. It's crazy how it can mix materials to make the desired texture, bendability, etc. I believe it is priced around $250,000 but don't quote me on that. Here is a quick video I made.

[intohim]

What is it that is being printed here?