{"id":164953,"date":"2022-06-27T15:00:10","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T07:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164953"},"modified":"2022-08-11T14:56:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T06:56:24","slug":"dual-extruder-3d-printing-all-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/dual-extruder-3d-printing-all-you-need-to-know","title":{"rendered":"Dual Extruder (3D Printing): All You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Double the possibilities with dual extruder 3D printing! Read on to learn all about dual extrusion, how to do it, and tips for pretty prints.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What Is It?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Two nozzles are better than one (Source: All3DP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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In the early days of 3D printing, FDM makers were limited to printing one material at a time because there was only one\u00a0nozzle<\/a>. With the development of dual extrusion in the last few years, makers now have the power to print parts composed of\u00a0two or more materials<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The process of printing with dual extruders is the same as it is with \u201cnormal\u201d, single-extruder FDM 3D printers. The only difference is that the printer automatically switches between filaments at designated times. In this article, we\u2019ll see why dual extrusion has us seeing double!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Methods<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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A printer with a colorful personality (Source: Geeetech)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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There are actually a few different ways to 3D print with multiple filaments.<\/p>\n

Option #1: Manual Switching of Filament<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This method can be done with any single-nozzle printer and is probably familiar to most beginners: You\u00a0pause the printer<\/a>\u00a0in the middle of an operation, take out the original filament, replace it with a different spool, and continue the print. This takes some time to do and can risk the integrity and visual quality of the final product, often due to the new filament not sticking to the old.<\/p>\n

Option #2: Melting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Printers (such as the\u00a0Geeetech A20T<\/a>) can combine multiple materials by melting them together through the extruder at different rates to print in different colors. You\u2019ll have to buy a new printer to do this but you\u2019ll get to print in multiple colors and produce blending effects.<\/p>\n

Option #3: Dual Hot End Extrusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This involves having a 3D printer with two separate nozzles. Both can be used to print two filaments at the same time, or one can extrude filament for the model while the other prints support material. This method optimizes printing time and creates multicolor effects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Pros & Cons<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Get more done with one printer (Source: Airwolf 3D)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s start with the good news! There are many reasons you\u2019ll want to try out dual extrusion:<\/p>\n