<p>I don't think it makes a lot of sense - you don't need that kind of resolution, and getting a sufficient amount of ink that way to coat the filament would be hard. If you're going to be switching colors rapidly, you'd need a long purge between colors anyway. I also doubt the type of ink is suitable for sticking to filament materials.</p>
<p>If you really want an automated filament coloring system, I would do it with Sharpies and actuators to move individual ones on/off of the filament as it passes through. Coloring PLA with Sharpies prior to printing is a known-working technique, and there are even models available on Thingiverse for holders to keep them in place while the filament runs through. Designing the actuators to switch individual ones on/off, and the firmware controls for them, would be the natural next step.</p>
<p>Here are some examples I did with manual coloring of natural translucent PLA (from left to right: uncolored, silver Sharpie, and red Sharpie):</p>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4BE8K.jpg" alt="3 printed nuts, colored as described in text" /></p>
<p>I didn't color a long enough segment of filament or properly purge for any of them, which is why the coloring is inconsistent/incomplete. But the technique definitely works.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-29T17:32:44.973Z
2020-08-29T17:46:42.437Z
2020-08-29T17:46:42.437Z
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<p>AS an FYI, this is becoming available commercially:
<a href="https://www.xyzprinting.com/en-US/product-level/PROFESSIONAL/color-series" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.xyzprinting.com/en-US/product-level/PROFESSIONAL/color-series</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-31T21:47:38.140Z
Thanks for your answer but we are looking for comprehensive answers that provide some explanation and context. Very short answers cannot do this, so please [edit] your answer to explain why it is right. Additionally, we prefer answers to be self contained where possible. [*link only*](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8231/) answers are frowned upon (as links [tend to rot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_rot)) & will be rendered useless if the linked-to content disappears. If you add more context and detail from the link, it is more likely that people will find your answer useful.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-01T01:17:44.277Z
I'd be skeptical of anything from this company. Speaking of inkjet they're the inkjet printer loss-leader scam of 3D printing. Printers that refuse to use filament other than their own overpriced ones, software lock-in, ... Also using illegitimate IP claims to takedown competitors' products from Amazon.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-31T20:35:38.383Z
2020-08-31T20:35:38.383Z
cactusknight
<p>This is a thing since I think 2-3 years. There's such a printer from XYZ printing. It's not cheap but worth it. <a href="https://www.xyzprinting.com/en-US/product/da-vinci-color" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.xyzprinting.com/en-US/product/da-vinci-color</a></p>
<p>The other thing thats available right now is a new print technology named Multy Jet Fusion, where drops of resin being colored and droped to a 3D Print: <div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VXntl3ff5tc?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T22:08:01.467Z
2020-09-02T22:08:01.467Z
RomanTenger
<p>Is it possible to use a standard color inkjet cartridge to color filament for full color 3D printing?</p>
<p>It seems like a natural next step to me, but I haven't seen much of anything on this. (Just a few ancient experiments on reprap wiki.)</p>
<p>I've learned that some inkjet printers have the heads built into the cartridge whereas others it's part of the printer.  I think the former would be more appropriate.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I haven't seen anything on actually how to drive the cartridges.  I'm guessing the mfgr's treat this as a trade secret (?)  Still, there's got to be some overseas reverse-engineer... something... on this, right?</p>
<p>Anybody have resources/notes they'd like to share?</p>

<color>
Use inkjet cartridge to color filiment?
TheHeadlessSourceMan
# Use inkjet cartridge to color filiment?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-29)

Is it possible to use a standard color inkjet cartridge to color filament for full color 3D printing?

It seems like a natural next step to me, but I haven't seen much of anything on this. (Just a few ancient experiments on reprap wiki.)

I've learned that some inkjet printers have the heads built into the cartridge whereas others it's part of the printer. I think the former would be more appropriate.

Unfortunately I haven't seen anything on actually how to drive the cartridges. I'm guessing the mfgr's treat this as a trade secret (?) Still, there's got to be some overseas reverse-engineer... something... on this, right?

Anybody have resources/notes they'd like to share?

**Tags:** color

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-08-29. Score: 2

I don't think it makes a lot of sense - you don't need that kind of resolution, and getting a sufficient amount of ink that way to coat the filament would be hard. If you're going to be switching colors rapidly, you'd need a long purge between colors anyway. I also doubt the type of ink is suitable for sticking to filament materials.

If you really want an automated filament coloring system, I would do it with Sharpies and actuators to move individual ones on/off of the filament as it passes through. Coloring PLA with Sharpies prior to printing is a known-working technique, and there are even models available on Thingiverse for holders to keep them in place while the filament runs through. Designing the actuators to switch individual ones on/off, and the firmware controls for them, would be the natural next step.

Here are some examples I did with manual coloring of natural translucent PLA (from left to right: uncolored, silver Sharpie, and red Sharpie):

![3 printed nuts, colored as described in text](https://i.sstatic.net/4BE8K.jpg)

I didn't color a long enough segment of filament or properly purge for any of them, which is why the coloring is inconsistent/incomplete. But the technique definitely works.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-08-31. Score: 1

AS an FYI, this is becoming available commercially:
<https://www.xyzprinting.com/en-US/product-level/PROFESSIONAL/color-series>

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Thanks for your answer but we are looking for comprehensive answers that provide some explanation and context. Very short answers cannot do this, so please [edit] your answer to explain why it is right. Additionally, we prefer answers to be self contained where possible. [*link only*](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8231/) answers are frowned upon (as links [tend to rot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_rot)) & will be rendered useless if the linked-to content disappears. If you add more context and detail from the link, it is more likely that people will find your answer useful.  
> **username_1**: I'd be skeptical of anything from this company. Speaking of inkjet they're the inkjet printer loss-leader scam of 3D printing. Printers that refuse to use filament other than their own overpriced ones, software lock-in, ... Also using illegitimate IP claims to takedown competitors' products from Amazon.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-09-02. Score: 1

This is a thing since I think 2-3 years. There's such a printer from XYZ printing. It's not cheap but worth it. <https://www.xyzprinting.com/en-US/product/da-vinci-color>

The other thing thats available right now is a new print technology named Multy Jet Fusion, where drops of resin being colored and droped to a 3D Print:


---

