The combination of toolchanging and delta FDM isnвЂ™t one we often see in the 3D printing industry. Multi-material delta 3D printing with AB-3D AB-3DвЂ™s Adrian Beetz handing the D-PATCH prototype over to the Coburg University of Applied Sciences. As such, the 3D printer goes beyond just multi-color prints and into the realm of multi-functional parts, with use cases in both functional prototyping and end-use production. Geared more towards higher performance applications, the D-PATCH is capable of processing filaments such as PETG, TPU, PA, PC, and even ceramic- and metal-infused composites.

Interestingly, the D-PATCH is equipped with an automatic tool changer system that enables the machine to 3D print with up to five different materials in a single print job. The companyвЂ™s debut prototype is a delta extrusion-based 3D printer operating on AB-3DвЂ™s Fused Layer Modeling (FLM) process. AB-3D, a young 3D printer manufacturer based in Prosselsheim, Germany, has showcased its D-PATCH 3D printer for the first time at Formnext 2021.

Ab prototype