3D Print Multi-Colored Creations With Palette

A Canadian design firm wants your help to take 3D printing to the next level.

Right now, 3D printed objects are largely produced in one color. But Mosaic Manufacturing this week launched a Kickstarter campaign that would bring multi-color, multi-material printing to the masses.

Mosaic's 3D printer accessory, dubbed Palette, connects with an existing machine to "build an unprecedented range of creations" in up to four colors and a variety of materials. This helps avoid the limitations of more expensive and bulky machines, which require multiple filament nozzles and can drip, Mosaic said.

"The Palette takes in four filament inputs and combines them together into a single filament output," the Kickstarter page says. "Everything is done automatically, from the order of the filaments, to their exact length, to make sure every color shows up exactly where it should."

"Removing this single color limitation lets you increase the communication potential of your printer, and lets you truly bring your imagination into the three-dimensional world," the team says.

Meanwhile, Palette currently supports materials that are carbon fiber reinforced, clear, magnetic, electrically conductive, color-changing, and stainless steel-, bronze-, and wood-infused, with more coming soon.

Mosaic Manufacturing's project launched this week, and has already beat its $61,414 funding goal. As of press time, 200-plus backers had contributed more than $94,000.

A pledge of $5 to $35 earns you a place on Mosaic's Wall of Fame ($5), a collectible keychain ($15), or a T-shirt ($35).

You'll have to shell out the big bucks, though, for an actual Palette 3D printer accessory. The popular product has already sold out of its $599 or $749 early bird offers; a donation of $849 or more will get you a single Palette, which is set to ship in January.

For $999, you'll receive the ultimate Palette package, complete with four filament storage modules and 4 kg of high-quality filament. A whopping $7,999, meanwhile, promises 10 machines, plus a spot on the Wall of Fame.

For more, see PCMag's lineup of The Best 3D Printers, as well as 3D Printing: What You Need to Know.