Ultimaker Market Place

Updated: XT-CF20 has been added as well!

We are proud to announce that two of our filaments have been added to the Ultimaker Market Place. By adding both Color on Demand  ( PLA )  and woodFill to the market place it is easier than ever to start printing with the right settings on Ultimaker printers. How? Download the latest version of Cura (3.6) and add the profiles as detailed in the short video below:

https://youtu.be/h_5mp_TK5zw

Our filaments have always been tested on Ultimaker 3D printers ever since the beginning. In fact, the very idea of colorFabb started with an Ultimaker Original and it was the first printer we tested on back in 2012. Fun fact: that printer is still in our print lab. We have added more printers to our test lab ever since and have made sure that every major Ultimaker release was added to it as well: The Ultimaker 2, 2+, 3 and S5 are all part of our standard range of printers to ensure our filaments work as flawless as possible on these highly popular Dutch printers.

We’re joining an ever expanding range of premium material brands in the market place.

Update December 14th: We are happy to announce that XT-CF20 has been added to the list as well. Simply add the profile the same way as described above to make functional prints that need extra stiffness.


CARBON FIBER IS ABRASIVE: A special point of attention is the abrasive nature of the carbon fibers. In general these fibers will accelerate the nozzle-wear of brass nozzles, much faster than unfilled filaments. Therefore we  recommend to use hardened steel nozzles for this material.

Will more materials be added? Probably in due time. But rest assured that, as mentioned above, we have tested all of our materials on the Ultimaker printers at our disposal. One can also choose Ultimaker materials as a starting point (like CPE settings for our colorFabb_XT and CPE+ for colorFabb_HT). We also share the settings of most of our materials on dedicated blogs, like:

Still not sure if you’re on the right track? Contact us at support@colorfabb.com so we can help you further!

Ninjatek

As from today we carry Ninjatek filaments in our webshop! With this addition we are breaking new ground in the 3D filament world. For the first time two leading manufacturers of 3D printing filament are working closely together to ensure the right filaments end up in the hands of the end user.

 

Ninjatek is owned by Fenner Drives. Fenner Drives is located in the Manheim, PA and will distribute colorFabb’s filaments in the North American market (check their website here). colorFabb, based in the Netherlands, will distribute Fenner Drives’ Ninjatek branded filaments in Europe and the Middle East. You can find our Ninjatek dedicated webshop here.

NinjaTek is a high performance additive manufacturing material supplier. Like colorFabb it started in 2013 and has been on the forefront of filament development ever since. Ninjatek is the leading producer of flexible filament in the 3D printing industry. Its popularity was built on unique performance characteristics and consistent product quality, which is an area that we continue they concentrate on. As a division of Fenner Drives it leverages 50 years of extrusion and manufacturing expertise with a unique expertise in polyurethane materials.

It is the first time in FDM 3D printing that two filament producers start such an intense co-operation. and colorFabb is proud to be the official Ninjatek partner in Europe. All items in our webshop ship from stock and can be combined with colorFabb filaments.

We offer the most popular filaments in the Ninjatek product lines Ninjaflex, Cheetah and Armadillo.

Need help choosing which filament is right for your project? Our product comparison chart offers a “good / better / best” rating system for comparing key performance points, This chart was designed to help users choose which product is best suited for their application.

compare ninjatek

Functional printing with Armadillo

woodFill: 5 years of special 3D printing filaments

Today it is exactly five years ago that we launched woodFill at the 3D Print Show in London. It was our first special 3D printing filament! Let’s look back!

Design: https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-39788

Our first special filament was woodFill. In our first year of existence (this was in 2013 – ancient times by now) we had a great filament, PLA/PHA, in the market and we were already looking for more filaments to be added to the portfolio. Someone asked us a very serious question: “Why don’t you make a wood filament?” We thought: “Why not?” Granted, we weren’t the first, but the filament world was still young and with our compounding partner FKuR, located in Willich, Germany, we went to work.

 

Elephant design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:257911 Both the elephant and acorn were printed on the Ultimaker 2+ with a 0.6mm nozzle and a 0.2mm layer height. Print speed was 40mm/s with 20% infill and a nozzle temperature of 210C. Part of the acorn was printed with corkFill.

True story: We produced the first test run of filament late October 2013, put it on the printer and… it worked! Flawlessly! This was mere days before we were off to the 3D Printing Show in London, early November 2013. With the few spools we had we printed a lot of examples, put them in our suitcases and off we went! (By train, it was still the olden days…)

The very first woodFill print… ever

The 3D Printing Show was an amazing experience. As luck (or mad negotiation skills) would have it, we were placed right at the entrance. As anyone who has ever printed with woodFill knows, the material really smells like wood when printing. And that was exactly what the visitors smelled when they entered the show floor.

As heard many, many times during those 3 days:

“It smells like… wood.”

“That’s because there is real wood in the filament.”

“But how did you get the smell in there?”

“Because there is real wood in the filament.”

We admit, the main component is our signature PLA/PHA, but the wood is what makes the filament truly special.

We started with two variations: woodFill Fine and woodFill Coarse. Problem was that the Coarse could only be printed with a 0.8 nozzle and sales reflected that people were not eager to switch nozzles a lot. Only after a few months we discontinued woodFill Coarse and focused entirely on woodFill Fine. But a few times every year someone informs if there are still some spools of the Coarse left.

 

We have literally sent out thousands of woodFill spools all over the world and it has been a solid hit with our customers, old and new. Its ease of printing (can your printer print PLA? If yes, you can print woodFill. If no, buy a new printer) has really helped, but again: the smell of wood during printing, that authentic woodshop idea has been appealing for a lot of printers. And be honest: the prints look like they have been carved from… wood.

Below are some (but not all, at all) great examples of woodFill creations:

Tony Short’s gift box. Original post: https://learn.colorfabb.com/colorfabb-gift-box/

 

Megafone amplifiers by AKLIH. Original post: https://learn.colorfabb.com/aklih/

 

Print+ headphone. Original post: https://learn.colorfabb.com/printplus/

 

Replicas of historic church figures. Original post: https://learn.colorfabb.com/excellence-woodfill-3d-printing/

 

Some printed examples on the Lulzbot Mini: https://learn.colorfabb.com/woodfill-lulzbot/

 

After woodFill we expanded the range with bambooFill (since discontinued) and corkFill (still available). Both great materials, but woodFill will have a special place in our portfolio as our first special filament. Don’t believe us? Read the five star reviews on our website:

woodFill is available in our webshop and through our reseller network. We offer both 600 grams and 1800 grams (XL) spools.

Part of this blog was previously published in another blog

Dizingof’s 2 Colors Klein Bottle

Few designs are so well-known in 3D printing as the Klein bottle. Renowned Israeli designer Dizingof has a Klein Bottle available on his website (a free download these days!) ideally suited to be printed in two colors:

Design: https://www.3dizingof.com/shop/free-designs/2-colors-klein-bottle-by-dizingof/

Dizingof’s designs are world famous and a high standard in 3D printing world. As Fabbaloo mentioned it several years ago: “Dizingof’s creations are typically complex, flowing and invariably beautiful. Browsing through his extensive portfolio of dozens of designs, you’ll see vases, jewelry, bowls, lamp shades and a few trays and holders, but mostly it’s just art, amazing mathematical art.” (source)

This two-color Klein bottle is a perfect example to showcase our Color on Demand colors. In this case we used RAL 3005 (Wine Red) and RAL 7036 (Platinum Grey) and printed on the Ultimaker 3, making the most of the dual extrusion capabilities.

You should definitely visit Dizingof’s webshop and check out all the amazing designs he has made over the years.

 

With launched Color on Demand we re-invented the way makers can choose colors. No longer you are bound to the colors that have been pre-selected by filament manufacturers anymore. Now you can order the color you actually need and want.

We have already matched over 100 RAL colors, which can easily be ordered online. Click here to see our collection. You can order as from one 750 grams spool! If we have not matched your favorite color, request it by using our online form. Starting from a 2kg spool we match the specific color you want, based on RAL, other well-known color references or a physical reference.

With Color on Demand you can say “yes” to that print job which needs a specific color or a look you have been waiting for. Stun your colleagues, family or other makers with your prints. You could already print one-of-a-kind designs, now you can also make them look unique!

Check out more recent Color on Demand prints by clicking here. Make sure you read our color disclaimer. Want to know more about Color on Demand, check our our FAQ page.

Our Color on Demand experience room, still under construction, with all the RAL colors we matched… so far.

How does it work?

Once an order is placed the team of specialists at colorFabb then go to work to start matching this color request if is a new color. You can opt to receive an injected molded plaque to verify the color first, before the spool is produced. This is optional. If the color has already been matched, we plan production right away.
Expected lead times are:

Color on Demand is produced on spools containing either 2kg or 750 grams. The 750 grams option is only available for colors already matched. All new colors are produced on 2kg spools only. Curious about the spool size? Check out this post. But we do not stop there. At the same time Color on Demand is being offered for granulates as an extra supply option besides filament.

Important: If you order a Color on Demand spool, as well as regular stocked products, we will ship these together as one shipment.

How is color matching being done?

Check our disclaimer! We use the RAL Classic references as our guide. All filaments produced are optically checked by our specialized production and QA team. You can order an injected molded plaque before commiting to order a full spool. Please check in the webshop!

Please be aware that we use the actual RAL reference. Colors on a computer screen, printed images and promotional art can give a misrepresentation of the actual color. Injection molded color plaques can be ordered for a quality check before ordering a full spool.

If the color is then accepted production will be planned. Whenever a color has been matched, it will be added to the colorFabb website for future references.Pricing is as low as € 75 (ex VAT / shipping) for a 2kg spool of custom made filament, with tier pricing available: 10% discount when 4 spools are purchased, 20% when 10 spools are purchased.

Color on Demand is a first new step into the direction of customization of filaments for the end users. Starting with PLA and RAL, the possibilities to expand to other materials and color references are plenty and will be implemented at a later stage.Basically, color on demand will enable the maker / 3D Printer user to pinpoint specific projects and claim a different position in the supply chain with exactly that color that is requested.

Users can send your requests to colorFabb or visit our website:

More questions that need answering? Contact us through sales@colorfabb.com

brassFill

In the past year we have launched quite a few new filaments: PA-CF Low Warp, nGen_LUX, PA Neat and of course our Color on Demand. As more filaments enter our portfolio we sometimes have to make the hard decision to discontinue a product as well. This time we have to announce that as from now we will no longer produce brassFill.

 

brassFill was released early 2015 and was the third of our special metal filled filaments after releasing bronzeFill andf copperFill the year before. Although we have seen excellent prints made with brassFill it was always a more more demanding material to print with and not for the faint of heart.

Due to the increased pricing compared with the other metal filled filaments it was priced higher and combined with the fact the filament was at times quite a challenge it never became as popular as the other special filaments.

Earlier this summer we were faced with the choice to either invest in new stock or to discontinue brassFill. Since popularity has been declining we made the hard decision to convert the remaining raw material that we had and call it quits after that. Although we are sure that brassFill has quite a few fans, we see this as a necessary move.

We have already sold out the 1.75mm filaments and the remaining stock of 2.85mm filament is the last we have produced. You can check the current stock here.

This is your last chance to order brassFill! #

colorFabb remains commited to bring you a wide range of 3D printing filaments that allow users worldwide unique aesthetical and functional qualities. Check out our catalogue for the full range of filaments.

 

Sir Fill bids brassFill farewell. Design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:501831

 

# At the time of writing, see date on the top of this blog. Resellers and distributors may have limited stock.

Pumpkin

Tis the season to be scary. It’s Halloween and you will see many pumpkins today, many of them real, lots of them printed and only one of them printed with RAL 2000 Yellow Orange – a perfectly suited color which is part of our Color on Demand program.

Design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:167043

Designed by MakieLab it is a great scary pumpkin for Halloween. We printed it on the Ultimaker 2+ using standard PLA settings at 0.2mm layer height.

With launched Color on Demand we re-invented the way makers can choose colors. No longer you are bound to the colors that have been pre-selected by filament manufacturers anymore. Now you can order the color you actually need and want.

We have already matched over 100 RAL colors, which can easily be ordered online. Click here to see our collection. You can order as from one 750 grams spool! If we have not matched your favorite color, request it by using our online form. Starting from a 2kg spool we match the specific color you want, based on RAL, other well-known color references or a physical reference.

With Color on Demand you can say “yes” to that print job which needs a specific color or a look you have been waiting for. Stun your colleagues, family or other makers with your prints. You could already print one-of-a-kind designs, now you can also make them look unique!

Check out more recent Color on Demand prints by clicking here. Make sure you read our color disclaimer. Want to know more about Color on Demand, check our our FAQ page.

Our Color on Demand experience room, still under construction, with all the RAL colors we matched… so far.

How does it work?

Once an order is placed the team of specialists at colorFabb then go to work to start matching this color request if is a new color. You can opt to receive an injected molded plaque to verify the color first, before the spool is produced. This is optional. If the color has already been matched, we plan production right away.
Expected lead times are:

Color on Demand is produced on spools containing either 2kg or 750 grams. The 750 grams option is only available for colors already matched. All new colors are produced on 2kg spools only. Curious about the spool size? Check out this post.
But we do not stop there. At the same time Color on Demand is being offered for granulates as an extra supply option besides filament.

Important: If you order a Color on Demand spool, as well as regular stocked products, we will ship these together as one shipment.

How is color matching being done?

Check our disclaimer! We use the RAL Classic references as our guide. All filaments produced are optically checked by our specialized production and QA team. You can order an injected molded plaque before commiting to order a full spool. Please check in the webshop!

Please be aware that we use the actual RAL reference. Colors on a computer screen, printed images and promotional art can give a misrepresentation of the actual color. Injection molded color plaques can be ordered for a quality check before ordering a full spool.

If the color is then accepted production will be planned. Whenever a color has been matched, it will be added to the colorFabb website for future references.Pricing is as low as € 75 (ex VAT / shipping) for a 2kg spool of custom made filament, with tier pricing available: 10% discount when 4 spools are purchased, 20% when 10 spools are purchased.

Color on Demand is a first new step into the direction of customization of filaments for the end users. Starting with PLA and RAL, the possibilities to expand to other materials and color references are plenty and will be implemented at a later stage.Basically, color on demand will enable the maker / 3D Printer user to pinpoint specific projects and claim a different position in the supply chain with exactly that color that is requested.

Users can send your requests to colorFabb or visit our website:

More questions that need answering? Contact us through sales@colorfabb.com

Dual color frog

Printing with multiple colors has been around for a while now. We have put the Ultimaker 3 in our print lab to good use to print the 2-Color Tree Frog by Nervous System.

 

Design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:329436

As described on the Thingiverse page: “This treefrog is based on a recently discovered species called the Tiger’s Treefrog (Hyloscirtus tigrinus) which has an incredible maze-like pattern on its skin. Hyloscirtus tigrinus lives in the rainforests of Ecuador and Colombia and is exceedingly rare. Scientists estimate there are only 250 adult tiger’s treefrogs alive today.”

We used Color on Demand colors RAL 4001 (Red Lilac) and RAL 6037 (Pure Green) to create a one-of-a-kind print.

 

On the Ultimaker 3 we used standard PLA settings and printer with a 0.4mm nozzle at a 0.22mm layer height.

In June we launched Color on Demand and re-invented the way makers can choose colors. No longer you are bound to the colors that have been pre-selected by filament manufacturers anymore. Now you can order the color you actually need and want.

We have already matched many RAL colors, which can easily be ordered online. Click here to see our collection. You can order as little as a 750 grams spool! If we have not matched your favorite color, request it by using our online form. Starting from a 2kg spool we match the color you want.

With Color on Demand you can say “yes” to that print job which needs a specific color or a look you have been waiting for. Stun your colleagues, family or other makers with your prints. You could already print one-of-a-kind designs, now you can also make them look unique!

Check out more recent Color on Demand prints by clicking here.

Read our color disclaimer. Want to know more about Color on Demand, check our our FAQ page.

 

How does it work?

Once an order is placed the team of specialists at colorFabb then go to work to start matching this color request if is a new color. You can opt to receive an injected molded plaque to verify the color first, before the spool is produced. This is optional. If the color has already been matched, we plan production right away.
Expected lead times are:

Color on Demand is produced on spools containing either 2kg or 750 grams. The 750 grams option is only available for colors already matched. All new colors are produced on 2kg spools only. Curious about the spool size? Check out this post.
But we do not stop there. At the same time Color on Demand is being offered for granulates as an extra supply option besides filament.

Important: If you order a Color on Demand spool, as well as regular stocked products, we will ship these together as one shipment.

How is color matching being done?

Check our disclaimer! We use the RAL Classic references as our guide. All filaments produced are optically checked by our specialized production and QA team. You can order an injected molded plaque before commiting to order a full spool. Please check in the webshop!

Please be aware that we use the actual RAL reference. Colors on a computer screen, printed images and promotional art can give a misrepresentation of the actual color. Injection molded color plaques can be ordered for a quality check before ordering a full spool.

If the color is then accepted production will be planned. Whenever a color has been matched, it will be added to the colorFabb website for future references.Pricing is as low as € 75 (ex VAT / shipping) for a 2kg spool of custom made filament, with tier pricing available: 10% discount when 4 spools are purchased, 20% when 10 spools are purchased.

Color on Demand is a first new step into the direction of customization of filaments for the end users. Starting with PLA and RAL, the possibilities to expand to other materials and color references are plenty and will be implemented at a later stage.Basically, color on demand will enable the maker / 3D Printer user to pinpoint specific projects and claim a different position in the supply chain with exactly that color that is requested.

Users can send your requests to colorFabb or visit our website:

More questions that need answering? Contact us through sales@colorfabb.com

Current Sale!

Have you checked out our current sales? All value packs with 10% discount! Click here or on the image below:

10% off on a good deal already makes a pretty great deal altogether! There is nothing else you have to do (no coupon code or anything). Just click the link or the image above and the 10% discount is already calculated when you check out.

Not looking for bulk purchases? We also have at least 15% discount on our black and white filaments. Click here to go to our Sales Page directly or on the image below:

Both these discounts do not work in combination with other discounts.

Phone holder

We like our desk gadgets and one of the most essential gadgets must be the phone holder. We found a very convenient one: The Flat-Pack Phone Stand by Robert Stockton. The clever design allows for the stand to be easily taken apart and carried with you.

Design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3127804

The base is printed as two pieces which snap together, though you’ll probably want to use glue to keep the assembly as tight as possible. All parts print flat on the bed with 45-degree bevels, so no supports, rafts, or brims should be needed. – From Thingiverse

We printed the phone holder with PLA RAL 3020 Traffic Red, which was developed for our Color on Demand service, on the Ultimaker 2+ at a 0.2mm layer height and using a 0.4mm nozzle.

 

In June we launched Color on Demand and re-invented the way makers can choose colors. No longer you are bound to the colors that have been pre-selected by filament manufacturers anymore. Now you can order the color you actually need and want.

We have already matched many RAL colors, which can easily be ordered online. Click here to see our collection. You can order as little as a 750 grams spool! If we have not matched your favorite color, request it by using our online form. Starting from a 2kg spool we match the color you want.

With Color on Demand you can say “yes” to that print job which needs a specific color or a look you have been waiting for. Stun your colleagues, family or other makers with your prints. You could already print one-of-a-kind designs, now you can also make them look unique!

Check out more recent Color on Demand prints by clicking here.

Read our color disclaimer. Want to know more about Color on Demand, check our our FAQ page.

 

How does it work?

Once an order is placed the team of specialists at colorFabb then go to work to start matching this color request if is a new color. You can opt to receive an injected molded plaque to verify the color first, before the spool is produced. This is optional. If the color has already been matched, we plan production right away.
Expected lead times are:

Color on Demand is produced on spools containing either 2kg or 750 grams. The 750 grams option is only available for colors already matched. All new colors are produced on 2kg spools only. Curious about the spool size? Check out this post.
But we do not stop there. At the same time Color on Demand is being offered for granulates as an extra supply option besides filament.

Important: If you order a Color on Demand spool, as well as regular stocked products, we will ship these together as one shipment.

How is color matching being done?

Check our disclaimer! We use the RAL Classic references as our guide. All filaments produced are optically checked by our specialized production and QA team. You can order an injected molded plaque before commiting to order a full spool. Please check in the webshop!

Please be aware that we use the actual RAL reference. Colors on a computer screen, printed images and promotional art can give a misrepresentation of the actual color. Injection molded color plaques can be ordered for a quality check before ordering a full spool.

If the color is then accepted production will be planned. Whenever a color has been matched, it will be added to the colorFabb website for future references.Pricing is as low as € 75 (ex VAT / shipping) for a 2kg spool of custom made filament, with tier pricing available: 10% discount when 4 spools are purchased, 20% when 10 spools are purchased.

Color on Demand is a first new step into the direction of customization of filaments for the end users. Starting with PLA and RAL, the possibilities to expand to other materials and color references are plenty and will be implemented at a later stage.Basically, color on demand will enable the maker / 3D Printer user to pinpoint specific projects and claim a different position in the supply chain with exactly that color that is requested.

Users can send your requests to colorFabb or visit our website:

More questions that need answering? Contact us through sales@colorfabb.com

Stacker XL for investment casting

Using 3D printing in investment casting reduces cost and adds flexibility to the process. PLA is a natural choice for this process where the entire print is burned out. What started thousands of years ago with beeswax has now evolved to patterns made with 3D printing. The printed pattern is coated with ceramic, then the printed pattern is burned or melted out and the metal poured into remaining shell leaving a complete casting. We have posted about this process before and will explore it in more depth here.

This was an endurance test for our Stacker S4 XL: one full week of printing. We started the print on Friday August 3d and removed the print from the platform this very morning, August 10th.

The support structure was removed very easily, despite it having a large flat surface area which connects with the model. The support structure released in one piece, after carefully prying the support structure away from the model. The setting used were:

  • 0.2mm layer height
  • 0.4mm nozzle
  • approx. 2.5kg of filament

This casing for a gear box was designed by Muralidhar M and posted on Grabcad on November 17th, 2016

For small series, or one off products creating a mold is not a cost effective solution for foundry companies. 3D printing on the other hand presents several advantages enabling foundries to make single parts or even small series.

Instead of investing in tooling, foundry companies can choose to 3D print their patterns in a material suited for investment casting. ColorFabb PLA/PHA Natural is a material uniquily suited for investment casting. It’s an easy printing material capable of creating complex shapes with great smooth surface finish and will work with most desktop and industrial type FFF 3D printing machines.

The material decomposes at 600C and ensures a clean burnout leaving behind a clean mold ready for casting.

 

Cut down on development time

Skipping the tooling development step saves a huge amount of time. Typically this could shorten the time to a first metal casted part by 3-4 weeks. Not being dependent on a third party mold supplier also reduces risk in time sensitive projects.

We recently printed another weeklong print, made on the Stacker XL:

As many of you know, we are the distributor of Stacker 3D printers in Europe. We have been working with Stacker ever since their first prototype and now have several in our print lab. In the past 5 years we have seen 3D printing emerging from a hobby market to more professional uses. A lot of our users are using 3D printing to make a living or at least support their business in one way or another. We recently published two blogs about Dutch companies Optima and Mifa and their use of Stacker 3D printers.

The Stacker printers are industrial grade FFF 3D printers. Multiple print heads and a large build volume make them versatile printers. Small series production or large scale prototyping are no problem for the Stacker printers! This Minneapolis, USA, based manufacturer produces highly reliable printers and is a perfect match for any professional looking for serious 3D printing. You can find the full product specifications on our dedicated Stacker page (S4 XL will be added soon).

The Stacker S4 XL has a bigger build volume than its smaller siblings and other advantages:

 

  • Huge Build Volume 610 x 610 x 610mm (24 x 24 x 24″)
  • Closed loop servos for ZERO lost steps
  • Compatible with Stacker’s Direct Direct drive extruder
  • Four Print Heads for 4X print speeds
  • High Precision Linear Motion
  • Amazing Print Quality
  • Works with almost any Filament

 

For Stacker the term “industrial grade” is not a hollow marketing term. It means their printers are designed for extra long service life, extremely low maintenance and that the printer will maintain its positional accuracy throughout its life cycle. This printer has been designed to be used in a professional environment, be it for large prototypes or small series production.

Interested? Get a quote or contact us!