Finuvo develops first desktop hydrographics printer for easily pimping 3D prints with hydrographic technology
Aug 14th 2015
Aug 10, 2015 | By Alec
Desktop FDM 3D printers are ’0C as browsing of Thingiverse quickly proves ’0C overwhelmingly used for 3D printing fun toys, little figurines and decorative pencil holders and planters. While very fun to do, not everyone enjoys having their home filled with the bright and limited palette of filament colors. So how can you add some more variation? While painting objects by hand is an option, a far more exciting solution has just appeared from Canada. There, startup Finuvo has developed the world’0Is first desktop hydrographics printer, that can be used to easily add a huge variety of intricate patterns to the surface of 3D prints. Their machine is set to come to Kickstarter in a few months.
Now obviously, the first question that needs answering is what hydrographics actually are. It’0Is essentially a technique for applying previously printed designs (that can be as intricate as you’0Id like) on top of any 3D surface. It’0Is often used for parts in the auto industry on a very large scale. That scale would be necessary, as these type of machines can be woefully expensive. ’0HHydrographics machines are used to apply graphics, designs, and patterns permanently to objects. Machines typically cost between $50,000-$150,000, and use toxic chemicals,’0I the Canadian entrepreneurs say.
However, this new machine ’0C called the Finuvo Aqua ’0C is a safe, easy and affordable desktop alternative. As the company’0Is CEO Robert Weeks explains to 3ders.org, it was motivated by the same issues you and I might encounter after endlessly 3D printing parts in one solid color. ’0HOur background is in product development and we were always trying to figure out how to create consumer grade parts with 3D printers, something that the average consumer would agree looks great,’0I he explains. ’0HWe’0Ive done everything from acetone smoothing to spray painting, but we were never quite satisfied with the results. We were printing a lot so we approached an auto body paint shop to see if they'd be willing to paint some of our parts, there we saw their industrial hydrographics dipping tank and were curious to see how that would work with 3D printed parts, turns out it works great!’0I
The Finuvo team therefore set out to develop something similar for home-use, which grew into this interesting machine. So how does it work? ’0HThe process starts with floating a film on a bath of warm water. The film backing dissolves in the water leaving the hydrophobic ink behind. The ink is then treated with a chemical mixture to soften it and prep it for adhesion to the part,’0I Robert explains. ’0HNext the part is pushed through the ink and the surrounding water pressure adheres the film around the part. The result is an amazing looking full color part only limited by your own imagination!’0I What’0Is more, the print is permanent and perfectly solid, as the pressure forces the ink into every nook and cranny. What’0Is more, the coating will not fade, flake or crack whatsoever.
This special film is made from PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), and an ink pattern (whatever you can design on your PC) is printed on top with a specialized inkjet 3D printer. ’0HThis way we can paint any 3D object with any pattern we can think of,’0I he explains.rP So far, it has been tested on objects as varied as shoes, a pc mice, water bottles and other objects intended for heavy use. Most of the prints seen above and below have been done with a a Maker gear M2 and a Form 1+ 3D printers. And in every case, the film ’0C featuring patterns that include wood, camo, animal prints, flames and more ’0C stays brilliant.
The Finuvo Aqua, in short, can be used to give your own 3D prints a modern look suitable for such a modern manufacturing technology. ’0H3D printed parts today are like computer monitors from the early 80s - 1-4 colors....cool for enthusiasts, but for everyone else they only look ok,’0I Robert says.
However, we will still have to wait a bit before the Finuvo Aqua reaches our own desktops. Robert and his team are planning to launch a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in the fall of 2015, so we will likely have to wait a few months beyond that before actually getting one. He adds that early bird prices are expecting to be somewhere between $700 and $900 per machine, with the ink patterns costing anywhere from $1 to $5 per dip. While they will probably start with an initial set of available patterns, options for designing your own films are expected in the near future too. Interested? Keep an eye on the company’0Is Facebook page and Twitter for more information.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20150810-finuvo-develops-tool-for-easily-pimping-3d-prints-with-hydrographic-technology.html
Desktop FDM 3D printers are ’0C as browsing of Thingiverse quickly proves ’0C overwhelmingly used for 3D printing fun toys, little figurines and decorative pencil holders and planters. While very fun to do, not everyone enjoys having their home filled with the bright and limited palette of filament colors. So how can you add some more variation? While painting objects by hand is an option, a far more exciting solution has just appeared from Canada. There, startup Finuvo has developed the world’0Is first desktop hydrographics printer, that can be used to easily add a huge variety of intricate patterns to the surface of 3D prints. Their machine is set to come to Kickstarter in a few months.
Now obviously, the first question that needs answering is what hydrographics actually are. It’0Is essentially a technique for applying previously printed designs (that can be as intricate as you’0Id like) on top of any 3D surface. It’0Is often used for parts in the auto industry on a very large scale. That scale would be necessary, as these type of machines can be woefully expensive. ’0HHydrographics machines are used to apply graphics, designs, and patterns permanently to objects. Machines typically cost between $50,000-$150,000, and use toxic chemicals,’0I the Canadian entrepreneurs say.
However, this new machine ’0C called the Finuvo Aqua ’0C is a safe, easy and affordable desktop alternative. As the company’0Is CEO Robert Weeks explains to 3ders.org, it was motivated by the same issues you and I might encounter after endlessly 3D printing parts in one solid color. ’0HOur background is in product development and we were always trying to figure out how to create consumer grade parts with 3D printers, something that the average consumer would agree looks great,’0I he explains. ’0HWe’0Ive done everything from acetone smoothing to spray painting, but we were never quite satisfied with the results. We were printing a lot so we approached an auto body paint shop to see if they'd be willing to paint some of our parts, there we saw their industrial hydrographics dipping tank and were curious to see how that would work with 3D printed parts, turns out it works great!’0I
The Finuvo team therefore set out to develop something similar for home-use, which grew into this interesting machine. So how does it work? ’0HThe process starts with floating a film on a bath of warm water. The film backing dissolves in the water leaving the hydrophobic ink behind. The ink is then treated with a chemical mixture to soften it and prep it for adhesion to the part,’0I Robert explains. ’0HNext the part is pushed through the ink and the surrounding water pressure adheres the film around the part. The result is an amazing looking full color part only limited by your own imagination!’0I What’0Is more, the print is permanent and perfectly solid, as the pressure forces the ink into every nook and cranny. What’0Is more, the coating will not fade, flake or crack whatsoever.
This special film is made from PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), and an ink pattern (whatever you can design on your PC) is printed on top with a specialized inkjet 3D printer. ’0HThis way we can paint any 3D object with any pattern we can think of,’0I he explains.rP So far, it has been tested on objects as varied as shoes, a pc mice, water bottles and other objects intended for heavy use. Most of the prints seen above and below have been done with a a Maker gear M2 and a Form 1+ 3D printers. And in every case, the film ’0C featuring patterns that include wood, camo, animal prints, flames and more ’0C stays brilliant.
The Finuvo Aqua, in short, can be used to give your own 3D prints a modern look suitable for such a modern manufacturing technology. ’0H3D printed parts today are like computer monitors from the early 80s - 1-4 colors....cool for enthusiasts, but for everyone else they only look ok,’0I Robert says.
However, we will still have to wait a bit before the Finuvo Aqua reaches our own desktops. Robert and his team are planning to launch a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in the fall of 2015, so we will likely have to wait a few months beyond that before actually getting one. He adds that early bird prices are expecting to be somewhere between $700 and $900 per machine, with the ink patterns costing anywhere from $1 to $5 per dip. While they will probably start with an initial set of available patterns, options for designing your own films are expected in the near future too. Interested? Keep an eye on the company’0Is Facebook page and Twitter for more information.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20150810-finuvo-develops-tool-for-easily-pimping-3d-prints-with-hydrographic-technology.html