Transform your 3D printing projects with the Stratified Filament Creator. This innovative model allows you to combine multiple colors of filament into a single, unique filament that can be used to print beautifully layered and natural-looking models. Inspired by the patterns of sedimentary rock, this tool brings a new dimension of creativity to your 3D prints.
How It Works
Using the Stratified Filament Creator is simple. The process involves printing a model that functions as 3D printer filament. Select a base color and up to three additional accent colors to create your custom filament. These colors are combined during the printing process to form a new stratified color filament. Once printed, this filament can be used just like standard filament to add custom colors to your 3D printing projects. The resulting filament will produce prints with intricate, multi-colored layers that enhance the visual appeal of your models.
In the slicer, the default model colors are set in a monochrome gradient from white to black. To customize your filament, replace these monochrome colors with your chosen colors: the lightest color should replace white, and the darkest color should replace black.
That's everything you need to get started. However, if you're interested in learning more details, keep reading.
Color Selection Strategies
When picking colors, consider these strategies to maximize the aesthetic potential of your filament:
1. Analogous Colors:
Choose colors next to each other on the color wheel for a harmonious and cohesive look.
Blue, Blue-Green, and Green: Ocean-themed designs.
Red, Red-Orange, and Orange: Autumn or sunset-themed designs.
Yellow, Yellow-Green, and Green: Spring or garden-themed designs.
Red, Red-Violet, and Violet: Floral or romantic-themed designs.
2. Complementary Colors:
Pair colors opposite each other on the color wheel for high contrast and vibrant prints. These can be challenging with this stratified model as the colors are wanting to mix together.
Red and Green: Strong contrast and vibrant look.
Blue and Orange: Striking and visually appealing. In the complementary example, the two colors mixed together and it turned out more green than blue.
Yellow and Purple: Bold and eye-catching contrast.
3. Monochromatic Scheme:
Use different shades, tints, and tones of a single color for depth and texture while maintaining a unified appearance.
Example with Blue:
Base Color: Blue
Shades: Darker versions of blue (e.g., navy blue)
Tints: Lighter versions of blue (e.g., sky blue)
Tones: Blue mixed with gray (e.g., slate blue)
Advanced Tips
All three accent colors use the same amount of filament, with the only difference being the length of each speck of accent color (1X, 2X, 4X).
The longer specks create larger, thicker stripes of color, but fewer of them.
For a visually cleaner filament, keep the priming tower on and avoid lowering the flush values too much.
White filament makes a good base color for applying the accent colors.
You can choose the same color for all three accents for a more subtle effect.
Not all accent colors need to be used; selecting the same color as the base color will render them invisible.
For a more subtle effect, choose similar colors.
To achieve a darker model, try using the darkest color as the base and lighter colors for the accents.
Technical Details
The 65 g coil of filament may take several minutes to slice, especially on slower systems.
If you don't use the supplied print profile, you must set a 0.085 mm layer height with a 0.085 mm initial layer in the slicer. No other special slicer settings are required.
To avoid adhesion issues, especially with materials like PLA and PETG, consider using a Bambu Textured PEI Plate. Dedicate one side of the plate to each type of plastic.
Clean your printer bed with soap and water before attempting to make this filament to ensure flawless adhesion and pristine print quality.
Make sure the Bed Leveling option is selected for a solid first layer.
Attribution: The Bambu Lab Ball model used to showcase the Stratified Filament Creator is available at MakerWorld. This model was created by @Henlor, and it provides an excellent canvas for demonstrating the unique color patterns produced by the stratified filament.
Get Started
The Stratified Filament Creator is an exciting tool that opens up new possibilities for your 3D printing projects. By experimenting with different color combinations and patterns, you can create stunning, one-of-a-kind prints that stand out from the crowd. Download the Stratified Filament Creator today and start exploring the creative potential it offers.
I used the colors white silk, gold 2x and black. White (main color) looks like silver after printing, which makes it look interesting overall. I will definitely try it with a few other colors.
I don’t have any other suggestions other than the basics. Make sure the bed is perfectly clean and ideally a bed that you only use for printing PLA. If you have a build plate with the textured surface, I would use that. and be sure to run bed leveling.
hmm I only print pla and with textured pei bed. I got past 10% done the second time before it turned into a mess :( I even lowered the chamber fan quite low. I’ll have to try a different pla
I did think of one small thing you could try. Picking only two colors will help lower the number of color changes which I think is where the problems can happen. Use one color for the 4X part of the model and a different color for everything else.
Yes, you'd need the AMS to create this filament. I do have one filament creator that doesn't require the AMS. Select the "
"0.4 mm nozzle - no AMS required - pauses to change color" print profile from this model https://makerworld.com/en/models/438259#profileId-361861
Thanks. I’ll have to think about what I’d put into a simple video tutorial. It would probably go something like this…
I have an object I want to print but all my filament colors are boring. But I know that I want it to be blue with streaks of green in it. So I select the 10 g stratified filament model and press the [PRINT] button. When it asks for the filament colors to use, I pick blue as the first color and green for the other 3 colors and press [START PRINT]. About an hour later, my blue and green filament has been created. I take the filament off the print bed and feed it back into the printer. Next I select the object I want to print in blue and green. Start printing and when it finishes, I have the object I wanted in blue with green streaks.