Have you ever wanted to create your own rainbow filament, but you don't have a device for it?

Now you can just print it yourself!

Here is what you need:

a 3D printer (bed size at least 205mm x 205mm)
Clear PLA filament
PLA filament in any color you like (for the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet)
a slicing software (here: Prusa Slicer, but others will work as well)
The STL files for the filament (both single extruder and multi material)
Optional: Fusion360 if you want to create one for other bed sizes

The resulting filament is shaped hexagonal and printable with any 3D printer.

The transitions are shorter than on the rainbow filament your can buy, which allows you to print even small objects with many colors.

Are you ready?

Let's begin!

Tutorial_Hexagon_Filament_9.5m_all.f3d
Download View in 3D

Step 1: The Correct Files Suitable for Your Printer

First you need to find the correct files for your printer:

Do you have a multi material device, like the Palette or MMU?

Follow the steps 2 + 3

Do you have a single extruder?

Follow the steps 4 + 5

Do you want to start from scratch and learn how to design this kind of filament?

Follow the video tutorial in step 6

Step 2: Multicolor Filament for Multi Material Devices

Follow this link to MyMiniFactory and download the files.

For multi material printing you will need these 15 files:

01_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Bottom_0.2_V01.stl
02_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color01_V01.stl
03_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color02_V01.stl
04_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color03_V01.stl
05_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color04_V01.stl
06_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color05_V01.stl
07_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color06_V01.stl
08_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color07_V01.stl
09_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color08_V01.stl
10_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color09_V01.stl
11_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color10_V01.stl
12_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color11_V01.stl
13_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color12_V01.stl
14_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Color13_V01.stl
15_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Multi_Upper_0.92_V01.stl

Load them into your slicer/print software.

Use the following print settings:

First layer: 0.2 mm height
all other layers: 0.12 mm height
no brim/skirt/raft
infill 100%
circular infill pattern
no supports

Assign your desired colors to the files, but file 01 (bottom) and file 15 (upper) need to be printed in clear filament.

This is to create a smooth surface on top and bottom, so the filament is printable when it's done.

Export your G-Code and print your filament.

Watch Step 3 in this video, if you want to see how it is done for the Prusa MK3S with MMU2 (Step 3 starts at 3:25):

Step 3: Printing Your Hexagonal Filament

Congratulations! You've successfully printed your very own multicolor filament!

I bet you can't wait to try it.

Hexagonal filament prints different to the usual one. So please watch this little video first, to make sure everything works:

I hope you enjoyed my instructable.

Now have fun with your very own multicolor filament!

Step 4: Multicolor Filament for Single Extruder

Follow this link to MyMiniFactory and download the files.

For single extruder printing you will need these 27 files:

01_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Bottom_0.2_V01.stl
02_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Red_0.32_V01.stl
03_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Orange_0.32_V01.stl
04_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Yellow_0.32_V01.stl
05_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Green_0.32_V01.stl
06_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Blue_0.32_V01.stl
07_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Violet_0.32_0.44_V01.stl
08_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Blue_0.44_V01.stl
09_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Green_0.44_V01.stl
10_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Yellow_0.44_V01.stl
11_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Orange_0.44_V01.stl
12_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Red_0.44_0.56_V01.stl
13_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Orange_0.56_V01.stl
14_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Yellow_0.56_V01.stl
15_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Green_0.56_V01.stl
16_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Blue_0.56_V01.stl
17_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Violet_0.56_0.68_V01.stl
18_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Blue_0.68_V01.stl
19_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Green_0.68_V01.stl
20_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Yellow_0.68_V01.stl
21_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Orange_0.68_V01.stl
22_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Red_0.68_0.8_V01.stl
23_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Orange_0.8_V01.stl
24_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Yellow_0.8_V01.stl
25_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Green_0.8_V01.stl
26_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Blue_0.8_V01.stl
27_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Violet_0.8_V01.stl
28_Hex_Filament_9.5_Meters_Upper_0.92_V01.stl

Load them one by one into your slicer / printing software and make sure the positioning rings on top left and bottom right are alligned in each file. If you center them all on your buildplate, they should be alligned.

Use the following print settings:

First layer: 0.2 mm height
all other layers: 0.12 mm height
no brim/skirt/raft
infill 100%
circular infill pattern
no supports

Create a G-Code for every single file.

Print all 28 files in exactly the order they are listed here.

Print the color files in the color that's written in the file name.

Start printing with file 01 in clear

change filament to red

print 02

change filament to orange

print 03...

and so on until you come to 28, which should be printed in clear again.

Make sure to keep the printbed hot while changing the filament!

Watch Step 3 in this video, if you want to see how it is done for the Prusa MK3S (Step 3 starts at 7:41):

Step 5: Printing Your Hexagonal Filament

Congratulations! You've successfully printed your very own multicolor filament!

I bet you can't wait to try it.

Hexagonal filament prints different to the usual one. So please watch this little video first, to make sure everything works:

I hope you enjoyed my instructable.

Now have fun with your very own multicolor filament!

Step 6: Creating Hexagonal Filament From Scratch

If you want to create this kind of filament for a different bed size or if you just want to know how it is done, watch all 5 videos one after the other: