Introduction: Fully 3d Printed Color Lithophane

You may have printed a normal lithophane once in your life time. You were astonished at first by how accurate and cool it was. This might have been cool at the time ,but color lithophanes are on a whole new level. This instructable is a complete guide and will have you printing flawless color lithophanes in no time

Supplies

- 1 spool of cyan filament: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08RBR7MXL/ref=ox_sc_act_image_5?smid=AFZQIF3WLZ4BA&psc=1

- 1 spool of magenta filament: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0B2NYLM7P/ref=ox_sc_act_image_4?smid=A3MZ696ES2UN1L&psc=1

- 1 spool of yellow filament: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0B1DGJSTQ/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A3MZ696ES2UN1L&psc=1

1 1 spool of white filament: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B099KTXHDR/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_2?smid=A3MZ696ES2UN1L&psc=1

Website and Software:



https://help.prusa3d.com/article/download-prusaslicer_2220

https://lithophanemaker.com/Color%20Lithophane.html

Step 1: Downloading and Modifying Your Image

Once you choose your image

1. Download it as a jpeg.

2.Go to: https://lithophanemaker.com/Color%20Lithophane.html

3. Click on upload image and select the image you want to use

4. Adjust the size to whatever you want. (The bigger the lithophane is the more detailed it will be)

5. Cropping the image is optional, but to do so select the crop box and then start cropping the image on the left of you screen

Step 2: Lithophane Settings

All default settings will work fine.

1.Change layer height to .1mm

4. All the default settings are fine if you have a different nozzle that isn’t .4mm change the “colored resolution” box to 2 times the diameter of your nozzle. (The smaller the nozzle the better your results will be)

Step 3: Exporting the Files

1. Enter your email address (this website requires it)

2. Click on create stl.

3. Save all the files to a folder.

Step 4: Setting Up the Model

Prusa Slicer was the best option for this project so my instructions will be for Prusa Slicer.

1. If you haven’t already, download Prusa Slicer.

2. Import all your models on to the build plate. Make sure all files are directly centered.

3.Go to printer setting and change number of extruders to 4 and select single extruder multi material.

4.Click on "Custom G-code.

5.Scroll down to "Tool change G-code. And copy and paste this into the text box. G1 X10 Y15

M25

6.Go back to the plater view and in the top right hand corner assign colors to your extruders (order doesn't matter)

7.On the right of the screen where the names of the files are displayed right click on the color boxes select the arrow and select the proper color. Repeat this step for all 5 files.

Step 5: Model Settings

1.Select the .10mm high detail (.4mm nozzle) print setting.

2.Select Z Hop and change height to .2mm.

3.Click Slice and export to SD card or printer.

Step 6: Printing and Filament Changes

Once you start the print there will be 16 tool changes that you will have to do manually. Each one takes about 1 minute depending on how experienced you are.

1.Start the print and the 3d printer will stop by itself when you need to do the filament change.

2.Pull out the filament.

3.Click on the printer and raise the print head 50mm.

4.Load the new color filament and purge until the color is completely pure.

5.Lower the print head 50mm.

6.Click resume print then wait for the next filament change.

Follow this pattern for order of filament changes.

  1. White
  2. Blue
  3. Pink
  4. Yellow
  5. Blue
  6. Pink
  7. White
  8. Blue
  9. Pink
  10. Yellow
  11. Blue
  12. Pink
  13. White
  14. Blue
  15. Pink
  16. Yellow
  17. White