{"id":59409,"date":"2024-08-28T00:01:05","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T22:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/?p=59409"},"modified":"2024-09-03T10:44:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T08:44:21","slug":"rotating-nozzle-reduces-filament-waste-280820244","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/rotating-nozzle-reduces-filament-waste-280820244\/","title":{"rendered":"Rotating Nozzle Reduces Filament Waste in Color 3D Printing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Multicolor FDM 3D printing has gained in popularity thanks to innovative systems such as Bambu Lab&#8217;s AMS, which paved the way for a new generation of machines capable of handling multiple filaments simultaneously. This system, which quickly inspired other manufacturers including Anycubic and Creality, enables multicolored objects to be created with greater precision and ease. However, the process of changing filaments remains time-consuming and generates a considerable amount of material waste, particularly during the purging required to avoid undesirable color mixing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Against this backdrop, Heinz L\u00f6pmeier has developed an innovative solution: a rotating nozzle capable of changing color without purging the filament, thus reducing waste and speeding up the printing process.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_85901\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-85901\" class=\"size-full wp-image-85901\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Coaxial-nozzle-design.jpg\" alt=\"Le design de la buse rotative et un prototype\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-85901\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On his X account, Heinz L\u00f6pmeier shared the creation of his coaxial nozzle<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">An Innovative Concept: A Rotating Nozzle<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Heinz L\u00f6pmeier, known as \u201csophier\u201d on Reddit, recently shared this innovation dubbed a &#8220;rotating mixing nozzle.&#8221; This nozzle, unlike the previously mentioned systems, doesn&#8217;t require color purging between changes, thus eliminating filament waste. The nozzle works using a Python script in Blender, also created by Heinz L\u00f6pmeier and published as open-source on GitHub, which associates specific colors with nozzle angles, enabling smooth color transitions and even \u201chalftone\u201d effects (for gradient effects).<\/p><div class=\"dnati-inside-article-leaderboard\" style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"dnati-1133197458\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/app.swapcard.com\/login\/event\/additiv-defense-2026\/ticket\/VGlja2V0VHlwZV83MDM4MQ==\/page\/UmVnaXN0cmF0aW9uRm9ybV81NjE4Ng==\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"LB\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/LB.gif\" alt=\"\"  width=\"850\" height=\"150\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The concept emerged after years of experimentation with standard mixing nozzles, which tend to create a \u201ctoothpaste\u201d effect by not completely mixing filaments of different colors. Heinz L\u00f6pmeier first tried to control this effect using a printer whose platen could rotate to change color, but this approach proved too slow given the mass of the platen and 3D print to set in motion.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"700\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Instant color switching by rotating the nozzle.<br \/>\nAll 3 colors are extruded at the same ratio. :^) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HaHDJEjkrB\">pic.twitter.com\/HaHDJEjkrB<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u2014 Heinz L\u00f6pmeier (@nozzleboss) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nozzleboss\/status\/1822584443812409817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">How Does It Work?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The operation of this rotating nozzle is relatively simple, but highly effective. When in action, the nozzle rotates to change the color of the extruded filament without altering the mixing proportions of the three filaments used. The script in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/blender-3d-printing-020320204\/\">Blender<\/a> also enables subtle effects to be created by positioning the nozzle at a specific angle between two colors, producing prints with complex shades and gradients without the need for additional structures such as purge towers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Heinz L\u00f6pmeier uses Marlin firmware, configured with an additional axis for nozzle rotation. One of the key innovations of this design is the ability of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/bowden-direct-extruder-3d-printing-250820234\/\">Bowden tubes<\/a> to twist and untwist during printhead movements, ensuring smooth operation and avoiding knots or jams.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_85903\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-85903\" class=\"size-full wp-image-85903\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Orbitary-3D-printer.jpg\" alt=\"Imprimante orbitale multi-couleurs\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-85903\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The previous prototype used the same process, but with a rotating table<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Powerful Tool for Creators<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the major strengths of this system is its integration with Blender, a software package widely used for 3D modeling. Using Blender&#8217;s Python API, Heinz L\u00f6pmeier has developed an add-on called \u201cnozzleboss\u201d, which allows <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/g-code-use-3d-printing-230920216\/\">G-code<\/a> paths to be manipulated directly within Blender. This opens up vast creative possibilities, allowing users to sculpt or paint modifications directly onto the tool path. What&#8217;s more, this approach eliminates the need for traditional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/top-10-slicer-software-200520194\/\">slicing software<\/a>, giving designers greater flexibility to customize their prints.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Heinz L\u00f6pmeier&#8217;s rotating nozzle could well mark a turning point in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/fused-deposition-modeling100420174\/\">FDM 3D printing<\/a>, particularly for those looking to minimize waste while exploiting the advantages of multi-material. Its innovative design, while potentially patent-worthy, has not yet been protected, opening the door for ambitious companies or individuals to turn it into a commercial product.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_85902\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-85902\" class=\"size-full wp-image-85902\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Coaxial-nozzle-printing.jpg\" alt=\"Buse rotative et impression non-planaire\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-85902\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In addition to his rotary nozzle, Heinz L\u00f6pmeier uses non-planar 3D printing in his designs<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Heinz L\u00f6pmeier himself seems unconcerned about this prospect, preferring to focus on innovation rather than intellectual property protection. This attitude contrasts sharply with recent patent disputes in the industry, notably between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/stratasys-patent-infringement-lawsuit-bambu-lab-120820245\/\">Stratasys and Bambu Lab<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With this rotating nozzle, Heinz L\u00f6pmeier offers not only a technical solution, but also a more sustainable and efficient vision of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/all-you-need-to-know-about-multi-material-3d-printing-220120245\/\">multi-material 3D printing<\/a>. It remains to be seen how this technology will evolve, and whether it will be adopted by the wider community of makers and 3D printing professionals. For more information on the project, check out Heinz L\u00f6pmeier&#8217;s Reddit post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/3Dprinting\/comments\/1eqi4q7\/i_built_a_rotating_mixing_nozzle_to_print_with\/?rdt=37815\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What do you think of Heinz L\u00f6pmeier&#8217;s innovation? Let us know in a comment below or on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/4987104\/\">LinkedIn<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/3Dnatives\/\">Facebook<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/3Dnatives_en\/\">Twitter<\/a> pages! Don&#8217;t forget to sign up for our free weekly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/3d-printing-newsletter\/\">newsletter here<\/a> for the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCMWrNpdLOXa7BffRKXZoaZw\">YouTube<\/a> channel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>*All Photo Credits: Heinz L\u00f6pmeier<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Multicolor FDM 3D printing has gained in popularity thanks to innovative systems such as Bambu Lab&#8217;s AMS, which paved the way for a new generation of machines capable of handling multiple filaments simultaneously. This system, which quickly inspired other manufacturers&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6077,"featured_media":59404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,28,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3d-printers","category-3d-technologies","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6077"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59409"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59412,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59409\/revisions\/59412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}