Key Takeaways
1. Prusa Day showcased a new silicone printing toolhead for the Original Prusa XL printer, developed in partnership with Filament2.
2. The toolhead uses “liquid filament” technology, allowing silicone printing without complex equipment, maintaining high precision.
3. The printing process involves mixing two silicone compounds, with a curing time of about eight minutes, and can also be tested with other materials like chocolate.
4. The toolhead provides precision comparable to standard FDM printing, suitable for medical implants, seals, and flexible components, using Prusa Slicer without extra software steps.
5. Priced at $999, the silicone printing toolhead is a more affordable option compared to existing technologies, with availability expected in 2026.
At a recent event called Prusa Day, the Czech company known for 3D printers revealed a unique plug-and-play silicone printing toolhead designed for the Original Prusa XL printer. This innovation comes from a partnership with Filament2. Traditionally, printing with materials like silicone requires special equipment with complex pressure systems, but Filament2’s unique “liquid filament” technology allows this feature to be used with regular FDM printers, maintaining high precision.
Toolhead Design and Functionality
The liquid filament consists of a long hollow tube that holds the paste or liquid to print, which is wound onto a standard spool. In this case, there are two spools involved, as silicone needs a mix of two compounds to form a material that can cure. A special cutter in the toolhead removes the outer layer, allowing just the two silicone parts to be mixed and extruded onto the build surface. The curing process takes around eight minutes. Eran Galor, the CEO of Filament2, mentioned they have tested this technology even with liquid chocolate, but their upcoming focus will be on polyurethane and epoxy-based filaments.
Precision and Applications
Prusa asserts that the precision of this new toolhead matches that of standard FDM printing. The finished product exhibits all the usual characteristics such as flexibility and heat resistance, making it highly beneficial for applications like medical implants, prosthetics, seals, gaskets, flexible hinges, wristbands, and casting molds. Various silicone grades provide different firmness levels, allowing for combinations in a single build. Additionally, there are no extra steps needed in the software; the Prusa Slicer can be used just like for any other model.
Pricing and Future Outlook
The Original Prusa XL, which supports multi-material printing and is available on Amazon, can accommodate up to five toolheads. It has been well-received for its excellent print quality and low filament waste, making it an ideal platform for this new technology. In the future, it would be interesting to see similar features from other companies like Bambu Lab, which offers a more affordable and user-friendly multi-material A1 Combo printer. However, since the liquid filament technology is patented, it’s uncertain if other companies will team up with Filament2 or try their own approach.
The price for the Prusa XL silicone printing toolhead is set at $999, which may seem expensive. However, considering that alternative silicone printing technologies can cost twenty times that amount, it presents a more reasonable option. Both the printhead and the filament (price yet to be announced) are expected to be available in 2026.
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