Flashforge’s new CJ270 could make or break full color 3D printing
It looks to "democratize" the color material jetting process but some may "objet"
We missed it at Formnext but Pawel Åšlusarczyk caught Flashforge’s newest and most ambitious product yet. We are fully aware – our Polymer AM market report data reflects it – that Flashforge is one of the largest Chinese 3D printer manufacturers, both in terms of unit sales and generated revenues. So if the company is launching the CJ270, a full-color material jetting 3D printer, claiming it will be the first such “desktop” system, everyone should be paying attention.
Bambu Lab did what many thought was impossible, by making 3D printing – even basic color 3D printing – accessible to most. But material jetting is another story. Not so much for its accessibility (material jetting systems are generally easier to use than filament-based or even vat-based photopolymerization systems, although specific post-processing is required) but for its costs. Can Flashforge bring the cost of using multi-color CMYK resins down to “desktop” level? Maybe. Probably. Eventually.
According to the sign displayed next to the 3D printer at Formnext, the CJ270 is capable of 3D printing up to 10,000,000 colors, including white and clear materials. It will enable water-soluble support materials and will come with a “matching” post-processing station. Supports won’t need to be added manually, making this even more user-friendly.
It took Stratasys many years to develop and evolve its PolyJet technology and the company certainly still has a significant technological advantage, even if basic polyjet licenses have expired. A few years ago, even if someone copied the Polyjet process it would have been almost impossible to produce a competitive multi-color Polyjet system. Then Mimaki came along and did so at a similar hardware price point, but lowering material cost (HP also tried with a different technology and limited success). Both companies have since launched more affordable systems (still above $50,000) but Flashforge promises to go more than one step further. Will they succeed? Probably, unless someone “objects”.
