Summary
Highlights
Devin opens by wishing happy holidays and thanking viewers. He acknowledges the prevalence of multi-color 3D printers but states they often add complexity. He then introduces a method for achieving colorful prints on a single-extruder printer, demonstrating it with a Van Gogh-themed phone case printed with ten colors. He then unboxes and briefly reviews the OnePlus 6 phone, for which the custom case will be designed.
Devin explains how he modeled the OnePlus 6 in Fusion 360 using calipers, as 3D scanning the shiny black phone was difficult. He highlights the key feature of the case design: a 0.2mm thick back panel that acts as a canvas for the multi-color print. He then moves to Illustrator to create the artwork, tracing a Keith Haring design. He explains how to adjust stroke width, expand lines to fills, and export the design as a DXF file.
Back in Fusion 360, Devin imports the DXF file onto the phone case. He demonstrates troubleshooting common issues with imported DXF files where contours don't behave as expected. He then outlines how to use the extrude tool with the 'intersect' operation to create separate bodies for each color within the 0.2mm canvas, organizing them into color-specific groups. He emphasizes copying the canvas before each intersection to preserve it for subsequent colors. He also shows how to apply corresponding colors to the models for better visualization.
Devin explains how to export each color group as a separate STL file. He then imports all STL files into Simplify3D, aligning their origins to form the complete phone case. He details the slicing settings for this multi-color technique: a 0.1mm layer height (to print each color in two layers), a Z-hop of 0.8mm to prevent the nozzle from colliding with previously printed colors, 100% infill for solid colors, and a slower print speed of 30mm/s for a clean first layer. He also enables 'avoid crossing outline for travel movements' to reduce stringing. Finally, he explains how to generate a separate G-code file for each color and for the main phone case.
Devin demonstrates the printing process, starting with loading the first filament color (mint green PLA). He prints the first G-code file, which only creates the first color's segments two layers tall. He then manually swaps the filament for the next color and prints the corresponding G-code file, repeating this process for all colors. He uses an Anycubic i3 Mega, appreciating its ultra-base platform for adhesion. After all colors are printed, he prints the main phone case structure as the final layer, using white PLA to enhance color vibrancy, and then yellow for a final pop.
Devin reveals the finished Keith Haring phone case, showcasing its bright and clean colors. He also displays two other cases: a ten-color Van Gogh Starry Night (printed with a 0.2mm nozzle on a CR-10) and a Kandinsky-inspired case. To increase durability, he tests two post-processing methods. First, he applies XTC-3D printing epoxy, demonstrating its application and the resulting smooth, high-gloss finish. Second, he uses a fast-drying polyurethane spray on the Kandinsky case, achieving a thinner, satin-like finish. He expresses his excitement for this technique and its potential, inviting viewers to share their ideas.