Multicolour printing

[Trevor Thompson]

I have been exploring how I can use my new ability to print in different colours - and particularly how it might be of use on the Railway in the Valley of the Mill.

I have a number of adverts - copies of the real thing that I can see in old photos of the stations - in various places. In the past I have used waterproof photographic paper and printed out the adverts before sticking them on to the buildings. Looks good - but only lasts a couple of months.

So is there another solution?

For example:

Screen Shot 2021-12-07 at 11.01.28.png (431.21 KiB) Viewed 554 times

This is a photo of a real sign. Adding this as a "canvas" in Fusion 360, I have traced out the lettering for the first 2 lines, replicating the font and spacing. The last line was text added as a line of text in the software. All the letters are "embossed" standing 0.2mm proud of the surface. Having imported the stl. file into the Bambu software I "painted" the raised sections in the different colours:

Screenshot 2025-11-27 at 09.37.29.png (1.32 MiB) Viewed 554 times

Here are the samples I have created:

IMG_4878.jpg (2.53 MiB) Viewed 554 times

The Fry's sign worked - except for the first letter of the bottom line. Bear in mind that sign is about twice scale size - any smaller and the bottom line doesn't print.

The station name boards are clearly a success - but I think the real signs are black lettering on a white background. I need to find out what the colour of the surround should be - it might not have been black.

The Sunlight soap advert worked - apart from the small lettering in the left hand panel, and of course I need to fine tune the settings to improve the quality.

I suspect that these signs (printed in ABS) should last well, particularly as the sides of the buildings I will fit them onto all face north - away from the sun.

While I can't see any point in trying to print wagons and buildings this way (the colours that filament is available in are not suitable) I think that I will find some specialist uses for it!

Trevor

[philipy]

Trevor
Those signs look really good.
However, have I missed something along the way? What is your "new ability to print in different colours"?

[Paul_in_Ricky]

The Fry's sign worked - except for the first letter of the bottom line. Bear in mind that sign is about twice scale size - any smaller and the bottom line doesn't print.

Have you enabled the 'Detect thin wall' option on the strength tab ? That can often get details like this to print OK, I truts you're using a 0.2mm nozzle too.

[Trevor Thompson]

Trevor
Those signs look really good.
However, have I missed something along the way? What is your "new ability to print in different colours"?

It's an "Automatic Material System" (AMS) add on which changes filament automatically. I have of course made name boards before, but I had to "catch there printer" at the right moment to manually change the filament. This does it while I'm asleep.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

The Fry's sign worked - except for the first letter of the bottom line. Bear in mind that sign is about twice scale size - any smaller and the bottom line doesn't print.

Have you enabled the 'Detect thin wall' option on the strength tab ? That can often get details like this to print OK, I truts you're using a 0.2mm nozzle too.

Ah - that is helpful. The answer to both is NO.

I was wondering about a 2mm nozzle! Next purchase on the list!

[Paul_in_Ricky]

If you want to get the best definition from FDM a 0.2mm nozzle is the way to go.... if slowly ;-)

When I ordered my A1 I also got the 0.2mm nozzle. Once you've done it a couple of times it'll take less than a minute to change on the A1.
Having owned mine for over a year now (1000hrs+) I'd suggest buying two 0.2 nozzles and a spare hotend heating Assembly to have in stock.
I've only ever had one nozzle blockage and that was with the 0.2, so a spare is useful as I understand they're more at risk of blockages than the larger ones.
I needed a replacement heating assembly after a plate cleaning oversight that caused a serious blob on the head. Having a spare on the shelf allowed me to swap it and get on without having to wait for delivery.

You might find the test file I created useful. It will reveal some thin wall issues and the holes can be used to calibrate the 'X-Y hole compensation' setting which can be crucial for some fits.

Text test.stl

(198.91 KiB) Downloaded 19 times

[gilfachphil]

Wow Trevor,

Brilliant. The name board is very impressive and I can foresee a market in advertising signs!

Phil

[Trevor Thompson]

If you want to get the best definition from FDM a 0.2mm nozzle is the way to go.... if slowly ;-)

When I ordered my A1 I also got the 0.2mm nozzle. Once you've done it a couple of times it'll take less than a minute to change on the A1.
Having owned mine for over a year now (1000hrs+) I'd suggest buying two 0.2 nozzles and a spare hotend heating Assembly to have in stock.
I've only ever had one nozzle blockage and that was with the 0.2, so a spare is useful as I understand they're more at risk of blockages than the larger ones.
I needed a replacement heating assembly after a plate cleaning oversight that caused a serious blob on the head. Having a spare on the shelf allowed me to swap it and get on without having to wait for delivery.

You might find the test file I created useful. It will reveal some thin wall issues and the holes can be used to calibrate the 'X-Y hole compensation' setting which can be crucial for some fits.

Text test.stl

Thanks - really helpful. I have just fitted the 0.2 nozzle, and it is currently printing a Frys advert, to scale, to see what happens. I see what you mean about the heating assembly. It would be very easy to damage the wires when taking removing them from the nozzle.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

Wow Trevor,

Brilliant. The name board is very impressive and I can foresee a market in advertising signs!

Phil

Yes - I should have kept quiet!

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

That makes a difference!

Actual scale size:

IMG_4886.jpg (926.88 KiB) Viewed 465 times

It makes it worth having a go at the more complex adverts.

Trevor

[Paul_in_Ricky]

I see what you mean about the heating assembly. It would be very easy to damage the ties when taking removing them from the nozzle.

I assume from that you've a P series. The A series has a much simpler nozzle change with little risk of damaging other parts when changing nozzles.

Swapping heating elements is a very fiddly job, definitely never to be rushed. The Bambu print heads have an amazing amount of parts and wiring packed in with no wriggle room. Luckily they do publish excellent guides on how to swap the bits.

[Trevor Thompson]

I see what you mean about the heating assembly. It would be very easy to damage the ties when taking removing them from the nozzle.

I assume from that you've a P series. The A series has a much simpler nozzle change with little risk of damaging other parts when changing nozzles.

Swapping heating elements is a very fiddly job, definitely never to be rushed. The Bambu print heads have an amazing amount of parts and wiring packed in with no wriggle room. Luckily they do publish excellent guides on how to swap the bits.

Yes it's a P1S. The guides they produce are brilliant.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

A final post on this topic. I have printed 6 of the enamel adverts now, and while I wouldn't say they are "photographic" quality they are readable.
Typically they are 27mm along their shortest dimension - so they are certainly small enough for 16mm scale.

My research suggests that this type of sign - with their simple layout and limited range of colours - are the earlier ones. That suits my railway and the technique I have used to create them.

IMG_4897.jpg (2.34 MiB) Viewed 108 times

They are destined to be fixed to the buildings which live outside permanently - so we will see how long they survive!

Trevor

[philipy]

Very impressive Trevor, especially the Gold Flake one.