Print rigid and flexible in the same part. Combine colors, hardnesses, and material properties in a single build. Export Commodity's multi-material printing capability produces complex, production-ready parts that single-material printers simply cannot match.
Get a Multi-Material Quote Compare TechnologiesMulti-material 3D printing uses printers equipped with multiple extruders or material feeds to deposit two or more different materials in a single build. The result is a part that combines different material properties — rigidity and flexibility, opacity and transparency, structural and soluble — in precisely defined zones, without assembly or bonding.
The most common multi-material configuration combines a primary structural material with a soluble support material (PVA or HIPS). The support material dissolves in water or solvent after printing, leaving behind perfectly clean internal channels, overhangs, and complex geometries that breakaway supports can't achieve without surface marking.
Advanced multi-material printing combines structural materials with flexible elastomers — printing a rigid chassis with integral flexible grips, gaskets, or living hinges in a single build. This eliminates the assembly step entirely, reduces part count, and enables design geometries that are impossible to assemble from separate parts.
Hard chassis with soft-touch grips, overmolded handles, flexible hinges integrated into rigid structures. Eliminates the need for separate elastomeric components and assembly steps.
Complex internal geometries, blind channels, and undercut features cleaned perfectly with soluble support. No manual support removal, no surface artifacts, no risk of part damage during cleanup.
Visual prototypes with accurate color differentiation built in. UI mockups, product design models, and presentation pieces with brand-accurate colors printed in a single run.
Combine materials for optimized performance: stiff core with impact-absorbing outer layer, flexible seal integrated with rigid housing, conductive traces embedded in structural parts.
Anatomical models that combine hard bone structures with soft tissue-mimicking materials for surgical training, pre-surgical planning, and medical education.
Consumer products with ergonomic over-grip elements, wearable devices with flexible sections, and lifestyle products that combine aesthetics with functional material zones.
| Primary Material | Secondary Material | Best Application |
|---|---|---|
| PLA / PLA+ | PVA (soluble) | Complex geometry prototypes, clean internal channels |
| ABS / ASA | HIPS (soluble) | Engineering parts with complex overhangs, outdoor use |
| PLA / PETG | TPU 95A (flexible) | Rigid parts with flexible zones, grips, gaskets |
| Nylon PA12 | TPU 85A (soft flex) | Performance products, wearables, industrial handles |
| PETG (clear) | PLA (opaque) | Visual prototypes, light guide elements, display parts |
| ABS | Conductix (conductive) | Embedded electronics, capacitive interfaces |
Multi-material prints cost more than single-material due to setup time, purge waste between material switches, and longer print times. However, the cost is often offset by eliminating assembly steps, bonding operations, and the need to manufacture and join separate parts. For complex assemblies, multi-material can be the more economical choice end-to-end.
Material transitions on dual-extrusion FDM occur at layer boundaries, so the resolution is approximately 0.2–0.4mm depending on layer height. In-plane transitions (on a single layer) are clean at the nozzle diameter scale (~0.4mm). For most applications, the transition is precise enough for functional integration of rigid and flexible zones.
Yes, with limitations. We support dual and triple-material configurations. Contact us with your specific requirement and we'll advise on what's achievable within our current hardware configuration.
Describe your part and the material properties you need in each zone. We'll advise on the right material combination and print strategy — and quote the same business day.
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