Duration: 27:51

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In this interview we talk with Cedric, co-founder of SPECTROM,  a company who will single handily revolutionize how we 3D print in the very near future -- with color!

Questions asked

1. Please tell us your name, what is your profession, and where do you reside.

2. Who and what is the company Spectrom?

3. I has some thoughts on creating a color printer based on the use of inkjet andbeing sprayed on the outside of the layer, but it seems you have taken a different, but very innovative technique to actually injects directly into the hotend while layer is melting, is this correct?

4. I have noticed that some of your objects more of a pastel color. Is this because you are using a white filament. If I were to replace white with clear, could you create tinted translucent objects?

5. Without giving away trade secrets, what is your color base made from? Is it really off-the-shelf inkjet colors?

6. Your product reminds me of those aftermarket large bed color printers that took existing color inkjet heads and tied large quart size containers full of inkjet inks to them. This was also a product with the name Spectr(um) in its name. I always wondered how they were able to take HP inkjet heads and connect there own reservoirs, but I am assuming they licensed the technology. Is Spectrom doing something similar and licensing from HP or Epson?

7. Both 3DSystems and Mcor use similar ink spraying processes to color their material. 3DSystems, does this buy impregnating a gypsum type material with colored glue to adhere layers. The colors seem muted unless you coat them like I do, with XTC-3D. Mcor is even more like a inkjet printer since it is an inkjet printer that colors the border or the paper layer before laying another piece of paper on top of with glue between them and then cutting around the edge. Is there some patent crossover that you had to take into consideration?

8. The Sprectrom is touted as being independent of the printer. How would one retrofit an existing 3D printer like let's say a Makerbot Replicator 2 or a Rostock Max to use it?

9. Is performance affected when using color? Do you have to slow down the extrusion rate and movement?

10. Does the durability of the filament change, does the part become more brittle?

11. How much will this cost? How much will consumables cost?

12. Finally when can I get one and do you have anything else in the pipeline you want to share?