Mimaki to Showcase Full-Colour 3D Printing Capabilities by Partnering with Students and Creatives at Formnext 2024

Mimaki Europe has announced its participation at Formnext 2024 (19 – 22 November, Frankfurt, Germany). As pioneers of full-colour 3D printing, Mimaki will showcase its 3D printing portfolio at its booth (Hall 12.1, Booth E59) and demonstrate its vast potential across multiple industries through various applications from companies and creatives across the world.

In disciplines such as design, engineering, medical and the arts, Mimaki’s full-colour 3DUJ Series allows users to create realistic, intricate prototypes, art pieces and models. This innovative technology is already installed in businesses across the world, but Mimaki is also actively supporting universities and other educational facilities to bring the benefits of full colour 3D printing to their students.

“We want the next generation to fully explore the possibilities of incorporating full-colour 3D printing into product design, creative processes and education. To do so, it’s important to integrate 3D printing into the curriculum,” comments Arjen Evertse, General Manager Sales at Mimaki Europe. “This is why Mimaki introduced ‘Academy Pack’, which gives registered educational facilities a discount off the purchase price of a new 3DUJ-2207 printer. What better way to learn than having hands-on experience within institutions, providing students with practical, future-facing skills applicable across industries.”

Mimaki’s 3D UV-curable inkjet printers, the 3DUJ-553 and 3DUJ-2207, offer the ability to print in over 10 million colours and utilise clear, translucent ink. These attributes enable students to experiment with complex vibrant designs and visual effects, improving their understanding of material properties and product aesthetics.

Mimaki also supports initiatives that enable students to access colour 3D printing outside of the classroom. Earlier this year, Mimaki, Adobe and Creapole Design School in Paris teamed up to reproduce product design students’ footwear designs as tangible 3D printed models as part of a three-day workshop. Created utilising Adobe 3D Substance Collection software and printed by the 3DUJ-553, some of these designs will be on display at Mimaki’s Formnext booth this year.

Mastering the Art of 3D Printing: Creating Detailed Figurines and Prototypes

Mimaki’s 3DUJ Series is also an excellent tool for creating figurines and prototypes, offering unmatched detail and vibrant, realistic colours.

Due to the precision and broad colour capabilities of the 3DUJ Series, this technology is ideal for the creation of detailed prototypes that closely replicate the final product. Printing in accurate colours is particularly useful for automotive prototyping, where seeing internal components or creating visual effects is crucial. The 3DUJ Series’ water-soluble support material simplifies post-processing, preserving intricate features, and its advanced colour profiling ensures that prototypes match the design. These features allow for highly realistic models that can be satisfactorily evaluated, before moving to mass production.

Through Joao Teixeiria’s module furniture, which will be on display on the Mimaki Formnext stand, visitors will be able to see Mimaki’s 3DUJ Series’ capabilities in product prototyping first-hand.

Bringing characters and creatures to life, the 3DUJ Series can also produce figurines and sculptures with intricate textures, gradients, and true-to-life skin tones. The option to print in clear or translucent materials adds dynamic effects, ideal for representing elements like magical auras, water, or transparent armour. With layer thickness as fine as 19 microns, the 3DUJ printers ensure that even the smallest details – like facial expressions and armour engravings or textures – are captured with precision.

Evertse adds, “It’s always so inspiring for us to see how our customers utilise Mimaki’s full-colour 3D printing technology, no matter the sector or application. We are excited to showcase so many different eye-catching and colourful 3D printing applications at Formnext this year, varying from more traditional and visually stunning applications, such as sculptures and fashion accessories, to the more experimental and unusual, like an augmented reality piano and highly accurate insect models. I’m sure with all of these clever and colourful creations, visitors to the show will not be able to walk by the Mimaki stand without wanting to take a closer look!”