The Palette 2 from Mosaic Manufacturing is the second iteration in their wildly popular filament splicing machine for single extruder 3D printers. We take a look at the changes made and how they benefit the user, as well as visit improvements to the almost complete redesign of the chassis, making it much more user-friendly and accessible for the end user.

Mosaic Manufacturing almost stands alone in the industry as the major name in enabling the at-home 3D printer user with the ability to turn a single-extruder 3D printer into a four-color powerhouse. Their initial Palette model was an introduction into what is possible with this still, somewhat new technology, while the Palette 2 refines many of the features and improves most of them. Headquartered in Canada, Mosaic Mfg. is creating options in additive manufacturing not only for the home user but for industries as well. With their SEEM technology, they hope to enable every user from the hobbyist, all the way to the factory floor.

Just a small sample of the awesome designs you can make multi-color with the Palette 2.
Just a small sample of the awesome designs you can make multi-color with the Palette 2.

Product Features

  • Plug and Play Setup
  • Four Colors Spliced Into One Capability
  • Multiple Material Type Support
  • Easy to Clear Jams and Repair

The new Palette 2 is much easier to configure and set up for the hobbyist 3D printer than the previous Palette. The interface is easier to work with, and there is no longer a need to install a separate sensor to measure filament flow onto the 3D printer; the flow sensor is now built directly into the Palette 2. Synching with the 3D printer and computer is now much easier as well, making the entire set up process much quicker.

Plug and Play Setup

The new Palette 2 is much easier to configure and set up for the hobbyist 3D printer than the previous Palette. The interface is easier to work with, and there is no longer a need to install a separate sensor to measure filament flow onto the 3D printer; the flow sensor is now built directly into the Palette 2. Synching with the 3D printer and computer is now much easier as well, making the entire set up process much quicker.

The CANVAS Interface is simple and easy to use.
The CANVAS Interface is simple and easy to use.

Four Colors Spliced Into One Capability

The mainstay appeal of the Palette 2 is the ability to turn any single-extruder 3D printer into a four-color machine capable of printing multi-color prints. The new Palette 2 has been upgraded with a few features and functions to make the process easy to use and execute. First is the CANVAS platform. Previously, there was more hands-on implementation required from the user to get sustainable results, by slicing twice and loading two different files into both the 3D printer and the Palette. Now with CANVAS, you can upload your favorite slicer profiles and work almost completely in one interface, with no duplicate slicing necessary.

Multiple Material Type Support

In addition to 3D printing with up to four colors, the Palette 2 can also be set up to 3D print with different materials in one print. PLA and PETG are the most popular combinations, but with four outlets, the possibilities are certainly much larger than with a single-extrusion machine alone. The Palette 2 is capable of splicing ABS, TPU, Nylon, and PLA-scaffold as well.

Filament Run Out Detection

The sensors on the Palette 2 can also manage filament run out and be programmed with options. For 3D prints with less than four colors, an additional spool of the same color and material can be designated as the ‘back-up’ spool when the main spool runs out, therefore avoiding a stalled 3D print. You can also load up to four of the same color and filament and do huge projects that require up to 4 kg of filament - you won’t have to run out of filament ever again!

The Run Out Sensor helps keep your uptime to a maximum.
The Run Out Sensor helps keep your uptime to a maximum.

Easy to Clear Jams and Repair

One of the more beneficial redesigns in the Palette 2 is the ability to easily and quickly clear jams, effect repairs, and replace damaged parts with the new modular panels. Not only are the panels clear, so you can see exactly where the issue is, but there are multiple panels in strategic locations that can be easily removed with thumb screws for quick access and maintenance. This feature alone is a major selling point for this awesome unit.

There are a number of positive and beneficial uses for the 3D printer at home to consider buying the Palette 2 to add to their toolkit. First and foremost is the ability to 3D print with up to four colors. Just upgrading to a new dual-extrusion 3D printer will run upwards of $1500+ for basic, non-supported 3D printers. Going full-bore for a quad-color machine will run significantly more. The Palette 2 offers a very affordable tool for any user looking to do more with their 3D printer.

The clear access panels give you unprecedented clarity when dealing with troubleshooting issues.
The clear access panels give you unprecedented clarity when dealing with troubleshooting issues.

Also, if there are significant quantities of filament being used on a single 3D print, the Palette 2 can be used as an unending filament spool - effectively giving the user a 4 kg spool to work with (as long as they are all loaded of course.)

Best of all are the many improved user experiences. From the interface to the setup and repairability, the Palette 2 is improved in almost every way over the original Palette. Mosaic Mfg. has done a great job listening to the community and making changes that benefit the user.

The Palette 2 comes in the base model, as well as the Palette 2+. The Palette 2+ is more adept at filament production speed than the Palette 2, giving more advanced users (those using the Palette 2+ for industrial applications) more options for various other filaments like ABS, TPU, Nylon, and PVA).

The Palette 2 can also be synced with your printer and computer at the same time with an additional add-on, the CANVAS Hub (sold separately). This allows communication between the 3D printer and the Palette 2; you can also connect the Palette 2, 3D printer AND CANVAS to your computer, making the entire workflow integration seamless from machine to machine.

From our own tests, the results were fantastic. With only one small calibration issue (which we overlooked initially) that caused a little more stringing than usual, we have had excellent results with the Palette 2 and several 3D printers we have tested with. As with most things that involve 3D printing, the set up takes a little tweaking to get things just right and a few run-throughs to make sure the tweaks are working. But once we had it dialed in, it worked great.

The Palette 2 is an excellent option for any 3D printer user who is looking to expand their multi-color capabilities without having to purchase an entirely new 3D printer. With it’s much more affordable cost, and the new and greatly improved changes made, any user can take advantage of the Palette 2 to create some truly amazing 3D prints.

Conclusion

The Palette 2 is a fantastic add-on for anyone looking to expand into multiple colors or multiple filament 3D printing. The support and improvements from Mosaic Mfg. are top-notch, and they have taken input from the 3D printing community to heart and vastly improved the usability and capabilities and molded them into the Palette 2.