Czech-Israeli Collaboration Brings True Silicone 3D Printing to Standard FDM Machines

Czech 3D printing giant Prusa Research has partnered with Israeli startup Filament2 to bring industrial-grade silicone printing to the desktop, marking a major breakthrough in additive manufacturing.

The new solution centers on Prusa’s XL printer and a specially developed Silicone Printing Toolhead, designed by Filament2, that lets users print real silicone parts using a method compatible with standard FFF-style 3D printers.

Unlike traditional filament, Filament2’s “Liquid Filament” consists of a tube containing two separated silicone components. As the tube is fed through the printer, the outer shell is stripped away and the materials are mixed and deposited as a stream of uncured silicone. The result is a fully formed, flexible part, with the only waste being the emptied outer tube.

“This is the first time you can print real silicone with a filament-fed system,” said a Filament2 spokesperson. “It opens the door to flexible, heat- and chemical-resistant parts printed directly, without molds.”

The Prusa XL, capable of operating up to five toolheads simultaneously, allows users to combine silicone with standard materials or print complex multi-consistency items in one go. This modularity enables the creation of soft robotics components, seals, gaskets, wearable tech, and even medical parts all with unprecedented ease.

By avoiding syringe-based or pressure-driven paste extrusion, the system enables everyday 3D printers to produce parts with the durability and flexibility of cast silicone, but without molds or post-processing.

The innovation also means intricate features like internal channels and variable durometers are now printable, giving designers new freedom to prototype and manufacture complex silicone items on demand.

Filament2’s Liquid Filament technology and Prusa’s plug-and-play Silicone Toolhead offer a glimpse into the future of hybrid 3D printing, where materials previously reserved for industrial use can be deployed in office or workshop settings.

With this collaboration, Czech and Israeli innovation has brought silicone 3D printing to the masses cleanly, efficiently, and affordably. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.