RoVa3D

The RoVa3D is an FDM 3D printer from ORD Solutions with a 280 x 240 x 220 mm build volume.

Specifications

The Rova3D is one of the most mechanically complex and ambitious 3D printers in the history of desktop FDM additive manufacturing. Developed by the Canadian company ORD Solutions, it launched as a highly publicized Kickstarter campaign in late 2013. The printer was marketed as the world's first desktop 3D printer capable of printing with up to five different colors or materials simultaneously (5-extruder system). To manage the extreme heat generated by five closely packed hotends, the Rova3D utilized a dedicated liquid-cooling loop, a layout borrowed from high-end gaming computers, making it a unique engineering design.

Calibration

Calibrating the Rova3D is a highly complex procedure requiring patience and mechanical precision:

• Nozzle Height Physical Alignment: The tips of all five nozzles must sit in a parallel plane. Preheat all hotends to 200°C and the bed to 60°C. Lower the Z-axis until the first nozzle touches the bed. Slide a 0.1 mm feeler gauge under the nozzles.

Common defects

• Hardware defects and mechanical weaknesses
• Coolant Leaks onto Electronics and Bed: This is the most critical hazard of the Rova3D.
• Symptoms: Liquid pooling beneath the print head, drop in coolant levels, or electrical short circuits in the thermistors or heaters.
• Cause: Silicone tubing degrades under high heat (hot nozzles are close to the tubes), or fittings loosen from continuous carriage movement.

What it is used for

Recommended Applications

• Experimental Multi-Material Research: Excellent for labs testing the adhesion properties of different polymers in a single layer (e.g., rigid Nylon bonded to flexible TPU).
• Complex Geometries with Soluble Supports: Printing with PLA, PETG, and PVA simultaneously enables printing of complex engineering designs without scarring support interfaces.