We have been 3D printing in metal, gold and even sugar for years – so it’s only natural that we can also print in plastic that glows in the dark. This week MakerBot announced a limited edition PLA filament that glows in the dark just in time for Halloween.
The filament is made of phosphor dye, which means it’s almost the same well-known material that sticky stars and glow sticks are made from. If you leave it in the light for a few minutes, the phosphors in the material are charged and emit visible light – that is, they “glow”.
It’s not surprising how much it costs: $ 130 per kilogram versus $ 48 for a regular paint. [MakerBot]