Rapid Access to Multicolor Three-Dimensional Printed Chemistry and Biochemistry Models Using Visualization and Three-Dimensional Printing Software Programs

Use of color 3D printers as a visualization tool is described in this paper. Starting from any file depicting a chemical structure, multicolor 3D printed chemical structures can be produced. Most structures were printed in hours, making the entire process from file preparation to tangible model quickly achievable. Chemical structure examples are showcased from organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and biochemistry. This paper presents a method of producing multicolor chemistry and biochemistry tangible models using Chimera and Magics molecular visualization and 3D printing software.