Why can't we 3D print silkscreens?

Why can’t we 3D print silkscreens? I hacked the code together and tried it out today.

Initial testing was unsatisfactory but promising. I was about to get a few characters to print out and silkscreen. They are about 1/4 inch tall, and I don’t think it will be useful at that size or smaller. At larger sizes, it could work. The only trick is that Cura is removing the “grid” meant to hold the otherwise unsupported areas together. They are clearly visible in the preview but drop out when the g-code is generated. Does anyone know the minimum size of a line that will actually be rendered?

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gE80oAEN42U/UyynU5HAUsI/AAAAAAAAPmU/KFY8OZbU8FI/w1061-h598-no/IMG_20140321_135548_108.jpg

Honestly, I just used spray paint to test. Yes, it’s much too thick. The issue with the “grid” disappearing is the larger problem because there is nothing holding the inclosed spaces (inside the “R” or “O”) to the rest of the screen. If I used a think ink and a squeegee, those bits would be wiped away.

I would not doubt it if you would be better off waxing cloth and then melting the wax with your hot end.

Oh! Or what if I could somehow stick down the cloth and then print PLA into it!

PLA…do not get it too hot

For melting wax, I meant on a screen for doing the silk screening.