Updated October 24, 2026
If you cannot find blue or Rare ingredient recipes in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ 3D Printer, you might think you have missed an upgrade or encountered a crafting bug.
The confusion becomes worse when you receive Rare crafting materials through DMZ progression but cannot find a matching recipe in the printer. Even after unlocking Uncommon Ingredient Printing, items such as CPUs, Printed Circuit Boards, and High-Tenacity Fibers remain unavailable to manufacture.
Receiving a Rare crafting ingredient or progression reward does not automatically unlock a recipe to manufacture that ingredient.
This guide explains why Rare ingredients are missing, how the available printing upgrades work, where to obtain CPUs and Printed Circuit Boards, and what to check before assuming your 3D Printer is broken.
📋 Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: Can You Print Rare Ingredients?
- Why Rare Ingredients Are Missing
- Is There a Rare Printing Upgrade?
- How to Get CPUs in MW4 DMZ
- Where to Find Printed Circuit Boards
- Which Rare Ingredients Cannot Be Printed?
- Why Epic Printing Still Needs Rare Materials
- Rare Recipes Missing? Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Tips
Quick Answer: Can You Print Rare Ingredients in MW4 DMZ?
No. Current MW4 DMZ crafting options do not include a Rare Ingredient Printing upgrade.
The FOB 3D Printer supports Uncommon and Epic ingredient-printing upgrades, but neither unlocks the blue/Rare ingredient category.
That means you cannot currently manufacture Rare materials such as:
- CPUs
- Printed Circuit Boards
- High-Tenacity Fibers
- Nitro Compounds
- Binding Catalysts
Instead, obtain these ingredients through deployments, successful extractions, and available DMZ level rewards.
For example, the current progression schedule awards two CPUs at Level 44 and two Printed Circuit Boards at Level 56.
If the blue ingredient category is completely absent from your printer, purchasing Uncommon Ingredient Printing will not make it appear.
Why Rare Ingredients Are Missing From the 3D Printer
The FOB 3D Printer uses several progression systems, and they do not all unlock the same things.
You can unlock the printer station, purchase ingredient-printing upgrades, receive crafting materials from level rewards, and obtain individual equipment recipes.
These are separate parts of the crafting system.
For example, receiving a CPU as a DMZ level reward gives you that crafting material. It does not automatically add a CPU manufacturing recipe to the printer.
Similarly, purchasing Uncommon Ingredient Printing allows you to manufacture certain green-rarity materials, but it does not unlock every ingredient rarity.
Understanding the Ingredient Colors
Crafting ingredients are organized by rarity.
| Rarity | Examples |
|---|---|
| Common | Basic resources used in many crafting recipes |
| Uncommon (green) | Biomaterials, Reactive Metals, Control Units |
| Rare (blue) | CPUs, Printed Circuit Boards, High-Tenacity Fibers |
| Epic (purple) | Higher-tier materials such as Comms Modules |
The important point is that these rarity categories do not necessarily have matching printing upgrades.
A material can exist in the game, appear in crafting requirements, and be obtainable as loot without being printable.
This is why a missing blue category is not automatically evidence of a bug.
Is There a Rare Ingredient Printing Upgrade?
No Rare Ingredient Printing upgrade is currently available in the documented MW4 DMZ crafting system.
The available ingredient-printing progression includes Uncommon and Epic upgrades.
Uncommon Ingredient Printing
This upgrade enables manufacturing of six Uncommon ingredients:
- Biomaterials
- Reactive Metals
- Electronic Sensors
- Rigid Synthetics
- Control Units
- Detonators
It does not unlock CPUs, Printed Circuit Boards, or other Rare materials.
If you have not purchased this upgrade yet, our MW4 DMZ Uncommon Ingredient Printing guide explains the unlock requirements, material costs, and missing-recipe troubleshooting.
Epic Ingredient Printing
Epic Ingredient Printing is a separate upgrade that enables manufacturing of higher-tier ingredients.
However, some Epic recipes consume Rare materials as crafting inputs.
This means unlocking Epic printing does not eliminate the need to find Rare ingredients during deployments.
What About a Hidden Blue Printing Upgrade?
There is currently no confirmed separate Rare printing upgrade, hidden blueprint, or reliable workaround that enables manufacturing of the missing blue ingredients.
Do not spend resources purchasing unrelated printer upgrades solely because you expect them to unlock CPUs or PCBs.
Until a Rare printing method becomes available, treat these materials as loot and progression resources.
How to Get CPUs in MW4 DMZ
CPUs are Rare crafting ingredients used in several valuable recipes and FOB upgrades.
They are especially important if you want to manufacture Comms Modules through Epic Ingredient Printing.
Since CPUs cannot currently be printed directly, you need to obtain them from other sources.
Method 1: Reach DMZ Level 44
The current progression schedule includes:
DMZ Level 44 — 2 CPUs
This provides a predictable way to obtain two CPUs without depending on a specific container drop.
However, it is a progression reward, not a repeatable farming method.
If you need additional CPUs, you will still have to collect them during deployments.
Method 2: Check Ingredient Locations and Technology Areas
CPUs are Rare electronic crafting components.
Start by checking the CPU's Ingredient Locations information in the FOB 3D Printer, then investigate the recommended areas during deployments.
Computers, server rooms, and technology-related containers are reasonable places to search, but they should not be treated as guaranteed CPU sources.
When searching, pay attention to:
- The CPU's in-game location recommendations
- Computers and electronic equipment
- Server rooms and technology facilities
- Loot containers in the recommended areas
No specific repeatable CPU spawn is currently confirmed.
Always check the item name before extracting. A CPU and a Control Unit are different crafting materials, despite both being associated with electronics.
Method 3: Use a Dedicated CPU Farming Route
If you need multiple CPUs for FOB upgrades or Comms Module printing, follow a route focused on electronic crafting materials rather than searching unrelated containers across the map.
Our MW4 DMZ CPU Locations and Control Unit Farming Guide covers practical collection advice and the differences between these materials.
Should You Save Your First CPUs?
Yes, particularly if you are planning to unlock Epic crafting or upgrade your FOB.
CPUs can become a bottleneck because they are used in several higher-tier recipes.
For example, Gunsmith Upgrade I and Vendor Item Upgrade I each require ten CPUs.
Before spending them, inspect your outstanding FOB upgrade requirements and decide which unlock is most important.
If Comms Module manufacturing is your priority, reserve the CPUs required for that recipe.
Where to Find Printed Circuit Boards
Printed Circuit Boards, commonly shortened to PCBs, are another Rare ingredient that cannot currently be manufactured directly through the FOB 3D Printer.
They are used in crafting and upgrade requirements, making them worth collecting whenever you find them.
Method 1: Reach DMZ Level 56
The current progression schedule includes:
DMZ Level 56 — 2 Printed Circuit Boards
Like the CPU level reward, this is a fixed progression source rather than a repeatable farming route.
It can help complete an upgrade if you are only missing one or two boards.
Method 2: Search Haneul Nuclear Reactor
The Printed Circuit Board's Ingredient Locations information identifies Haneul Nuclear Reactor as a location to investigate.
When visiting the area, inspect accessible electronic equipment and loot containers.
The reactor presents a radiation hazard, so bring appropriate protection, such as a Gas Mask.
Do not assume every room or container has a PCB.
If the location is too dangerous for your current loadout, prioritize extracting with any valuable materials already collected rather than risking everything for a single component.
Method 3: Check Electrical Substations
Electrical substations are another location category associated with Printed Circuit Boards.
Search relevant containers and equipment in these areas, paying attention to any electronic-component loot.
A location hint identifies a useful search area; it does not guarantee that a Printed Circuit Board will appear on every deployment.
Method 4: Check Chang-san Air Base Bunker
Printed Circuit Boards have also been reported as loose loot within Chang-san Air Base Bunker.
This gives you another location to investigate if you are already completing activities around the Air Base.
However, do not treat this as a guaranteed spawn.
If you are exploring the same bunker complex, our MW4 DMZ Air Base Armory Code Guide explains a separate Armory objective involving three code notes and an access card.
CPU vs. Printed Circuit Board: Which Should You Farm First?
That depends on the recipe or FOB upgrade you are trying to complete.
Prioritize CPUs if your immediate objective requires Comms Module manufacturing or another CPU-based upgrade.
Prioritize Printed Circuit Boards if they are the remaining ingredient blocking a specific recipe or FOB upgrade.
For example, Epic Ingredient Printing requires ten Printed Circuit Boards, while Gunsmith Upgrade I requires ten CPUs.
Avoid farming both materials without checking your requirements first. They are not interchangeable.
Which Rare Ingredients Cannot Be Printed?
The current Rare ingredient category includes eight materials:
- Binding Catalyst
- CPU
- High-Tenacity Fibers
- Nitro Compounds
- Nylon Cloth
- Printed Circuit Board
- Stock Rod
- Structural Alloy
These materials may be required for equipment, ingredient manufacturing, or FOB upgrades.
However, they do not have individual printing recipes in the current crafting system.
Useful Rare Ingredient Level Rewards
Several Rare ingredients are available through DMZ progression.
The following rewards are listed in the current DMZ progression schedule. Check your in-game level rewards if a later update changes the progression track.
| DMZ Level | Reward |
|---|---|
| 44 | 2 CPUs |
| 47 | 2 Nitro Compounds |
| 49 | 2 Binding Catalysts |
| 53 | 2 High-Tenacity Fibers |
| 56 | 2 Printed Circuit Boards |
These rewards can reduce the amount of looting required for a specific upgrade.
They do not unlock a Rare ingredient-printing category.
For ingredients without a suitable level reward, inspect their location information at the printer and collect them during deployments.
Why Epic Ingredient Printing Still Requires Rare Materials
One confusing part of the crafting system is that a higher-rarity printing upgrade can still require lower-rarity ingredients that you cannot manufacture.
Comms Modules are a useful example.
The current Comms Module printing recipe requires:
| Material | Amount |
|---|---|
| Electronics | 100 |
| CPUs | 3 |
Electronics are a basic crafting resource, while CPUs are Rare ingredients.
This means that even after unlocking Epic Ingredient Printing, you must still supply three CPUs for each Comms Module you manufacture.
Can You Avoid Farming CPUs?
You can obtain CPUs through available progression rewards, but additional manufacturing may require finding more during deployments.
Alternatively, you can search for Comms Modules directly rather than manufacturing them.
If you need Comms Modules for an FOB upgrade, see our MW4 DMZ Comms Module Locations and Solo Farming Guide.
The better approach depends on which materials you already have.
For example, if you have plenty of Electronics but no CPUs, direct Comms Module looting may be more practical than waiting to manufacture them.
Rare Recipes Missing? Troubleshooting Checklist
If you cannot find CPUs, PCBs, or other blue ingredients in the printer, work through these five checks.
1. Confirm You Are Looking at Ingredients, Not Equipment Recipes
Open the FOB 3D Printer and check the ingredient-manufacturing category.
A finished item may require a CPU without giving you the ability to manufacture CPUs.
Also, remember that receiving a Rare ingredient through DMZ progression does not automatically unlock its printing recipe.
2. Check Your Purchased Printing Upgrades
Verify which ingredient-printing upgrades you own.
Uncommon Ingredient Printing unlocks its six supported Uncommon recipes, while Epic Ingredient Printing unlocks its own higher-tier recipes.
Neither currently provides a Rare printing category.
Do not spend valuable materials purchasing unrelated upgrades solely to unlock CPUs or PCBs.
3. Inspect Ingredient Locations
If you need a Rare material, inspect its Ingredient Locations information.
This can help you identify areas worth searching during your next deployment.
Use the information as a farming lead rather than a guarantee of a specific drop.
4. Secure the Materials You Find
Because Rare ingredients cannot currently be manufactured directly, losing them during a deployment can delay your next upgrade.
Extract safely when carrying valuable crafting materials, especially if you already have enough to complete a pending requirement.
If inventory space becomes a problem during your search, our MW4 DMZ Backpack Full Guide explains how to free space and secure important loot.
5. Don't Assume the Missing Category Is a Bug
If Uncommon and Epic recipes appear normally but blue ingredient recipes are absent, that matches the currently documented crafting system.
A missing Rare printing category alone is not enough to establish that your printer is malfunctioning.
If a supported Uncommon or Epic recipe is missing after you have purchased its required upgrade, investigate that specific recipe separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you print Rare ingredients in MW4 DMZ?
No. The current crafting system does not include a Rare Ingredient Printing upgrade. Rare materials such as CPUs and Printed Circuit Boards must be obtained through other available sources.
Why are blue ingredients missing from my 3D Printer?
Blue ingredients belong to the Rare category, which does not currently have a printing upgrade. Their absence does not automatically mean the printer is bugged.
Does Uncommon Ingredient Printing unlock Rare materials?
No. Uncommon Ingredient Printing unlocks six green-rarity ingredients, including Biomaterials, Reactive Metals, and Control Units. It does not unlock CPUs or PCBs.
Does Epic Ingredient Printing let you print CPUs?
No. Epic Ingredient Printing supports its own higher-tier recipes. Some of those recipes require CPUs as ingredients, but it does not make CPUs directly printable.
How do you get CPUs in MW4 DMZ?
The current DMZ progression schedule awards two CPUs at Level 44. Additional CPUs can be collected during deployments. Check the CPU's Ingredient Locations information for recommended areas.
Where can you find Printed Circuit Boards?
The game's location information points toward Haneul Nuclear Reactor and electrical substations. Printed Circuit Boards have also been reported as loose loot in Chang-san Air Base Bunker. DMZ Level 56 awards two PCBs in the current progression schedule.
Why did I receive a Rare ingredient reward but no printer recipe?
Receiving a crafting material through progression is different from unlocking a manufacturing recipe. The reward provides the material; it does not necessarily create a printable recipe.
Can you unlock Rare Ingredient Printing later?
No separate Rare Ingredient Printing upgrade is currently confirmed. Future updates may change the crafting system, but there is no verified unlock method to follow at present.
Are CPUs and Control Units the same item?
No. CPUs are Rare ingredients, while Control Units are Uncommon ingredients. Control Units are included in Uncommon Ingredient Printing, but CPUs are not.
Is the missing Rare printing category a bug?
Not based on its absence alone. Current crafting information does not list a Rare printing tier. Investigate a potential bug only when a recipe that should be available under an unlocked printing upgrade is unexpectedly missing.
Final Tips
If you cannot print Rare ingredients in MW4 DMZ, the problem is probably not your printer level or a missing menu.
The current crafting system does not provide a Rare Ingredient Printing upgrade.
That leaves three practical ways to progress:
- Collect Rare ingredients during deployments.
- Claim available DMZ level rewards, including CPUs at Level 44 and PCBs at Level 56.
- Prioritize the materials needed for your next FOB upgrade instead of collecting every Rare ingredient indiscriminately.
For CPUs, check the printer's Ingredient Locations information and investigate the recommended areas. For Printed Circuit Boards, search Haneul Nuclear Reactor, electrical substations, and Chang-san Air Base Bunker.
Most importantly, remember that Uncommon and Epic printing upgrades do not make every ingredient rarity printable. Check the recipe requirements before spending valuable resources, and save Rare components for the upgrades that matter most to your progression.
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