Bambu Lab unveils its revolutionary H2C 3D printer and its Vortek Hotend Change System
Bambu Lab unveils its upcoming H2C 3D printer, promising to “zero purge waste” and support for “7 materials”
Bambu Lab is getting ready to change multi-colour/multi-material 3D printing. With its upcoming H2C 3D printer, Bambu Lab has created a hot-end switching system that promises to be fast, reliable, and purge-free. With the H2C, “purge waste” will be eliminated.
Using their new Vortek Hotend Change System, Bambu Lab are building a 3D printer that can switch between seven colours without any purging. This saves precious material, making many colour/material 3D prints make a lot more sense. With its induction heating system, this hotend changing system can heat a nozzle in eight seconds. This will make multi-colour printing incredibly fast compared to standard AMS-style filament changing systems.
H2D users have an upgrade option
Bambu Lab has confirmed that their H2D 3D printer can be upgraded to an H2C. Bambu says that this update requires “some skill, patience, a willingness to carefully follow instructions and a few hours of your time.” As such, this upgrade should not be performed by casual users. Regardless, the upgrade is possible.
What about the newly released Bambu Lab H2S? While an upgrade to the H2S is possible, such an upgrade is not recommended. The upgrade would cost more and take more time. That’s why Bambu is teasing its H2C today, so users interested in this new printer do not invest in an H2S and become disappointed later.
This isn’t a tool-changer, it’s something different
With Bambu Lab’s Vortek system, only the hotend changes. This saves a lot of space, as changing toolheads requires much more space. Furthermore, it reduces costs by requiring fewer replicated parts. With this system, each hotend can share a single cooling system, power system, signal cables, and sensor system.
Based on the video below, the H2C uses a similar design to the H2D. The print head has two nozzles, with the right nozzle being switchable. The right nozzle can switch between six nozzle options. Note that the left nozzle appears static/unchanging. This is how the H2C can support seven colours and materials.
Currently, it’s unknown how material handling works with the Bambu Lab H2C. Will the left/unchanging nozzle support the Bambu Lab AMS? Where will the six spools go for the six switchable hot-ends? Is a 6-way AMS system launching soon? We expect to learn more about the H2C soon.
Bambu Lab H2C availability
The H2C will be ready to ship before the end of 2025. If you need a 3D printer now, but want an H2C, you can buy an H2D today and upgrade later. However, it should be remembered that this upgrade path is only recommended for advanced users.
You can join the discussion on Bambu Lab’s upcoming H2C 3D printer on the OC3D Forums.
