Snapmaker unveils U1 3D printer with 4-way tool-changing tech

Snapmaker’s upcoming U1 3D printer delivers faster printing with its 4-head tool-changer

It’s official, Snapmaker’s long-rumoured tool-changer 3D printer is coming to Kickstarter next month. The Snapmaker U1 aims to accelerate multi-colour 3D printing with its 4-head tool-changer, which makes filament changes a 5-second process.

The problem with most multi-material 3D printers is that traditional filament-changing techniques can be time-consuming and wasteful of filament. Snapmaker believes that its 4-head tool-changer can make multi-colour 3D printing 5x faster and use 5x less filament. Currently, tool-changing 3D printers are relatively uncommon, with the most notable example being the Prusa XL. Snapmaker is bringing some much-needed competition to the 3D printing market with its new U1 printer.

Sadly, the full specifications of Snapmaker’s U1 3D printer are not known. However, the video above confirms that the printer has a build area of 270 x 270 x 270 mm. That’s larger than 3D printers like the Bambu Lab X1C, Bambu Lab P1, and the Centauri Carbon (review here). All three of these 3D printers have a build area os 256 x 256 x 256mm.

The Snapmaker U1 will hit Kickstarter in August. We expect to hear more about the U1 before then.

You can join the discussion on Snapmaker’s U1 3D printer on the OC3D Forums.