Hot on the heels of Snapmaker’s U1 launch, Bambu and Prusa chime in with new machine teasers.
It feels like every time I refresh my feed lately, there’s another big tool changer announcement. 3D printing companies must have circled this month on the calendar, because suddenly everyone wants to be the one who cracks multicolor FDM in a big way.
First out of the gate was Snapmaker with the U1, their first tool changer. I got to play with an early beta version, and now that it’s officially launched on Kickstarter, it’s blowing up! Over 14,000 backers and $13 million pledged already. That’s wild for a machine that starts around $649 (if you grabbed one of those early bird deals). It’s a desktop-sized tool changer, so definitely aimed at hobbyists who’ve been waiting for something more affordable than the Prusa XL.
Speaking of the XL, Prusa didn’t invent the tool changer, but when they announced the XL back in 2021, it made everyone yearn for a multicolor FDM that didn't waste materials. However, a fully loaded XL with five tool heads and an enclosure runs north of $4,500, which priced most hobbyists out. It’s definitely more of a pro machine.
But here’s where things get interesting. Hot on the heels of Snapmaker’s U1, both Bambu Lab and Prusa dropped some spicy teases. Bambu announced the H2C, though calling it a tool changer is… generous. It only swaps nozzles, not full tools, and still relies on their AMS for filament input. Think of it as “tool changer lite.” Still, the timing was suspicious: they announced it literally an hour after unveiling the H2S, their big CoreXY machine. Almost like they didn’t want Snapmaker hogging the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Josef Prusa jumped back into the fray with a single tweet: a popcorn emoji and a photo of the CORE One with six tool heads. That’s it. No press release, no details, just enough to set the internet on fire. Over 179,000 views later, Bondtech chimed in confirming a collaboration — their INDX wireless, induction-heated tool changer system might be making its way to Prusa hardware. If true, that could give Prusa a serious comeback moment.
For now, we’re in “teaser season.” AtomForm is also floating around with the Palette 300 — a 12-nozzle Kickstarter project — but until anyone sees a working demo, I’ll keep my excitement cautious. I am working on getting an interview, so stay tuned.
I’m currently setting up a CORE One with an MMU3 for testing, and let me tell you — the MMU3 is both brilliant and a bit maddening to build. Once dialed in, it wastes less filament than any color system, but it’s not what I’d call plug-and-play. If Prusa really does pair the CORE One with Bondtech’s INDX, that could finally give us a clean, reliable multicolor solution without the headaches.
Either way, buckle up: the tool changer wars are officially heating up, and it’s about to be a fun ride.