Snapmaker Confirms U1 Toolchanger 3D Printer, Ending Factory Leak Speculation
It's official. Snapmaker is joining the color-printing party with the U1, a four-toolhead 3D printer that it says offers 5x the speed, and 80% less waste.
After a leaked factory image fuelled online speculation, modular machine manufacturer Snapmaker has officially confirmed its next-generation 3D printer, the Snapmaker U1. The company will return to Kickstarter, the platform for its initial successes, to launch this toolchanging multicolor, multimaterial device.
The U1 is built on a CoreXY motion system, hinting at high-speed operation. Snapmaker claims its key innovation, an intelligent tool-changing system it calls SnapSwap, allows the printer to operate up to five times faster than market leaders and reduces filament waste by up to 80%. Such gains are typical of toolchangers over single-nozzle multicolor printer. The company states in a release that this efficiency gain is achieved by eliminating the need to purge filament during material changes.
According to the company, the system uses dedicated print heads for different materials or colors, which will enable users to combine vibrant aesthetics, flexible parts, and functional supports within a single print job. Snapmaker states the U1 is designed for “every type of maker,” from home hobbyists to professional DIY projects.
At this early point Snapmaker is coy about the tech specs and material capabilities of the U1, focusing instead on the multicolor possibilities and material savings.
With the U1, Snapmaker is returning to its roots on Kickstarter, the platform where it launched its first two products. Both campaigns were successfully funded, with the Snapmaker Original raising $2.28 million in 2017 and the Snapmaker 2.0 $7.85 million in 2019.
Notable in its absence on the U1 is any indication of xTool’s involvement. The leaked image we reported on in March, of what appears to now be the U1, carried xTool co-branding, suggesting the brands were working together in some capacity. At the time of the leak we confirmed with xTool that such a collaboration was happening. When questioned about the change however, Snapmaker declined to comment.
The company confirms that the U1 is in its final production stages. Prospective backers can sign up for launch updates and ahead of the official campaign on the Snapmaker U1 webpage.
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