Sovol’s new M1D desktop FFF 3D printer is a bit different.
The company has been producing competent FFF gear for many years, and, like other manufacturers, has to keep up with the latest developments. That latest development is waste-free 3D printing, which should supersede the incredibly wasteful filament swapping technology of the past couple of years.
Several manufacturers have come out with different approaches to solve waste-free FFF 3D printing, and the M1D is Sovol’s entry.
Their approach is somewhat similar to competing systems, but different. The major difference is that they have two independent toolheads, or “IDEX”.
IDEX is not a new thing in FFF 3D printing; it’s been around for many years. However, what is new is that in the M1D, Sovol has matched one of the extruders with a waste-free solution.
The “tool-changing” extruder is able to quickly snap on and off toolheads stowed at the back of the build chamber. There are six of these toolheads, and adding the fixed IDEX extruder, you get a maximum of seven possible materials/colors within a single print job.
There’s another interesting difference: the stowed toolheads are still active. This means that they can be pre-heated in advance of being used. This is different than some other tool-changing 3D printers where the toolheads are “dead” and cooling off while not in use. When picked up, they take quite a few seconds to warm up.
Other manufacturers recognize this issue. Prusa Research, for example, makes a point that their INDX system can heat up very quickly. However, in Sovol’s M1D, the toolhead should be instantly ready and at temperature when picked up. That should mean faster print jobs because there will be no waiting for heating. They say it takes only five seconds for a switch.
And as usual, IDEX provides a means to print two objects simultaneously. For example, you can print two copies, mirror images, or two different objects. Or many smaller objects in two groups. However, you cannot have both toolheads working on the same object.
Aside from the fascinating motion system and extruders, there are quite a few advanced features in the M1D:
- Vision-based automated calibration
- Realtime Z offset adjustment (useful for tool changes)
- AI-powered print failure detection
- Clog/tangle detection
- Color touchscreen
- Large build volume of 300 x 300 x 350 mm
- External six-spool unit
The M1D is, of course, not yet available. It’s now in a pre-order state prior to an expected Kickstarter launch later this year. Sovol said the MSRP for the M1D is US$1799, but the “super early bird” launch price will save you 17%, or US$1499. That’s not a bad price for such a large machine.
With the addition of the M1D, it seems that the days of filament swapping desktop 3D printers are coming to a close. We now, or will soon have, waste-free 3D printer options from Prusa Research, Bambu Lab, Sovol, Snapmaker, Creality, and a few more. Companies that don’t yet offer this type of solution had better figure one out soon.
Via Sovol
