Prusa Research yesterday announced details on their long-hinted move to Bondtech’s INDX system.
Bondtech’s INDX System
The INDX approach is one of several technologies recently introduced to counter the problem of filament waste when using filament swapping systems for multicolor 3D prints. These systems are so wasteful that you might expend up to 10X the amount of filament on waste as you do on the model itself.
The INDX concept involves swapping hot ends on the toolhead as different colors (or materials) are required. Since each hot end has permanently (during the job) a filament inserted, there is no delay required for loading the filament from a filament swapping system. Also, there is little need to purge the nozzle because each hot end is dedicated to a specific color during a print job.
When the hot ends are not on the toolhead they are not able to maintain heat, as is normally done with toolchangers. However, the INDX system involves an induction approach to rapidly heat the freshly inserted hot end in only seconds. Even better, the hot end cools off quickly, preventing leakage while not being used.
It’s an incredible concept that has many benefits. Prusa Research said it best:
“No buffers, no filament rewinding into an external box, no filament cutting, no filament flushing, no preheating, no complex mechanisms.”
Prusa Research had dropped some hazy images of what seemed to be an INDX-equipped CORE One 3D printer, so the announcement yesterday was expected. But now we know more details.
Prusa CORE One INDX
INDX for the CORE One 3D printer will use eight hot ends — meaning you would be able to print in up to eight colors simultaneously, without any filament waste.
Physically the eight spools are mounted on the sides of the CORE One, with four on each side panel as shown in the image.
While that seems to be the default configuration, you might be concerned that you could not, for example, have the spool in a dryer while printing. This should not be an issue, as it is very likely possible to simply feed the filament from the dryer instead of mounting it on the side panel.
It turns out Prusa Research is treating the INDX technology as an upgrade to their popular CORE One 3D printer. The upgrade kit will first be offered solely through Bondtech, but later an upgrade kit will be offered by Prusa Research in their online store. Prusa Research said the first kits will be available early in 2026.
However, it is (or was) possible to pre-order a kit from Bondtech even now. It seems that the first batch is going to be sold out very quickly. It’s actually not quite an order — it’s simply a reservation for the first batch, and it will cost you US$150. There is no mention of the final price of the upgrade kit itself.
Bondtech does provide some specifications for the INDX system, so we can see some details of how it might perform:
- Maximum temperature of 300C
- Maximum volumetric flow rate of 40 cubic mm/s (that’s high)
- Induction heating (as expected)
- Wireless connections
- One tool (hot end) weight: 345g
- Tool change time: 16 seconds
- 4 or 8 tool versions available
- External frame-mounted filament management system
- Includes filament out sensor
Based on these specifications, the INDX system looks very capable of printing a wide range of materials at high speeds.
With Snapmaker’s U1 already shipped, and the Bambu Lab H2C on the way, the Prusa CORE One with INDX should be following shortly thereafter.
Via Prusa Research and Bondtech
