Changing filament in a multimaterial FFF printer usually means pushing the new material through the old hotend until the previous material is gone. A Chinese patent proposes a different solution: leave the extruder in place and swap the hotend underneath it.
vortek
Bambu Lab Patent Reveals Multi-Printhead Toolchanger Concept Beyond Vortek
Bambu Lab has a new patent that seems to describe something beyond their advanced Vortek technology.
FlashForge Patent Describes a Method for Smoother Toolhead Docking
FlashForge has patented a new way to make detachable FFF toolheads dock more reliably.
Waste Free 3D Printers Could Transform the Future of Color 3D Printing
Where are all the full-colour 3D models?
X2D or P2 Evolution? Analyzing Bambu Lab’s Likely Direction After Retiring the X1 Series
Is Bambu Lab about to announce a new 3D printer?
Lugo Labs Awarded Patent for Hot-End Swapping System as Waste-Free FFF Technologies Advance
An interesting patent was just awarded to Lugo Labs for a hot end swapping system.
New Vortek Upgrade Pricing Reveals DIY Path to H2C Performance
Bambu Lab announced pricing and details for a Vortek upgrade to the H2D and H2S 3D printers.
Bambu Lab Launches H2C With New Vortek Hot-End Swapping System
As promised, Bambu Lab released the much anticipated H2C 3D printer today.
Flashforge Patent Reveals Waste Free Toolchanger 3D Printing Concept
It appears that Flashforge is getting into the toolchanger game.
Bambu Lab Secures Patent for Advanced Multimaterial Filament Assignment System
Bambu Lab just received a very interesting multimaterial patent.
Tool Changing vs. Hot-End Swapping: The Battle for Waste-Free Multicolor 3D Printing
The desktop 3D print world seems to be converging on two technology approaches. Which will win?
Snapmaker U1 Kickstarter Surges Past $17M, Redefining Desktop 3D Printing Market
So how has the Snapmaker campaign been going?
Beyond Waste Reduction: Tool-Changing 3D Printers Could Enable Hidden Advantages
Everyone’s excited about waste-free 3D printing, but there’s another advantage that’s even better.
From AMS to Vortek: Why Filament Swappers May Be Reaching the End of the Line
Recent surprises from 3D printer manufacturers are tipping over established machine designs.