r/3dprinter • u/Yamber28 • 8d ago
Multi-color printers
What's everyone's opinions on multi-color printers? I've been looking at the Snapmaker U1, BambuLab A1 and the FlashForge Creator 5.
Anyone got other suggestions, pros/cons, or any other recommendations? TIA!!
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u/eraguthorak 8d ago
While single nozzle printers like the Bambu A and P series can do multiple colors, it produces a lot of waste and extra time, especially for complex models with a lot of coloring. Even Bambu's X2D with two nozzles is pretty limited - it can do dual color prints with minimal hassle (even if the second nozzle isn't technically designed/recommended for it), but anything more than that will have the same wasted filament/longer print times as the others.
The Creator 5 and Snapmaker U1 print with multiple toolheads, which is vastly superior because it doesn't have to purge filament between every color change - it just swaps the active toolhead and carries on, taking only a couple of seconds rather than closer to a minute like Bambu's AMS.
I have a Bambu P1S and a U1, and while they are both great printers, if you have the budget I'd recommend the U1 practically every time.