When Snapmaker first appeared on the desktop fabrication scene, they didn’t waste time making a name for themselves among hobbyists, educators, and tinkerers who wanted more from their 3D printers. Their original all-in-one machines, like the Snapmaker Original and the Snapmaker 2.0, fused CNC carving, laser engraving, and 3D printing into one impressively sleek modular box. The philosophy was clear: why clutter your workspace with three separate machines when you could have a single beautifully engineered gadget do it all? That approach paid off, and Snapmaker’s gear became a staple for people who like to experiment, iterate, and make things happen in their garages or living rooms. The Snapmaker ethos has always been about giving the masses access to pro-level tools, but with a user experience that satisfies even the most discerning power-user.
Now Snapmaker has dropped their latest creation, the U1, and it’s a completely different beast. This is their first dedicated 3D printer, ditching the multi-tool approach for laser focus on one thing: making multi-color 3D printing actually work for regular humans. The U1 is built around a revolutionary auto-swapping four-toolhead system that eliminates the biggest headaches in color printing. No more bulky AMS boxes eating up desk space, no more endless filament purging between color changes, and no more failed prints because your single extruder couldn’t handle the complexity. The U1 holds four different toolheads simultaneously and swaps between them mid-print with surgical precision, making multi-material printing as smooth as single-color jobs.
Designer: You Li
Click Here to Buy Now: $799 $999 ($200 off). Hurry, only 635/2000 left! Raised over $17 million.
The heart of the U1 is that four-toolhead carousel system, and it’s genuinely impressive engineering. Each toolhead locks into a modular docking station with built-in sensors that ensure perfect alignment every single time. When the printer needs to switch from, say, red PLA to black PETG, it parks the current toolhead in its dock and grabs the next one without missing a beat. The whole swap takes seconds, and because each material stays in its own dedicated nozzle, there’s zero purging required. That means cleaner color transitions, faster print times, and way less wasted filament. The system comes with four 0.4mm stainless steel nozzles as standard, though Snapmaker mentions more nozzle options are in testing for those who want different capabilities.
The U1’s print quality specs are impressive across the board. The build volume is a generous 270mm x 270mm x 270mm, giving you plenty of room for larger projects or multiple smaller parts. Print speeds hit up to 500mm/s with acceleration rates reaching 20,000mm/s², putting it squarely in high-performance territory. The heated bed supports temperatures up to 100°C for engineering plastics like ABS and PETG. Each toolhead can reach 300°C, opening the door to high-temp materials like polycarbonate and nylon. The machine supports standard 1.75mm filaments, so you’re not locked into proprietary spools, and the side-mounted spool holders keep up to four rolls loaded and ready to go.
Setup and operation are refreshingly straightforward, something Snapmaker’s users have come to expect from all their machines. The filament routing system guides each material from its spool to the correct toolhead without tangles or cross-contamination. Auto-leveling handles bed preparation, while the 3.5-inch touchscreen interface walks you through material selection and print settings. The slicer software automatically assigns colors and materials to different parts of your model, then generates the toolhead swapping commands. Loading new filament is as simple as feeding it through the clearly marked tubes, and the machine handles the rest. Maintenance is simplified too, since each toolhead can be removed individually for cleaning or nozzle changes.
What sets the U1 apart from other multi-material printers is how clean and quiet it runs. Traditional color-changing printers create a mess of purge towers and waste filament with every material switch. The U1 eliminates that entirely, making multi-color prints nearly as efficient as single-color ones. The enclosed versions run quietly enough for overnight printing in bedrooms or apartments. Even the open version is surprisingly subdued, thanks to quality stepper motors and a rigid frame that minimizes vibrations. The air filtration system in the flagship model is particularly impressive, keeping your workspace fresh during extended print sessions.
You’ve got an aluminum extrusion frame (quite like the ones seen on Snapmaker’s other machines) with precision-machined components throughout. The machine measures 584mm x 499mm x 730mm and weighs 18.2kg, giving it substantial presence without being unwieldy. The heated bed uses a flexible steel sheet with PEI surface that works with most filament types without adhesion aids. The wiring is clean and protected, with drag chains managing cable movement. The touchscreen is responsive and intuitive, displaying real-time temperatures, progress, and toolhead status. Even small details like the built-in 2-megapixel chamber camera and comprehensive connectivity options show thoughtful engineering.
Material compatibility is extensive and grows with optional accessories. Out of the box, the U1 handles PLA, PETG, TPU, and PVA for basic multi-material printing. Add the optional top cover, and you unlock PET, ABS, ASA, PA, and PC for more demanding applications. Go all the way with the top cover and hardened steel nozzles, and you can print carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers and glass-fiber-reinforced materials that would destroy standard brass nozzles. The automatic filament system with RFID recognition means the printer knows exactly what material you’ve loaded, adjusting settings accordingly.
Snapmaker’s U1 represents a genuine leap forward in desktop 3D printing technology. By solving the fundamental problems that have plagued multi-material printing for years, they’ve created something that feels genuinely revolutionary rather than just incrementally better. The four-toolhead system, combined with thoughtful industrial design and user-friendly operation, makes the U1 a machine that could finally bring color 3D printing to the mainstream. Whether you’re a designer prototyping products, an educator teaching engineering concepts, or a hobbyist who wants to push creative boundaries, the U1 delivers capabilities that were previously limited to industrial machines costing ten times more.
Starting at just $799, the U1 blows its competition out of the water, undercutting companies like Bambu, Prusa, Creality, etc. by hundreds of dollars while providing high-end functionality and multi-filament printing. Each U1 ships with 4 toolheads and 4 PLA filament reels, and can be used right out of the box. Add-ons like filament dryers or a transparent top cover do cost extra. The Snapmaker U1, which has racked a staggering $14 million USD on Kickstarter, ships starting December. Users are entitled to a 1-year warranty on the printer and a 3-month warranty on the extruders and filament holders. EU customers (along with Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway) get a 2-year warranty on the U1 printer.
Click Here to Buy Now: $799 $999 ($200 off). Hurry, only 635/2000 left! Raised over $17 million.
The post Snapmaker U1: The $799 Multi-Material 3D Printer That’s Terrifying Bambu, Prusa, and Creality first appeared on Yanko Design.