Big news: the Snapmaker U1 is now available at ITFactory.ca. It is a four-head toolchanging 3D printer that prints in up to four colours or materials in a single job, faster and with far less wasted filament than single-nozzle printers.
It is one of the most talked-about printers of the past year. Here is what makes it different and what you can make with it.
Four heads instead of one
Most multi-colour printers use a single nozzle. To change colour, they pull the old filament out, push the new one in, and purge the leftover plastic into a pile of waste. On a detailed print that can happen hundreds of times.
The U1 takes a different approach. It has four complete toolheads, each with its own nozzle and its own spool, and swaps between them with a system Snapmaker calls SnapSwap. Idle heads park at the back and stay warm, so a colour change takes about 5 seconds instead of a minute or more.
That design opens up a few things single-nozzle printers struggle with:
- Real multi-material prints. One head can run rigid PLA while another runs flexible TPU, or a dedicated support material that peels away cleanly.
- Much less waste. Snapmaker claims up to 80 to 85% less filament waste than single-nozzle systems. Independent testing backs this up, with prime towers of just a few grams.
- Hands-free alignment. An eddy current sensor calibrates all four heads automatically, so colours line up without manual tuning.
Fast, roomy and easy to run
The U1 is built on a CoreXY motion system, the same fast, stable design used by many of today’s top printers. In Tom’s Hardware’s review, it finished a three-colour batch print about three hours sooner than a popular single-nozzle machine, mostly thanks to those quick swaps.
It also runs open-source software: Klipper firmware on the printer and OrcaSlicer (or Snapmaker’s own Orca version) on the computer. Snapmaker-brand spools are recognized automatically by RFID, and setup, bed levelling and calibration are all automatic.
| Spec | Snapmaker U1 |
|---|---|
| Build volume | 270 × 270 × 270 mm |
| Toolheads | 4, direct drive |
| Max nozzle temperature | 300 °C |
| Heated bed | Up to 100 °C, textured PEI flex plate |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU and more |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, LAN, USB |
| Screen | 3.5-inch colour touchscreen |
The frame is semi-enclosed, with an optional lid sold separately for higher-temperature materials like ABS and ASA.
What you can make with it
With four heads ready to go, you can move faster from idea to finished part. A few ideas:
- Prototypes in true colour, so clients and teammates see a part as it will actually look.
- Parts with soft and hard sections, like grips, seals and bumpers printed in one piece.
- Labels and markings printed right in, with no painting or stickers afterward.
- Cleaner supports in a separate material that breaks away without scarring the part.
Follow our blog for U1 print ideas, settings tips and material guides.
Get yours today
The U1 brings faster multi-colour printing, more material options and a lot less plastic in the bin. Order your Snapmaker U1 at ITFactory.ca, or contact us with any questions.