en.Wedoany.com Reported - Snapmaker's U1 multi-color 3D printer has attracted market attention for its performance in multi-color printing speed and filament waste control. Based on the CoreXY architecture, the device is equipped with four independent tool heads, enabling fast switching and near-zero waste multi-color printing.
The Snapmaker U1 features a build volume of 270 × 270 × 270 mm, a maximum printing speed of 500 mm/s, and an acceleration of 20,000 mm/s². Its core SnapSwap tool changer uses steel ball kinematic coupling to dock and lock four stainless steel tool heads, automatically calibrating XYZ offset to within 0.04 mm. Tool changes take approximately five seconds, significantly faster than traditional purge-based systems (about two minutes). Since each tool head has its own dedicated filament, the system eliminates cross-contamination purging, only using a small priming tower to clear material that may degrade during standby when necessary. The printer comes standard with four extruders, supporting simultaneous printing of up to four colors, priced at €899 (approximately $999), with the top cover sold separately for €159. Additionally, Snapmaker offers a 15-spool filament bundle for around €550, including 21 spools of PLA and 4 spools of TPU.
Reviewer VoxelMatters conducted approximately 50 hours of testing using both original and third-party filaments for multi-color printing, multi-part assembly printing, and flexible material (TPU) printing, without any print failures. Tests showed that after printing multiple multi-color parts, the waste collection container contained very little waste, highlighting its advantage in high material utilization. On the software side, the Snapmaker U1 uses the Snapmaker Orca slicer, developed based on Orca Slicer, which is still in beta and supports remote monitoring and control. Its model library ecosystem remains relatively limited compared to platforms like Bambu Lab and Prusa.
The Snapmaker team provided various materials for testing, including PLA, PETG, and 95A high-flow TPU. During testing, the U1 performed well printing multi-color PLA stress-relief toys, multi-color PETG accessories, and third-party TPU wallets. The machine made material changes convenient, with fast filament switching during printing and minimal waste. Its system limitation is that it supports a maximum of four colors per print and currently cannot be automatically expanded. Nevertheless, the review noted that the Snapmaker U1 is competitive in speed, efficiency, and material waste control, particularly in multi-color PETG and TPU printing, with stable Flexible TPU printing and successful multi-color TPU printing without special adjustments.
VoxelMatters received the U1 before its global launch on April 10 and was positively impressed by the hardware setup (fully automatic, about one hour). Initial prints using preloaded optimized files and official materials delivered excellent quality with precise color transitions. The review noted that the machine had virtually no failures during printing, and after 50 hours of use, the system was considered well-built and reliable. During testing, models printed with third-party rainbow PLA also performed well, indicating good compatibility with third-party filaments.
Filaments on the Snapmaker website, especially common colors like black and white, have been out of stock for extended periods, which may reflect strong demand and supply chain constraints. The companion mobile app mentioned in the review features high-quality camera monitoring, suitable for creating stop-motion videos. VoxelMatters suggests that for users looking to print multi-color or flexible materials, the Snapmaker U1 offers an efficient option, particularly with its extremely low filament waste and fast tool switching.
The review also tested multi-part desktop clock printing to verify dimensional stability, resulting in clean, complete, and functional parts. Vases were made using matte colors with models from MakerWorld and the MakerLab app. In multi-color printing of characters from the *Dungeon Crawler Carl* series, six characters were printed at once, filling half the build plate, and later painted by others. The Facebook community responded enthusiastically to the finished character models.
For multi-color printing capability, the Snapmaker U1's biggest advantage is speed and minimal waste. Its main drawback is the limited selection of color 3D models on its own marketplace, with the most practical source for multi-color files still being Bambu Lab's MakerWorld and MakerLab apps. The fluffy penguin and Snapmaker dragon mascot tested in the review both achieved perfect results.
When testing multi-color PETG, using a gadget celebrating FC Internazionale Milano's 21st league title, dozens of multi-color black-and-blue snake-shaped parts were printed, with the machine handling each part precisely. In a subsequent stress-relief pad toy test, one of five items showed a slight defect, possibly due to the lack of supports. Overall results were good.
The PETG tests also included a multi-color stress-relief pad and a black PETG box for DJI Osmo video accessories, both parts nearly filling the entire build plate, and both were printed effortlessly. The review noted that the amount of waste accumulated in the waste container after printing was very limited.
The Snapmaker Orca slicer, based on Orca Slicer, has a clean and easy-to-use interface, supporting features like color painting, fuzzy skin, and remote monitoring and control. The review noted a minor friction point: each connection requires reselecting and connecting the printer, which is fast; switching to the mobile app requires disconnecting from the desktop software first. The monitoring and stop-motion video features worked perfectly and were easy to set up.
In TPU printing tests, the Snapmaker U1 successfully printed multi-color keychains and a flexible wallet nearly spanning the entire build plate width using 95A high-flow TPU. A minor glitch occurred at the end of the first multi-color TPU print, indicating the print head coordinates were out of range, but the print job was completed. The review considered the machine outstanding in TPU compatibility and ease of loading, even suggesting using it as a dedicated TPU system. The system's price of just €899 was deemed excellent value for money.
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